AG James Fights to Keep New Yorkers in their Homes

Attorney General James Fights to Keep New Yorkers in their Homes

NEW YORK: New York At‐torney General Letitia James recently took ac‐tion to protect the homes of hundreds, if not thousands, of New Yorkers. In a letter to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Attorney General James calls on the City of New York to post‐pone its water and tax lien sale — which could force many New Yorkers out of their homes be‐cause of an unpaid water or tax debt — until the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pan‐demic is over, or at least until federal funds allocated already to prevent foreclosures have been dispersed. “New Yorkers must be given the chance to recover from the COVID‐19 pandemic without being forcibly removed from their homes,” said Attorney General James. “New York City should be more attuned to the precarious state of New York‐ers’ budgets as the pandemic continues to bear down on its residents. Putting homeowners

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in a position where their homes are like to be foreclosed upon in the midst of the pandemic is wrong and short‐sighted given that federal funding will be re‐leased in the coming weeks or months to prevent foreclosures. This public health crisis has ex‐acerbated the impact of lien sales on our vulnerable com‐munities, and we must do all we can to allow them time to apply for federal funding, while also supplying them with the re‐sources to help them recover. That’s why this water and tax lien sale must be delayed. Now is the time for New York City to look ahead and come up with something more than a short‐term fix for the tax lien sale. It’s time to create a better and more just system for New York‐ers.” Though federal funding for homeowners to avoid foreclo‐sure is impending, the City of New York plans to move for‐ward with the water and tax lien sale in December. As the city works to quickly remove New Yorkers from their homes, this program will offer hun‐dreds of millions of dollars in homeowner relief in New York and will undoubtedly save the homes of hundreds, if not thou‐sands, of New Yorkers. In today’s letter, Attorney General James requests that any lien sale is delayed until these fed‐eral funds are fully disbursed. Additionally, the city’s efforts to remove New Yorkers from their homes is being made de‐spite the fact that 90‐day no‐tices sent out last month from the city did not include a copy of the hardship declaration that would allow exemptions for people who have experienced economic hardship related to COVID‐19. Further, there have been no in‐person outreach events that would allow for New Yorkers to ask questions and obtain resources that could help them be removed from the lien sale. Attorney General James re‐quests that the city hold until the COVID‐19 pandemic has passed, or at least until federal funds allocated already to pre‐vent foreclosures have been distributed. In the past, Attorney General James has repeatedly advocated for reform to the lien sale pro‐gram to remedy its effects on New York’s most vulnerable communities and help stabilize neighborhoods across the city. In December 2020, Attorney General James sent a letter to Mayor de Blasio and City Coun‐cil Speaker Cory Johnson urging New York City to utilize commu‐nity land trusts and land banks for delinquent properties, in an effort to ensure residents could stay in their homes. In August 2020, Attorney Gen‐eral James — joined by 57 local, state, and federal officials — urged the delay of the city’s an‐nual tax and water lien sale. Four days later, the former gov‐ernor temporarily halted the sale with an executive order.

Get Assistance Don’t become a victim of this an‐tiquated system. If you are a ten‐ant or a homeowner who may be affected by the upcoming lien sale scheduled for December of 2021, do not wait until the last minute to seek assistance. Schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney, such as Brian Figeroux of Figer‐oux and Associates, to find out what could be done, if anything, before you lose your home. Call 888‐670‐6791.t

Family: The True Modern Relationship Time‑Saving Shortcuts for Working Moms

BY JANET HOWARD

Working moms essen‐tially have two jobs: their work and their family. It can be difficult to keep up with the combined tasks be‐cause there are only so many hours in a day, 24 to be exact. That's why shortcuts are so im‐portant for working moms. A time‐saving shortcut can be anything related to work tasks or home tasks that saves you time but still delivers the out‐come you need. For example, using a grocery delivery service saves you the time it takes to go to the store, shop, wait in line, and drive home. However, the end result of having groceries is the same, and you can check that item off your to‐do list while pocketing those freed‐up minutes. Most of your daily tasks as a working mom can be stream‐lined. The more you take advan‐tage of these shortcuts, the more time you will get back in your day for things like exer‐cise, self‐care, therapy, or med‐itation. It could even be time you spend watching TV and eat‐ing ice cream on the couch! Whatever you choose to do with your bonus minutes is up to you.

