Charlotte Attorney's Informative Blog

Scheduling an appointment at Maxwell Law Firm

You may schedule an appointment by calling our office at 704-461-1883 or by doing so online by clicking here.  You save 25% off your consultation by booking online.

ATTORNEY FEES AND PAYMENT

Under normal circumstances, the Firm charges a fee for all consultations, except traffic. All consultation fees are due at the time of service, prior to the appointment.  Please note that the fee paid for Bankruptcy Appointments, is used to pull your credit report. We accept several forms of payment, including cash, check and credit card (VISA, Master Card, AmEx, Discover, and paypal (if paid in advance). The Client will receive a confirmation email after scheduling the appointment and a questionnaire will be emailed to the client based on their particular issue, prior to their scheduled consultation. The completed questionnaire may be e-mailed or faxed to us at least one hour prior to the appointment so the potential client will get the most out of his or her time. The potential client may also bring the completed questionnaire to the office on the day of the appointment. In that event, we ask that the potential client arrive at least ten minutes early so that the attorney can review the individual’s information in preparation for the meeting. We also ask that the potential client bring to the appointment any pay stubs, contracts, agreements, company handbooks, and/or other significant documents related to the case.

TYPES OF APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

This firm offers services for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Debt Defense,  Tax Debt Defense, Small Business, and Uncontested Divorces legal services. Note No consultation is necessary for traffic defense services, please see our  traffic evaluation form  for your free traffic ticket evaluation.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION

An individual becomes a client upon the Firm’s receipt of the signed representation agreement and payment of any applicable legal fees pursuant to the agreement.

ATTORNEY’S AVAILABILITY

The attorneys avoid interruptions while working on client matters. As a result, they typically take phone calls and visits by appointment only. If you become a client, the attorneys normally return phone messages and emails in order of urgency. Please be assured that the attorneys or their assistants will return your message at his/her earliest opportunity. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ALSO PROVIDE TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF CLIENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO COME INTO THE OFFICE.

CANCELLATIONS/RESCHEDULING

We ask that potential clients provide us with at least twenty (24) hour notice of a cancellation or request to schedule an appointment, in order to avoid cancellation fees. ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO FAIL TO CALL OR EMAIL WITHIN TWENTY FOUR (24) HOURS BEFORE THEIR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT SHALL BE CHARGED A CANCELLATION FEE.  If you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment please call or email our office before the time listed above and do so. We will send you a confirmation email showing that your appointment has been canceled or rescheduled.

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Posted by Mobile Notary Service

From montrealgazette.com

For the last 18 years, realtor Janice Newton has been guiding buyers, new or veteran, through the maze of home ownership. The steps, as far as this co-owner of the Royal LePage Monkland Ave. franchise is concerned, must be built on one solid detail.

How much of a mortgage is your bank willing to lend?

“The first thing prospective buyers need to do,” Newton said, “is go to the bank and get pre-qualified for their mortgage.”

That’s the point at which it is clear to them how much money the bank will let them borrow, based on their salary and credit check. This way, they can plan any offer they make based upon this knowledge, as well as a guarantee of the rate at which they can borrow.

“Normally these rates are guaranteed for 60 or 90 days so it’s a very important tool,” she said. “They will get the lower rate if the rates go up or down, so it’s a double protection.”

What this buyer can then bring to the table is a letter from the bank with these details, an important piece of paper when an agent is presenting an offer, she says. “If there are multiple offers, we like to have this letter with us to show to the vendor that we have pre-approval. The vendor often opts to go with this, even sometimes if it’s a lower price.”

So when a prospective buyer contacts her, Newton’s first job is to set them up, if they’re looking, with a mortgage broker and a bank. Another reason that she asks buyers for letters of pre-approval is today’s market, in which sellers simply will not accept offers from people contingent on selling their own homes, she says.

They must also have a down payment, which is usually 10 per cent of the price of the house.

The strategy if the buyer has a home to sell is to leave enough time between the time their house sells and when they must go to the notary to sign the deed of sale, she says. “We try to give it two or three months.”

