Asset Protection 101: Are You and Your Family Protected from Litigation, Creditors, and Divorce?
When Sean “Diddy” Combs paid off the $18.8 million mortgage on his lavish Star Island mansion in Miami, Florida, it wasn’t just a headline-grabbing move. The decision came at a time when Diddy faced mounting civil lawsuits...more
On November 7, 2024, several Pennsylvania state senators from oil and gas producing regions introduced Senate Bill 1346 of 2024, which proposes to change the way that revenues from Pennsylvania’s unconventional well fee are...more
On August 6, 2024, Governor Maura Healy signed the Affordable Homes Act (the Act”), legislation whose purpose is to address rising housing costs within the Commonwealth by implementing public investment, changes to zoning...more
An earlier Tax Tracker discussed the NYS Court of Appeals decision that revived a lawsuit brought by the Tax Equity Now (TENNY) coalition, which claims that New York City’s property tax system violates the federal Fair...more
Most Florida residents are aware that Florida has a homestead exemption law, but there is more to it than one might think. There are actually three different sets of laws in Florida that deal with the homestead. One of...more
Texas property taxes and the general residential homestead exemptions have been all over the news this past year due to the passing of Proposition 4 in November 2023. This law increased the annual Texas homestead tax...more
On July 9, 2024, the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer (the County) released the newly appraised values for properties within their jurisdiction. As required by state law, every county in Ohio is required to update property...more
A new law that could have sweeping impacts on Georgia school districts’ property tax revenue was passed earlier this year, but its implementation is conditioned upon the passing of a constitutional amendment by statewide...more
In an important ruling for personal bankruptcy cases in Connecticut, the Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled that Connecticut’s new homestead law, which increased the exempt amount of a “homestead” from $75,000 to $250,000,...more
Suppose you are a lender or credit provider to California consumers. At the start of the pandemic, one of your customers runs up $50,000 in debt and fails to pay. You obtain a judgment and secure it by recording an...more
With 72% voting in favor, Arizonans approved Proposition 209 decreasing the maximum lawful annual interest rate on “medical debt” from 10% to 3%, and increasing the amount of the homestead and other exemptions. These changes,...more
“Summertime and the Living” Isn’t Easy- Summer in the New York Metro Area can be challenging. Some would say it sucks. It gets really hot. When it rains, it pours – no spritz here. The humidity is oppressive. Ironically, a...more
Philadelphia Zoo’s New Giraffe Exhibit Fosters Friendship Between People and Animals- Giraffe Encounter, the Philadelphia Zoo’s newest exhibit that opened last Thursday, allows the public to get up close and personal with...more
A homestead exemption is a law that protects a certain amount of equity in an individual’s primary residence from the claims of his or her creditors or, in some states like Florida, the amount of the exemption is unlimited...more
Today’s work, as lawmakers close on the sixth week since the session’s opening, focused on local legislative initiatives in the House while there was more variety of subjects taken up by the Senate. There was also a pause of...more
While these last two years have often caused individuals to forget the day or month we are in, one thing hasn’t changed: deadlines. It is again the time for senior living facilities around the state to evaluate whether the...more
Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's Advisory Commission on Property Tax Reform (the Commission) issued a report on Dec. 28, 2021, titled "The Road to Reform: A Blueprint for Modernizing and Simplifying New York City's...more
A new law in Arizona, HB 2617, makes significant changes to Arizona’s homestead exemption and expands the rights of judgment creditors. The law went into effect on January 1, 2022, but creditors with judgments entered before...more
HB 2617 is significantly altering the Arizona homestead exemption laws on December 31, 2021. Under current law, up to $150,000 in equity proceeds in a debtor’s home is exempt from collection by creditors. Additionally,...more
In 1993, Connecticut enacted a homestead exemption permitting an exemption in the equity in one’s home (primary residence) up to $75,000. This was significant at the time because Connecticut did not previously have any...more
There has been a good amount of commentary regarding Arizona House Bill 2617, which amends the Arizona Homestead Statute, and related statutes, effective January 1, 2022. Despite what appears to be the consensus, the Bill is...more
A bankruptcy judge in the Middle District of Florida recently sustained a Chapter 7 trustee’s objection to a non-Florida resident debtor’s attempted claim of the Florida homestead exemption. Although the debtor had lived in...more
Florida has long been known as a hot-spot for retirees and snowbirds to move for its sunny weather and beautiful beaches. In recent years, however, since the "SALT Deduction Cap" established by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act...more
The 2021 increase to California’s homestead exemption to up to $600,000 stands to change the legal and economic relationship of guarantors with their lenders and vendors who make loans or sell goods or services on...more
Only 347 Days to Go- What a year it has already been, and we are just beginning the third full week of 2021. The Democrats swept Georgia, thereby giving that Party a majority in the U.S. Senate and ostensible control over...more