How to create a time‑saving shortcut Identify some of your most time‐consuming tasks and write them down. This will vary from mom to mom, so it's im‐portant that you really nail down what is relevant for you and your life. For inspiration, here are a few common time‐sucking tasks that could be streamlined: packing lunches, driving kids to activities, meal planning, clean‐ing the house, and cooking. For work, tasks could include an‐swering emails, attending meetings, and phone calls with colleagues. It's important to put thought into where time is lost in your day and where it could be re‐gained. However, if some of your time‐sucking responsibili‐ties aren't flexible and can't be streamlined, don't get frus‐trated. There should be at least one or two tasks that can be streamlined. Start there, and that may help you become more creative in how to save time in other areas. Once you have identified the tasks you want to streamline, brainstorm how you could cre‐ate a shortcut. This should be done thoughtfully for each item. For example, if meal planning and cooking take too much time out of your day, consider sub‐scribing to a meal service. If that isn't the right solution for you, consider other ideas, such as cooking larger batches on the weekend. For each task, you should have at least two possible time‐sav‐ing solutions. You don't have to tackle all of your tasks at once though. Consider streamlining just one task, feeling the pride in regaining those minutes and a bit of sanity, and letting that mo‐tivate you to move on to another task. The motivation you find will come from using your saved minutes wisely. Therefore, it's important to really think about what is missing in your day. Is it self‐care time? Is it more sleep? Putting even just five regained minutes towards something you desperately need will be impact‐ful for your life. It will also lower your stress.

Tips for shortcut solutions Although there is no one‐size‐fits‐all solution to saving time in your day, there are many op‐tions. Some of these options may work for you, and some might not work. Start with what seems plausible for you and your life. From there, try to add some solutions of your own that aren't already on the list. Here are some solutions to time‐sucking tasks: •Hire a housecleaner •Start a carpool •Try a meal delivery service •Try a grocery delivery service •Hire a babysitter •Hire a tutor •Use the hot lunch option at school •Sign up for activities within walking distance of your home or child's school •Block off work time for deliver‐ables on your work calendar •Skip or ask to cancel meetings if they aren't important •Multi‐task during meetings that aren't important •Start work 10 minutes early to catch up on email •Ignore phone calls if you are busy, and return calls when you have time

Most people don't think about how they can streamline their day because they don't realize how much time they can save. Motivate yourself to want to save time by identifying exactly how you would spend that time and how it would improve your life.t