So with time established between accepting an offer and the time they have to move out -and once that mortgage pre-approval is in place, she goes over the criteria of what the buyer is seeking in their new home.

“It’s a very emotional business and can be a little crazy,” Newton admits. “So they’re really counting on their agent to remain calm through all of this and make sure they see everything that fits their criteria as soon as it comes on the market.”

The agent usually has a checklist that includes the price of the home and the basics that they’re after, she says. “You can call it their wish list, and prioritize it.”

While people today are more savvy about prices because of the Internet, Newton still needs to advise clients who might not be familiar with certain neighbourhoods.

Pleaseseefirs tsteps, PageD11

“The agent needs to know the neighbourhood, all the schools and sporting activities, all the facilities available in the area,” she said.

Good structure is the most important in buying a house, she says, meaning good foundation around the home, good brickwork, nice hardwood floors, electrical and the roof. “I say look, you can put in the in-ground pool, looking for one sets a limit on choices,” she said.

There are elements like plumbing that can be updated, she says. “It wouldn’t stop me from buying a property. But it also depends on their tolerance level, how much renovation they want to do.”

When clients find a house they like, Newton recommends that they get their offer accepted, and make it conditional to a building inspection, which can cost between $500 and $600. ” Some vendors do pre-sale inspections, but most people want to have their own inspector,” she said.

“And I strongly recommend that the buyer goes with the inspector

when they do the inspection,” she said. “A written report isn’t that easy to read, so if you’re on site you can be shown certain things.”

Then the buyer picks a notary, sometimes offered by the bank, who does the title search to make sure there are no liens on the property and who drafts the deed of loan and the deed of sale.

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Posted by Charlotte Mobile Notary

From money.usnews.com

If you’re combining your life with a new spouse, moving from one house to another, or just frustrated with the amount of documentation you have filed (or unfiled) in your basement, it’s a good time to simplify your finances. Simplification is not only practical, it is beautiful. This is the concept of kanso, a Japanese aesthetic usually applied to gardens. Through a stretch of the mind, we can apply this beauty to our lives and our finances.

1. Reduce the number of bank accounts.

If you follow the latest changes among high-yield savings accounts, you may have accumulated a collection of bank accounts with small sums of money in most. Consider reducing your banking matrix to only the essential. I recommend keeping one interest-bearing checking account at a convenient location and one online savings account, but you may want to simplify even further by maintaining only a checking account.

2. Merge your investment accounts to one location.

I didn’t have cash up front to fully fund my first Roth IRA, so I created an automatic investment plan at a brokerage with no minimum investment amount. In subsequent years, I preferred to invest a lump sum once a year. With cash available, I was able to meet the minimum investment requirements at a more favored brokerage. In addition, I have a number of non-retirement accounts spread out across several brokerages, including a few I opened to take advantage of account opening bonuses.

With investments spread out like this, I have to manage several extra forms when I organize my documentation for filing income taxes. It takes some work and possibly access to a notary public, but it is worthwhile to merge these accounts at your favorate discount brokerage as much as possible.

3. Eliminate unnecessary credit cards.

When you check your credit report for the first time from AnnualCreditReport.com, you may notice, like I did, you have several inactive credit cards. While canceling older cards could damage your credit score, considering keeping the oldest cards and consolidating your balances and credit limits. You may still need to avoid fees when transferring a balance from one card to another, so pay attention to the terms.

Use just one credit credit for all your spending, pay off the bill every month, and earn cash back or other rewards. If you’re not in the position to use credit at this level, simplify your debt payoff strategy by prioritizing your credit cards.

4. De-clutter your possessions.

It’s easy to fill up a house with things you like. For the most part, music, movies, games, books, and electronics contribute to the enjoyment of your life. I’m not going to suggest extreme sparse living by eliminating everything you own, but there is an argument for getting rid of all but the most essential items. I am in favor of allowing the possessions that no longer bring joy to be recycled, re-gifted, or returned. For example, you can clean out your CD and DVD collection by selling them on eBay or Craigslist or by trading them in for Amazon.com gift certificates.

