At the Law Offices of Pamela J. Helton, we are proud to be one of the leading community resources for residents throughout the great state of Florida. As such, we receive lots of phone calls and emails asking us questions about the latest topics of interest. We'd like to share with you the most often asked questions coming into our office lately, along with Pam's answers.
- Will Florida stay on a year round daylight savings time? While it is true the Governor did sign legislation, there is still a long road to go. Eventually, the Federal government will have to approve. I think it will probably happen, but not any time soon.
- Will California split into three separate states? California has been a single entity for 168 years, but a controversial plan to split the state into 3 separate jurisdictions is officially on the ballot this November. It would be the first division of an existing U.S. state since the creation of West Virginia in 1863. Clearly this is a big deal! This first question is, why is this under consideration? It's a matter of finance and governance. California is huge which makes it terribly difficult to govern. Separating into separate jurisdictions will bring in more money from the Federal government and make local governing more manageable. Pam believes the split will eventually happen, but will take quite some time to come to fruition.
- When should I see an attorney to discuss bankruptcy? As soon as you are getting behind with your bills! Pam says her office sees many people who try to "do the right thing" by using all the money they have to pay creditors. They drain savings, 401K's and other such accounts which might be protected and secure in bankruptcy. She also says that creditors have been suing a lot more these days and her office is seeing multiple lawsuits. Settlements are not happening they way they had in the past, but it is still in your best interest to speak with an attorney early on so you understand your situation and can make the best, educated decisions.
- Do I need a will? Yes! If you are over eighteen, you should have documents directing your wishes. One document Pam's office has been preparing is an Enhanced Life Estate Deed. It allows the transfer of ownership of real estate to a beneficiary while avoiding probate. How handy is that?
It's our honor to represent the citizens of Florida. If you know us, you've seen us … all around the Central Florida area and beyond. We enjoy coming to events, meetings and getting to our friends and neighbors. We have built a great network of resources. Please come to us when you have a need and we will be happy to make connections if we can not provide a solution ourselves.