Domestic Violence Is Real

BY WWT STAFF WRITER

According to the website, www.domesticviolence.org, do‐mestic violence takes place in our nation every minute of every day, occurring just about every 15 seconds. Most Americans don’t realize just how real domestic violence is and how many lives are affected by it. Most of these cases are left behind closed doors. That’s why the Domestic Violence Awareness Month was intro‐duced to not only educate and raise that awareness but bring the support and strength that domestic violence victims need. Domestic violence awareness month was first introduced back in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domes‐tic violence. It was created not only to bring more awareness to others but to connect and unify the millions of af‐fected victims that had been battered due to domestic violence. Its hope is to break the chains of violence that currently have such a strong grip on our nation. Every year, right around 10 million people become victims of domestic vi‐olence, which equates to just about 20 people every minute. Those are some pretty big and startling numbers. It affects not only women, but men and children, of all different races, status, religions, and culture. No one is im‐mune to it. Domestic violence shows itself in a number of different forms, whether it’s punching, slapping, choking, or threat‐ening, manipulating, yelling and many others. No matter the situation, do‐mestic violence is never okay. The Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) Protects Immigrants Immigrants are particularly vulnerable because many may not speak English, are often separated from family and friends, and may not understand the laws of the United States. For these reasons, immigrants are often afraid to report acts of domestic violence to the police or to seek other forms of assis‐tance. Such fear causes many immi‐grants to remain in abusive relationships. Immigrants in the US. have the right to live a life free of abuse. Due to the victim’s immigration status, abusive partners have additional ways to exert power and control over their victims. If you are an immigrant or refugee in an abusive relationship, you may face unique issues that make it hard to reach out for help. VAWA is a landmark piece of legisla‐tion seeking to improve criminal legal, and community‐based responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sex‐ual assault, and stalking in the United States. This federal law provides nu‐merous forms of protection for noncit‐izen women—and men—who are the victims of domestic violence or other qualifying crimes. There are three forms of protection: “U” visas for vic‐tims of crime, “T” visas for victims of severe forms of trafficking, and “self‐petitions” under the VAWA. Any victim of domestic violence — re‐gardless of immigration or citizenship status — can seek help. An immigrant victim of domestic violence may also be eligible for immigration‐related pro‐tections. If you are experiencing do‐mestic violence in your home, you are not alone. A specialized immigration attorney should always be your first point of contact regarding immigration questions and concerns. You can also listen to Ask the Lawyer Radio Pro‐gram on WVIP 93.5FM on Thursdays, 10pm‐11pm, and Sundays, 11pm to 12am. The program provides excellent information and also an opportunity for a FREE, no‐obligation legal consul‐tation. The number to call is 855‐768‐8845. You can also visit www.askthelawyer.us Domestic violence is against the law regardless of one’s immigration status. Be a loving family member, good friend, and caring neighbor: please share this information.t

Class Action Settlement Gives Second Chance to Qualifying US Employers for H‑1B Petition Approval

BY LESLIE DELLON

Arecent class action settle‐ment is expected to result in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approving more market re‐search analyst H‐1B petitions. The lawsuit was filed by four U.S. employers whose H‐1B pe‐titions had been denied when USCIS determined that market research analysts were not a “specialty occupation” as re‐quired for an H‐1B visa classifi‐cation. Jobs in the H‐1B category require a worker to possess highly specialized knowledge acquired through a bachelor’s or higher degree in a “specific spe‐cialty” or equivalent at the entry level. USCIS based its determi‐nation on a flawed interpreta‐tion of the market research analyst entry in the Occupa‐tional Outlook Handbook, a De‐partment of Labor publication that includes information about how to enter an occupation. The plaintiffs requested relief for themselves and other U.S. employers like them whose pe‐titions USCIS would have ap‐proved if the agency had not made this decision about the OOH market research analyst entry. If a U.S. employer can establish that it is a MadKudu class mem‐ber, USCIS will reopen and re‐adjudicate the denied H‐1B petition if there is time left in the validity period of the certi‐fied Labor Condition Applica‐tion (LCA) submitted with the denied petition. USCIS officers will re‐adjudicate such denied H‐1B petitions and adjudicate pending and future H‐1B peti‐tions using forthcoming guid‐ance. Per the settlement agreement, the new guidance will address the first regulatory criterion and the OOH entry for market research analyst, the statutory and regulatory definition of “specialty occupation,” and re‐lated considerations in deter‐mining whether a petitioner’s job is within the market re‐search analyst occupation. Potential class members will have 180 days to file a request to reopen. The 180‐day time pe‐riod starts when USCIS an‐nounces on its website the directions for filing. However, potential class members should file as early as possible within the 180‐day period to minimize the risk of the LCA expiring be‐fore the request is filed.

To be a MadKudu class member, a U.S. employer must meet the following requirements. • The market research analyst H‐1B petition was filed with USCIS during the period from January 1, 2019 through Octo‐ber 19, 2021. •USCIS denied the petition based on a finding that the OOH entry for market research ana‐lyst (as it exists on October 19, the date the court approved the settlement agreement) does not establish that market research analyst is not a specialty occu‐pation, and thus does not meet the first regulatory criterion (as it exists on October 19). •But for this finding, USCIS would have approved the H‐1B petition.

