Most alumni and students have a loan debt of at least five figures, with the average student debt in the country reaching over $32,000. Some individuals in Iowa and other states even report loan debt that reaches six figures. This is a crippling amount of debt that may even lead some to devastating circumstances. The United States government is in the process of taking steps to alleviate some of this debt and to give you the relief that you need. Government changes Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives introduced a measure that would treat student loan debt the same way as ot ..read more

When you hear about guardianships in the media, it typically involves a disabled or mentally unwell person being placed under a guardianship without their consent. However, there are some cases where people could be mentally fit enough to recognize that they need a guardian, but not mentally fit enough to function without one. In these cases, they can apply for a voluntary guardianship. What is a voluntary guardianship? A voluntary guardianship involves an individual petitioning the court to assign them a legal guardian. The laws vary across different states, but guardianships typically come w ..read more

In Iowa as around the country, more older adults are getting divorced and remarrying than ever before. This is creating some unique issues when it comes to estate planning. Whenever someone has a major life event, like divorce, remarriage or the birth of a child, it's important to revisit the issue of estate planning. If that doesn't happen, there can be some serious unintended consequences. Accidentally leaving people out When someone doesn't leave a will, or they leave a will that's out of date, it may fall on the state to distribute assets. Depending on state law, this could mean leaving ad ..read more

Some people in Iowa who are struggling to pay off their student loans might be aware that they cannot discharge them in bankruptcy without going through a potentially long, difficult and costly process to prove hardship. However, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have been working on a bill that would change this. Proving "undue hardship" There is no standard definition for the "undue hardship" requirement in the bankruptcy code that student loan debtors are required to meet. The determination of hardship varies within jurisdiction. Proving it involves an adversary proceeding in w ..read more

Before you begin the adoption process, you will need to determine if adoption is truly the right choice for you and your family. No matter the reason you are considering adoption, you need to be able to love the child or children you adopt equal to any children who are biologically related to you. Questions to ask yourself If adoption still feels like the right choice, you can proceed with the adoption process. First, you will need to consider what type of adoption would be ideal for you. Do you wish to adopt a newborn, or would an older child be more appropriate? Do you want a child specifica ..read more

If you don't pay your bills promptly, your creditors could ask an Iowa judge for the right to garnish your wages. This means that a portion of every paycheck will be sent directly to whoever obtained the judgment. Fortunately, there are ways that you can put a stop to wage garnishment. Challenge the wage garnishment order In most cases, you have five days after an order goes into effect to challenge the garnishment. You may choose to challenge it because the order was issued in error, or you don't have enough money to meet your basic needs. File for bankruptcy If you are struggling to meet you ..read more

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