BANKRUPTCY LAW

• Who is the Bankruptcy Trustee and what is his/her role?
• I received something called "Notice of Commencement of Case"; what is this?
• What is an Automatic Stay?
• What is a Meeting of the Creditors?
• What is a Notice of Discharge?
• What can a debtor exempt from the Trustee's sale of assets?
• Are there options available regarding the debtor's secured consumer loans?
• What about debts to utility companies, can those be discharged by bankruptcy filings?
• Is discrimination based on bankruptcy filing prohibited in the Bankruptcy Code?
• How many years does a bankruptcy filing stay on my credit report?
• What is Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
• What is a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Plan?
• What is the basis of a Chapter 13 Plan?

CONSUMER LAW/CONSUMER DEFENSE

• Don't I have three days to cancel my Consumer contract?
• What justifies cancelling a contract?
• The dealership has just demanded that I immediately return the car I just bought back to them because they couldn't get me financed. Is that legal?
• What rights does a consumer have when a vehicle has been repossessed?
• I'd like to cancel my service contract and get a refund. Can I do that?
• What about a home-solicitation (door-to-door sales) contract?
• Can a Gift Certificate legally expire?
• Is there any legally required basic warranty coverage that automatically comes with a product?
• Is there a two-year age limit on vehicles to make a Lemon Law claim? What about a mileage restriction?
• I thought I had to give the manufacturer a set number of attempts to make repairs before I could make a claim, what is that number?
• The dealership told me the static in my speakers doesn't constitute a Lemon Law claim, is that true?
• What consumer protection laws apply to credit?

CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS

• What is considered a construction defect?
• Is mold or mold damage considered a construction defect?
• Is there a statute of limitations on when a construction defect lawsuit can be filed?
• What types of damages or monies can be recovered in a construction defect lawsuit?
• How do I prove there is a construction defect?
• How long does a typical construction defect lawsuit take?
• How much does a construction defect lawsuit cost?
• What happens if the builder or developer is out of business or bankrupt?
• Who else could a construction defect case be filed against?

IMMIGRATION

• What is a green card?
• How to Obtain a green card?
• Can I travel outside the U.S. if I have a green card?
• How long can I travel outside the U.S. with a green card?
• If I obtained my permanent residency through refugee or asylum status, what documents do I need to travel outside of the U.S?
• Will I fall out of status if my green card expires?
• What is a conditional green card?
• I stayed outside the U.S for more than 1 year and was denied re-entry. How do I show that I have not abandoned my residency status?
• How does a person become a U.S citizen?
• Can I travel outside the U.S. while my naturalization application is pending?
• How does a person become a U.S citizen?
• What are the requirements to be naturalized?
• Why should I get naturalized?
• If I committed a misdemeanor crime, would it affect my naturalization application?
• What is the naturalization application process?
• If I am a child of a U.S military service member, am I a derivative U.S citizen?
• What is a Medical Disability Waiver, N-648 Application?
  
H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa
• What positions qualify for H-1B classification?
• Who is qualified for H-1B classification?
• Is there any limitation on the number of H-1B visas that can be issued?
• Are there any specific rules an employer must follow when employing an H-1B worker?
• Can an H-1B worker change employers?
• Can an H-1B worker apply for U.S. Permanent Residence?
• How long may a person remain in H-1B classification?
• What happens if an H-1B employee is suddenly terminated?
• What paperwork must an employer keep if it employs H-1B workers?
• What do the immigration laws say about the H-1B worker's family members?

L-1 Nonimmigrant Visa
• What kinds of companies qualify to petition for L-1 employees?
• Who is qualified for L-1 classification?
• How does a person qualify for an L-1 executive or manager position?
• What is specialized knowledge?
• How long may an L-1 worker remain in the U.S.?
• Can the family of an L-1 worker go to school or engage in employment?
• Can an L-1 worker apply for U.S. permanent residence?
• Can L-1 employees change employers?
• How many L-1 visas are available each year?
• Is the L-1 classification appropriate when the petitioner is a new business?

O-1 Nonimmigrant Visa
• What is the O-1 visa category?
• How is extraordinary ability defined for scientists and business people?
• How is extraordinary ability defined for people seeking employment in the arts?
• What is a field of art for purposes of O-1 classification?
• How is extraordinary achievement defined in the motion picture or television industry??
• How does one prove extraordinary ability in science, education, business or athletics?
• How does one prove extraordinary ability in the arts?
• Is an advisory opinion required for O-1 classification?
• What are the terms of admission for O-1 nonimmigrants?
• May an O-1 nonimmigrant apply for U.S. permanent residence?

