I was recently reading my monthly AARP newsletter (yes, I am old enough for AARP) and came across an article about free "e-learning" sites for all kinds of subjects. There are literally thousands to educational materials, videos, etc that can be accessed and, in most cases, downloaded to your computer for free. The link to the AARP article is bulletin.aarp.org/freelearning.

Also, to see what new offerings there are on the Web check out Open Culture. This site checks the Web for free cultural and educational media. So, now you have no excuse to keep on learning. It is free and it is fun! Check it out ... your never too old to learn.

On February 22, 2010, The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 went in to effect.

Under the new law, card issuers are required to disclose how long it will take customers to eliminate their debt if they choose to make only minimum monthly payments. Issuers cannot raise interest rates on existing balances. If you have a balance, your old interest rate will apply to that balance.

Companies are allowed to increase the interest rate on new charges if you are more than 60 days late. There is no federal cap on the interest rate the card company can charge.

Issuers cannot charge over-the-limit fees unless a consumer agrees to have such transactions approved. You must tell your credit card company that you want to be able to go over your credit limit.

If your credit card company requires you to pay fees, they cannot total more than 25 percent of the initial credit limit.

Consumers who have been 60 days late and who are subject to a penalty rate have the right to earn back the lower rate by making minimum payments on time for six months. This provision does not go into effect until August of 2010.

For more information about the new law go to http://www.federalreserve.gov/ and click on the link "What You Need to Know: New Credit Card Rules."

Snow is not the greatest for skiing right now. So, I have been putting in extra time at the office. Due to the times, we have been having a lot of people coming in to have our office prepare and file bankruptcies. I have been assisting Kathleen in the preparation of these filings so she does not get too far behind. The "hands on" for me has been a real eye opener. There are a lot of people who just got caught in the squeeze and cannot pay their bills. Lost jobs, cut hours or cut in pay seems to be the order of the day. Hopefully, the economic landscape takes a turn for the better. But until then Kathleen and I will continue to assist those caught in the vortex.

Happy holidays to one and all. Our office will be closed on December 24th and 25th as well as December 31st and January 1st. Leslie, Kathleen and I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

NEW CHILD SUPPORT SCHEDULES AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2009



Washington State has adopted new child support schedules effective October 1, 2009. The combined incomes has been expanded. There are new provisions for incomes less than $1,000. The pension deduction has been increased from $2000 per year to $5,000 per year. And the 5% provision regarding medical expenses has been eliminated. The support minimum has been increased to $50.00 per child. Call our office if you have any questions concerning child support.

On September 1, 2009, Snohomish County Superior Court Local Court Rule 94.04(g) went in to effect requiring mandatory mediation in all family law cases, non-parental custody cases and paternity cases before such cases can proceed to trial. This applies to all cases before the court on and after September 1, 2009.

In selecting a mediator there needs to be an agreement with the other side on selecting a "neutral third party" mediator. A mediator is a person, usually an attorney, who has extensive experience in family law cases whose job is to facilitate an agreed resolution of all disputed issues between parties. A mediator does not have the authority to impose or force a resolution but assists the parties in reaching an agreed settlement.

The mediator will have to be paid by both parties. It has been my experience that mediators in Snohomish County charge on the average between $200.00 to $300.00 per hour. They usually ask for an advance deposit of between $1,500 to $2,000.

If the case is settled in mediation then final documents can be drafted, signed and submitted to the court and a trial will not be necessary. If the case cannot be settled in mediation, then the case can still proceed to trial on the scheduled trial date. In order to proceed to trial there will have to be filed with the Court proof that all parties participated in mediation and made a good faith effort to settle their differences.