5. Optimize your records.

As a result of having too many bank accounts, investment accounts, credit cards, and possessions, you may find you have too much paperwork. Eventually you get around to filing papers, but there is a better system. All that’s needed is a scanner and a shredder. After scanning important documentation, organize all your electronic documents and back up your files to an external hard drive or an online service.

Simplifying your personal finances is rewarding through a reduction of stress and clutter. You will have more mobility and flexibility, and if for any reason another individual needs to step in and help you manage your finances, it will be easier.

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Posted by Mobile Notary

By Kimberly Bowen

What Is A Public Notary?

A notary public is a public citizen who is appointed by the state to decrease fraud by verifying people’s identity, administering oaths, witnessing the signing of legal documents and determining whether those who are signing documents are knowingly and willingly doing so. Other common duties involve witnessing the opening of safe deposit boxes, issuing subpoenas and certify copies of some document types. The exact duties and length of service of these public officers vary from state to state. In South Carolina, Florida and Maine, they can perform wedding ceremonies.

They are required to keep a record of the documents they certify. Additionally, they use an embossed stamp or seal to accompany the signatures on the documents. The stamps or seals have assigned numbers that help track which notary witnessed the information. This aids in deterring fraud.

Notaries are impartial witnesses. These public officers cannot refuse service to anyone unless they suspect that person of fraud, cannot verify his or her identification or are concerned about the person’s mental awareness.

Does Notarization Make A Document True?

Even though a document may be notarized, it does not make the form true or legal. All it confirms is that the identity of the person signing the document has been verified. A notary is not responsible for the truthfulness of the document itself.

Does An Attorney Need to Prepare the Documents?

You can prepare your legal documents through an attorney, an online legal forms service (such as US Legal) or on your own, according to your situation and circumstances. Attorneys or other staff in legal offices can notarize documents if they have followed the processes required by the state.

Where Can I Find A Notary?

• The national registry for notaries public
• Notary Public Licensing Bureau for your state
• Search the internet
• Look in the phonebook
• City or town halls
• Banks

What Do I Need To Bring?

• Your documents to be signed (Do not sign them ahead of time.)
• Picture identification (current driver’s license, passport or other government issued picture identification)
• Money to pay for the service (Most states dictate the amount they can charge. It is usually between $0.50 and $10. However, some states including Alaska, Iowa and Maine can charge whatever they would like within a reasonable amount.)

Notario Publico and Notary Public

A notario publico, a high-ranking official who oversees legal matters in Latino countries, can perform many duties. Several of these include giving legal advice, preparing legal documents, arbitrating and looking for inconsistencies in legal documents. A notary public is not authorized to do any of these things.

How Does One Become a Notary?

Some states require tests, classes or even fingerprinting before an individual can begin working. Other states simply require the person to fill out a form and pay a fee. In order to qualify, the individual cannot have any felonies. If you come across an unethical or unprofessional public notary, you can report the person to your Secretary of State. Since they are appointed by their state, they cannot notarize documents in other states unless they are authorized to do so. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To

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The integrity of a Republican candidate’s congressional campaign came under fire this week after news emerged that three notary publics she used in gathering petition signatures admitted to professional misconduct.

Nan Hayworth’s campaign manager, John Hicks, along with other notaries, admitted to misconduct on a court witness stand on Wednesday in regards to the handling of Independence Party petitions. Hayworth, a retired Mt. Kisco ophthalmologist, is one of two potential Republican opponents to Congressman John Hall (D-Dover) in the mid-term elections.

During the court review of the petitions, Hicks admitted that the charges by Congressman’s John Hall campaign were true, and that he didn’t uphold the law “in the traditional sense” when gathering signatures.

As a small, fusion party in New York, the Independence Party, must use notaries, when party members are not available to carry petitions. This helps to reduce errors and petition mishandling. More importantly, notary publics must swear each person in before they sign a petition sheet. The lawyer for Hall’s campaign alleges that Hayworth’s campaign did not meet the legal criteria and that her volunteers and staff consistently perpetuated fraud when gathering signatures.

While Hicks, along with two others, admitted to not following New York law, Hicks attempted to distance his personal petition practices from the campaign he manages. On the stand, he denied coordinating the campaign’s petition process, first insisting that he did not know who was responsible and later making the claim that nobody had coordinated this important step of ballot access.