The MadKudu class action set‐tlement is a milestone in em‐ployment‐based immigration lawsuits. It provides an oppor‐tunity for many employers, rather than just one, to benefit after challenging a petition de‐nial. But no relief would have been possible without the named plaintiffs, who were will‐ing to sue. t

Estate Planning Guide

The Emotional Side of Estate Planning

BY LINDA NWOKE

There are two schools of thought in the field of psychology when it comes to discussing emotions. One of the theories argues that emotion causes behavior. Thus, one's emotional state results in action. On the other hand, another argument posits that conscious emotion results from behavior that serves as a source of feedback mechanism. Irrespective of which theories we choose, we know that emotions affect behavior and vice versa. They are interrelated and form part of human life.

Definition of Emotions, Causes, and Consequences Emotions form due to the interplay among various chemical reactions that occur inside the body, which regulates the mind and body. They assist us in coping with life, such as during interactions with others, when seeking direction, and making decisions. In particular, emotions significantly affect how we think, see, focus, reason, learn, and solve problems. Our feelings often influence our focus or object of attention, which inadvertently affects the level of motivation and exhibition of behavior toward the object. In all, emotions help us to survive. Going back to the school of thought, we learn that emotions activate fixed behavior "patterns" such as fight, flight, or avoidance actions. This belief works on the premise that while emotions influence behavior, it depends on the person's past experiences and the present context. For instance, when faced with a potential family feud resulting from a decision, the panic you feel may lead you to respond aggressively. If this strategy worked for you in a similar circumstance in the past; or it may cause you to form alliances with other family members to gather support for your decision.

What is Estate Planning? Based on judicial decisions, a person's estate refers to the totality of their assets, without liabilities. So, when an individual, while alive, decides to plan by organizing and distributing their assets in the case of incapacitation or death, it is called estate planning. This concept involves planning the management and allocation of one's estate ahead of any eventuality.

Importance of Estate Planning Trusts and Estates are two acknowledged legal means for transferring assets to one's beneficiaries, including heirs. Ideally, every adult who has any form of assets should try to have an estate plan which usually includes a Living Trust. However, while a Trust allows you to transfer your asset in an ongoing manner before and after death, an Estate only allows a one-time transfer of assets, specifically after death. Trust planning, in particular, helps the family in two ways: one is to help secure a family financially, and the other is for better control and protection of a family's assets. According to an article, a U.S. Bank senior vice president and regional trust manager explain that "Trusts are vital to helping support people throughout their lifetimes and put plans in place for the next generation," says Nancy Hermann. An individual can also decide to draw up a Will that explains their intentions for distributing their estate upon their death. The document must be signed, dated, and notarized or witnessed by two people in compliance with the 'Wills Act.' In some states, parents of minor children use Living Wills to elect guardians for their children in the case of unfortunate circumstances. In contrast, they use a living trust to command how their other ascontinued on page 2 INSIDE:

Get More Than a Tax Refund

Medicaid Planning

Avoiding Estate Planning Scams

Planning Tips for Newlyweds

The Emotional Side of Estate

Planning/continued from page 1

sets, including real estate, will be distributed and managed. Realistically, anyone who wants to transfer their assets to one or more surviving loved ones after their death should both consider and set up a formal estate plan. The importance of planning ahead safeguards the family's future, fortune, and legacy and contributes to creating peace of mind. Careful estate planning is achieved by having a Living Will, Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and putting financial plans in place for managing financial commitments like taxes, debts, and loans. This essential set of legal documents makes it easier for family members to carry out the wishes and needs of the one who passed away or their wishes met if they are unable to speak for themself.

