Manassas Consumer Protection and Family Law Blog

These are financially challenging times for many people affected by our serious economic downturn. People are losing jobs or working reduced hours, businesses are closing or struggling, and illness is impacting families. For these reasons and more, many Virginians are having trouble making ends meet.

For someone with the obligation to pay spousal support - also known as alimony - a drop in income may make full payment impossible, or if they make full payments, there may not be enough to pay other bills and meet expenses. On the other hand, a person who receives spousal support may unexpectedly face financial hardship and require more support.

Financial difficulties are often part of divorce, even to the extent that one or both parties are considering filing for bankruptcy. The timing of both legal proceedings - the divorce in Virginia state court and the federal bankruptcy - can impact the financial circumstances of both parties when the dust has finally settled.

The unique financial situation and personal goals of a Virginian facing divorce and potentially bankruptcy will drive which proceeding to file first. Overlap of the two proceedings is complex because each judge is dealing with the couple's property and debts. 

It can be confusing – even threatening – when a student loan borrower gets a collection notice that their wages will be garnished to repay the educational loan. Anyone who receives such a garnishment notice – which would mean their employer might be required to send part of the borrower’s earnings to pay the student loan balance – should know that these notices are not always accurate, may misstate the law and are sometimes misleading.

It is common knowledge that many people face insurmountable hospital and medical bills. Even with the Affordable Care Act and expanded Medicaid, health insurance policies often include high deductibles and restrictive networks. Some families still cannot afford insurance and others face unexpected emergencies.

Readers may have seen Kaiser Health News’ recent investigative journalism into the collection practices of the University of Virginia Health System, referred to as UVA. KHN found that the health care provider has sued “thousands of patients” and engages regularly in collection activities like garnishing wages, seizing state tax refunds and placing liens on homes and other properties.