A few weeks back, Nan Hayworth’s campaign had denied any wrongdoing in an email to Left of the Hudson:

The Hayworth campaign categorically and vehemently rejects the allegations that any campaign staffer, notary or others engaged in deliberate fraud regarding Independence Party petitions.

I now wonder if that email message was a deliberate parsing of words by Hayworth’s campaign. While they’re now admitting to mishandling the petitions, they’re denying their culpability, insisting that they did not do so  deliberately. This does not absolve them; Hicks as a lawyer, former Orange County Republican Committee Chairman, and notary, must have known better.

John Hall’s campaign responded to Hick’s admission:

“I’m glad that Mr. Hicks came clean that he never swore in signers, despite a clear legal requirement for him to do so. He’s an experienced attorney and this is not his first election. He should have known better than to break the law,” Hall campaign manager Patrick McGarrity said. “However, his efforts to deny that anyone in the Hayworth campaign coordinated their petition efforts is disingenuous at best. Somehow, a petition arrived at the New York State Board of Elections in Albany.”

One other Hayworth campaign worker, a notary, testified to not swearing in petition signers as required by law. Other Hayworth notaries defended their petition practices, even despite the insistence of signers who claim they were not sworn in.

One politician, a Yorktown Town Councilman, Vishnu Patel, admitted his involvement in the mishandling of petitions, saying that he gathered a signature for his wife and then turning the page over to her to notarize. Councilman Patel is not a member of the Independence Party or a notary and cannot carry Independence Party petitions.

The notary section on a petition page is a written legal declaration. The document attests to the identity of those signing it as well as the identity of the person carrying it. Notaries are not just identify petition signers, but witness that signers wish for the candidate to be the party’s nominee; thus notaries must swear in petition signers. Notary publics who violate this process are found to have committed fraud.

Patel’s wife, Dipika, contradicted her husband during her testimony, claiming that she gathered more than 70 signatures all by herself. The Hall campaign, however, has collected several affidavits from  signees regarding the Patels’ conduct, which disputes both their claims. Hall’s campaign maintains that the Patels systemically committed fraud.

In a press release, Hall’s campaign backs up this claim:

“It seems more than suspect that the only instance of fraud that Patel admitted to is the one that was extensively covered by News 12 in the days preceding his appearance in court,” Hall manager McGarrity said. “Patel went into the trial knowing specifically of one signature that we had evidence against. There is absolutely no credibility to his claim that this one ‘mistake’ is the limit to the fraud he perpetrated.”

While John Hall’s campaign may be more focused on getting Hayworth knocked off the Independence Party line; the issue for many following this issue is not this particular election but Hayworth’s campaign’s integrity. Her staff and volunteers were caught red-handed in election misconduct and their response is basically, “oh well, who cares?”

In addition to this muddying the election waters, this misconduct degrades the trust the public seeks in the notaries. How can New York State residents trust notarized documents when it’s OK—at least according to those who may potentially work one day for a federal lawmaker—to not follow the law when handling legal documents. How could anyone feel comfortable with having a notary engaging in misconduct later handling their documents, especially critical ones like those in regards to estate planning or property titles? The office of the notary, as a whole, becomes suspect and falls apart if you can’t find people to honestly verify signatures.

Supreme Court Justice Michael Lynch is scheduling further court proceedings on this issue. Hall and his campaign intend to show that these instances of misconduct, and others, reveal a systemic problem in the Hayworth campaign where notarial fraud was prevalent.  It is possible that this may invalidate many of Hayworth’s Independence Party petitions.

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Posted by Concord Mobile Notary

Finish drawing up the contract and provide two sets of lines for the signature of both parties to the contract. For instance, “Signature _______________ Printed Name _____ Date__________.” Add one for each party to the agreement.

Skip a line to enter the notary signature line. Enter a blank line for a signature using underscores again (_____________), then go to the next line and type “Notary’s official signature” directly under that empty line.

Skip another line and enter another blank space with underscores where the notary can write in information. Press enter to go to the next line and then type in “Commission Expiration Date” directly under that line.

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