What Prevents an Individual from Engaging in Estate Planning? Despite the apparent merits of planning, why do people still hesitate or downright avoid having such documentation, you would ask. Several reasons can be attributed to the cause; however, fear remains central. This emotional reaction has been discovered as the main facilitator for this avoidance behavior—the fear links to three major areas—loss, cost, and appearing ignorant. The fear of death and giving up control is entrenched in superstitious beliefs and an unrealistic belief in one's immortality. They believe that talking about death is taboo because they feel that they are jinxing themselves by attracting 'negativity' that runs contrary to their belief. They undergo various reactions like anxiety, depression, anger, and sometimes hostility when the issue of death arises, especially when linked to them. Similar responses are expressed when confronted with the possibility of losing control in situations like becoming incapacitated or memory loss. At best, this line of thought is a myth because every living thing must expire or die at a given point. People need to face the reality that death is all part of living and the concept of estate planning is merely an extension of the caring role they have played while alive towards their loved ones. Also, the act of planning their estate ensures that what they have spent a lifetime building serves others, which in return keeps their memory alive, hence protecting their immortality though 'only in memory.' In the case of Trust planning, it ensures things are cared for while alive and, this action gives a sense of control. Sometimes, the fear of potential cost for the services deters people, especially those with low income, who often consider that estate planning is for the affluent and benefits those left after their death. For them, the cost and benefit are not worth the trouble. After all, the assets are not really worth all the emotional energy and time spent sorting things out. However, for any individual who genuinely cares for the family, estate planning is truly a reflection of the level of love for their family members regardless of how much it is worth. After all, one can argue that the kind of gifts we give members of our family reflects how much we care for them, not in terms of the price tag, but actually in the effort made toward choosing the right gift. Another considerable fear that evokes an emotional reaction like procrastination or denial is the fear of dealing with an attorney. Sometimes, people associate dealing with attorneys with inviting trouble or engaging with the law, so they develop anxiety over how to work with a lawyer without becoming overwhelmed or rail rolled into making decisions that are not consistent with their values and beliefs. Just like the attorney's fees also serve as a significant concern. The estate planning issue also raises some complex and knotty issues, which accompany various family types and circumstances, such as blended families and extended families. Such complexities require tough and sometimes hard decisions that bring on some hesitation. Unfortunately, the consequences of dying without an estate plan mean that any asset or property in your name becomes probate assets, subject to laws of intestate succession. This process is not only time-consuming but also often leads to family feuds and sometimes avoidable wastage.

How to Manage Emotions Associated with Planning Your Estate Consistent with anything related to fear, the first step towards addressing any 'fear-filled situation is becoming informed, which is a way of confronting the issue. Therapists often use two psychological methods to treat any anxiety-related problem- exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy. In this case, the best measure of treatment in addressing the fear of death, losing control, meeting an attorney, or cost is the use continued on page 3

Avoid Estate Planning Scams

Unscrupulous actors sometimes try to entice unaware victims into financially crippling scams. One of the most common types of scam deals relates to living trusts. Fortunately, by doing your research and ensuring you are entering a valuable contract, most scams are easy to see through and avoid. A living trust is a written legal document into which you place some or all of your assets. The belongings are managed by yourself or by someone whom you dedicate the responsibility to at the time of death or until a specific date. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, you can choose from two types of trusts. A revocable trust is an adaptive deposit account managed by one or more people designated as a beneficiary who receives the assets upon an owner’s death. It can be revoked, terminated or changed at any time, at the discretion of the owner. An irrevocable trust is when the owner contributes deposits or properties to the trust but gives up power to cancel or change the account. When determining the right plan, keep an eye out for common types of scams. Fraudulent Activity Typically, the beginnings of a dishonest living trust begin with a phone call. Unsuspecting people, often elderly, are solicited to attend seminars or receive an in-home visit to discuss living trusts. Once the meeting starts, trustors are often put under extreme pressure to secure their assets through pushy sale pitches. In most cases, a con artist will play on the worry that your beneficiaries will be unprepared to deal with your death or that a court will decide what happens to your belongings.