CREDIT REPAIR

• What is Credit Repair?
• Does Credit Repair Take A Long Time?
• How much does credit repair cost?
• Does the credit repair process handle charge-offs?
• Why should I choose the Smith & Garg credit repair attorneys to repair my credit?
• Will my credit score raise as a because of credit repair?
• What is a FICO score?
• Do I have to do anything in the credit repair process?
• Can I repair my credit by myself?
• Is it wise to pay off all my debt?
• Will it raise my score if I cancel the credit cards that I don't use?
• Is a charge-off bad?
• What is "Re-aging" and will help my credit score?
• What is a VantageScore? Is it the same as FICO?
• I was turned down recently when I applied for credit, Why?
• What is "Shopping" my loan and can it hurt my credit?
• Can judgments be taken off my credit report?
• I cannot afford to pay my debt, do I have any options?
• What can I do if I am a victim of identity theft?

• What is a Medical Disability Waiver, N-648 Application?

DIVORCE LAW

• Do I need a lawyer to get a divorce?
• Can I get a "quick" divorce?
• Can I file for divorce if my spouse lives in another state or county?
• If my spouse does not pay child support do I have to let him see the children?
• What is a Martial Separation Agreement?
• How long will a divorce take?
• Can my spouse prevent me from getting a divorce?
• What is Collaborative Negotiation?
• How soon can I remarry after the divorce?
• Can I stop a divorce if I change my mind?
• Can I have my marriage annulled?
• What is the difference between Legal Separation and Divorce?
• What do I do if my spouse threatens me or the children?
• Can I increase or decrease child support payments?
• What is child support?
• How is the amount of child support determined?
• I received a child support summons from the county, do I have to respond?
• My child's other parent lives in another state, can I still collect child support?
• Do I have to pay child support if I am not the father?
• What happens if I do not pay the court ordered child support?
• Can I get child support while the divorce is still pending?
• Are you only allowed to get the same amount of child support, or can this change if my circumstances change?
• I am not the child's parent, but I am the person that takes care of her. Can I obtain child support?
• A child support order has been entered against me, does this mean the money will come out of my paycheck automatically?

FAMILY LAW

• Can you adopt a family member?
• What is an adoption homestudy?
• What types of adoption are there?
• How long does an adoption take?
• How much does it cost to adopt a child?
• I adopted a child, but the mother did not know who the father was. Can the father come and take my child back?
• Can I adopt my stepchild?
• What are the requirements to be a foster parent?
• Do I have to be a foster parent before I can adopt?
• Do I have to be married in order to be a foster parent or adopt a child?

COMMERCIAL LANDLORD/TENANT FAQS

• What is a Commercial Tenant?
• What is abated rent?
• Do I have an automatic right to renew my commercial lease?
• What is Triple Net?
• The landlord is wrong about how much I owe, can they still evict me?
• The business is failing, but I have at least another 2 years on the lease. Do I have to continue to pay even after the business closes?
• The improvements I need for my business have not yet been completed, but rent is due soon. Can I delay paying my landlord because the business is not ready to open?
• The landlord has refused to make repairs or maintain the property. Is it possible to force them to make the improvements?
• Can I sue the landlord if they refuse to allow a sublease or assignment?
• I am purchasing a property that already has commercial tenants. Can I evict the current tenants?

LITIGATION

• What is Small Claims Court?
• What issues belong in Small Claims Court?
• What issues do not belong in Small Claims Court?
• How long do I have to start a small claims lawsuit? (Called the statute of limitations)
• How do I start a small claims case?
• How do I research the defendant to determine if the defendant is a corporation, limited liability company (LLC) or a partnership?
• Must I use the defendant's complete name?
• What if the defendant resides out of the State of California?
• Can an out-of-state individual or business file a claim in California?
• What is the process if I want to sue an out-of-state corporation?
• How much does it cost to start a small claims case?
• How do I defend against a small claims case?
• When should I file a counterclaim?
• May I request a jury trial?
• How do I collect money on a judgment?
• Can I appeal the judgment?

Call Smith and Garg today at 1-877-517-4275 or complete our Contact Form for a consultation!