It appears that financial struggles remain common among Americans lately. A recent survey looked at consumer financial health here in the United States. According to the survey, around 55 percent of U.S. households are doing alright in some financial areas, but...
Hathaway Sprague Law, P.A.
Key things to know about testamentary trusts
There are many tools people can use in their efforts to achieve their estate planning goals. This includes trusts. Today, we'll go over one particular type of trust: The testamentary trust. What is a testamentary trust? This is a trust that a person sets up to take...
How common is falling behind on credit card payments in Florida?
Missing minimum payments on credit cards can expose a person to many consequences. For example, it can subject a person to financial penalties and do damage to his or her credit score. It appears that, lately, falling behind on such payments has been more common here...
New animal cruelty law goes into effect on October 1
On October 1, 2018, a new law goes into effect changing the penalties for cruelty to animals. Section 828.12 (6) of Florida Statutes states that a person convicted of animal cruelty laws can result in the court ordering to stop them from having custody and control...
Felony convictions and the right to vote in Florida
Being convicted of a felony can deeply change a person’s life. This is especially the case here in Florida. In the state, certain civil rights are lost if a person receives such a conviction. For example, a felony conviction triggers an automatic and permanent loss of...
Helping kids pay for college: A foreclosure risk?
College tuition costs are very high these days. So, helping children pay for college can be a major financial endeavor for families. Recent research indicates that among the things the financial stress from this endeavor could expose families to is an increased...
Thinking about the future important for unmarried homebuyers
It appears that it is becoming much more common to not wait to get married to buy a home. It is estimated that, in 1985, around three out of every four first-time homebuyers were married. In contrast, these days, less than three out of every five new homeowners are....
Millennials and medical debt
Medical debt is a common source of financial struggles for Americans. This may especially be the case for younger Americans, according to a recent study. Among the data the report looked at was data from the anonymized credit records of millions of Americans. The...
The use of digital evidence in a criminal case
Evidence in a criminal trial includes all potentially relevant information from both sides of the case. Prosecutors and defense attorneys gather evidence to corroborate their arguments and have a growing number of sources from which to draw. Digital sources in...
Is burglary a felony in Florida?
Here in Florida, going into in a vehicle, building or home without authorization with the intent to commit a crime is burglary. The state's definition of burglary also covers certain instances of remaining on such premises with the intent to commit a crime. Under...