continued on page 4 The Emotional Side of Estate

Planning/continued from page 2 of cognitive-behavioral therapy. This method employs actively confronting the issue, for instance, in the case of fear of death which is a natural phenomenon and must occur. Everyone needs to understand that it must happen. One has to face the fact that no one is immortal. Confront the fact that death, dying, transitioning is all part of living. Whether you choose to discuss death or not, it will happen. While it is not advisable to keep thinking of death, planning for when it happens gives one some form of assurance. On issues relating to working with an attorney, finding the right lawyer to work with matters significantly in this case. Investigating and depending on referrals often works in addressing the challenge. What's more, the fear of cost remains unaddressed until one conquers all the other concerns. The cost for service differs from one person to another based on their varying circumstances and dynamics. While some estate planning follows a flat fee rate, getting an estimate requires speaking to an attorney about your unique family situation. Lack of information is also a significant obstacle to be overcome in the long run through education. Indoctrinating financial literacy and values between children and family members remains vital. Parents need to train their children about the importance of money and responsibility early in life. Teach them to respect money by saving and using family games as the monopoly, especially for younger-aged kids. Beyond that, making planning 'integral' as a family value is crucial. It is essential to make sure that planning because part of the family practices so that discussing issues like 'Trust planning' later does not cause any anxiety. In the real sense, estate planning is a gift to your family, a way of showing care for the family. The act of arranging your affairs to serve your family and loved ones, and interests is indeed the most precious gift you can give of yourself now and after. In addition to protecting minor beneficiaries, or adult beneficiaries from creditor problems, debts, change in marital status, poor judgment, and other external influences. After all, life happens! t

Planning Tips for Newlyweds

Making estate or end-of-life planning is likely the last thing on your mind after beginning life as a married couple. However, with the new unity, the responsibility of protecting your spouse in case of an untimely death is critical. Experts say that thinking about estate planning early in the marriage process can actually be a bonding experience. Discussing estate planning isn’t always easy. However, the journey must be traveled together. If your spouse is hesitant to approach the subject, share the importance of its meaning and the peace of mind gained once it is achieved. Begin your life together by following these tips to secure the future for both parties and any children involved.

Combine Your Documents After your marriage, you will receive a certificate that shows the legality of your union. Take this opportunity to combine it with other vital documents and keep them in a secure, fireproof safe. It’s also a good idea to make separate copies and store them in an off-site location like a deposit box. A few forms you should include are birth certificates, social security cards, passports and documents that represent your children. You will also need to be honest about financial information like bank accounts, life insurance policies and retirement plans.

Set a List of Goals Writing a list of goals for your estate can help you meet milestones and make more significant attempts to save to meet your vision. Consider deciding on a set amount that will benefit your loved ones and a sum that goes to a chosen charity. Work together to make a plan, set achievements and reach your accomplishments. One significant advantage is to work with an expert estate planning attorney who can provide the right steps you should take.

Create a Will and Trust A secure will or trust is an excellent place to begin when drafting your estate plans. The documents or accounts can express your desires for distributing your assets or finances without loved ones facing drawn-out probate processes. Of course, remember to update your final wishes as you welcome children into the world or life situations change.t Avoid Estate Planning Scams/

continued from page 3

In most cases, these salespeople are merely attempting to access your sensitive financial information. They will often make illegal withdrawals from your accounts or sell your data to other con artists to pursue more fraudulent sales.

Ways to Avoid a Scam Keep these tips in mind to avoid falling victim to an unruly financial trust. • Recruit your own trusted attorney or reputable estate planner. • Never sign documents that you don’t fully understand. • Ensure you have the option to update your trust periodically. • Verify any affiliation or endorsement by a government agency or senior association.t

Home Ownership Four Signs You Are Ready to Purchase a House

BY CHRIS TOBIAS

Buying a house is always a good choice. For New American households, buying your first home can be the pathway to stability. Ja‐maican immigrants have one of the highest rates of home own‐ership in the U.S., according to a report from the Center for Im‐migration Studies. Before you go house hunting, consider if you meet the following require‐ments for buying a house.

1. You Won't Be Moving for Awhile One factor few people consider when analyzing whether they should buy a house is whether they want to move within five years. If you do plan to move within a few years, it's probably not time to buy a home. You might be thinking it will be easy to sell it or rent out your new house when it's time to move but it's not that simple. The market may make a downswing in the next five years and if it does, you could lose money on your home making it impossi‐ble to sell and move to a new city. And if you decide to move far away, it can be difficult to deal with renters. Wait until you're confident you will be set‐tling down in the same location before buying a home.

2. You Make Enough Money Just because you can afford to rent does not necessarily mean you can afford a mortgage. You should talk to a mortgage lender and take a hard look at the numbers to see if home ownership is an option. There are a lot of hidden costs in home ownership. Besides the down payment and closing costs that buying a house re‐quires, you'll be responsible for all upkeep and care for the home. If your boiler stops working, that is a potential ten thousand dollar cost you are now responsible for covering. In addition to saving for a down payment, you need to have ad‐equate savings for any unex‐pected housing costs.

3. You Have Good Credit If you don't have good credit, the option to buy a home likely won't be on the table unless you have someone willing to cosign. If you're in your early twenties or younger, you may simply not have a long enough credit history to qualify to buy a home. You'll have to raise your credit score or wait a cou‐ple years before you can pur‐chase a home yourself.

4. You Know Exactly What You're Looking For Because you'll be settled in your next home for at least five years, it's important that you know what you want. If you don't know if you want a house or a condominium, it's vital that you do a lot of reflecting and fig‐ure out what works best with your lifestyle. The last thing you want to do is become stuck in a condo and soon after you realize you want a dog and a big yard. Find a home that matches your life goals prior to going house hunting.

Assistance If you don't think you meet the financial or emotional require‐ments for buying a new home, there is no reason not to wait. Make sure you are completely ready before you buy a home so that you don't end up feeling trapped mentally or financially. In the meantime, continue to do your due diligence and plan ac‐cordingly. We are happy to help and share our insight and expe‐rience to help you with the buy‐ing process. Schedule an appointment today. Call 888‐670‐6791.t

Protecting Yourself in a Dangerous World: What to Do Before Seeking a PFA

BY JANET HOWARD

Finding yourself in an abu‐sive or otherwise volatile relationship can be frightening and disconcerting. When the person you should be able to rely on to have your back turns on you, it is easy for your emotions to run wild, but losing control is the last thing you need. If you want to protect yourself from the danger, you need a plan of action, and a protection from abuse (PFA) order. A pro‐tection from abuse order can provide a legal shield, one that your abuser must respect or face possible jail time. And while this type of protection is not perfect, it can be a vital first step in extricating yourself from a dangerous situation. Whether your abusive rela‐tionship has been going on for years or is still relatively new, the sooner you seek a protec‐tion from abuse (PFA) order the better, and safer, you can be. Even so, asking the court for a PFA should not be a snap deci‐sion, and it is important to plan carefully. This careful planning can increase the effectiveness of your PFA while affording you an extra layer of personal and legal protection. If you are planning to file a protection from abuse (PFA) order, it is important to gather the documentation you will need to defend the action in court. While you may be able to get a temporary restraining order based on your word alone, when your court date arrives the judge will be looking at the evidence you provide. Having that evidence in hand before you file, and before you leave the home you share with your abuser, will make everything that follows much easier. That brings up another impor‐tant preparatory step ‐ leaving the situation. If you share a home or apartment with your abuser, finding a safe place to stay after the protection from abuse (PFA) order has been filed can be a smart decision. That safe place could be the home of a trusted friend, a shelter for battered women or even a hotel. If you have children, you will need a plan for taking care of them. If you plan to stay with a friend, you will need to arrange childcare while you are working. If your plan includes a shelter, you will need to make sure the place you have in mind can ac‐commodate your children as well as yourself. Once you have made your plans and filed your protection from abuse order, you will want to be even more careful, espe‐cially if your partner is violent or explosive. While a protection from abuse order can convince some abusive partners to back off and leave their victims alone, others may react with even more rage. Filing a protection from abuse (PFA) can provide an important protective shield when you are being abused, but as with any legal maneuver the right prepa‐ration will be key. If you are planning to file a PFA, following the steps outlined above can keep you safer and protect you in a dangerous world. Domestic violence is never okay, no matter the circum‐stances. If you or someone you know is in desperate need of help, contact the National Do‐mestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224.l

GREEN CARD SLAVERY?

Don’t put up with ABUSE anymore! Whether married or not, whether your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Green Card Holder, we can get a Green Card for you and your children PLUS a divorce. Call 718‐222‐3155 now for a FREE consultation!