Monthly Archives: September 2012

Florida Trespass Law

Trespass is commonly understood as entering upon the property of someone else without their invitation or authorization to do so. In Florida, statute section 810.09 allows property owners or authorized representatives to remove anyone they wish from the premises for any reason. This law is often times enforced within public establishments and has raised a concern of legalized discrimination.

Under the trespass statute, a person commits a first degree misdemeanor if they defy an order to leave, personally communicated to them by the owner of the premises or by an authorized person, or if the person willfully opens any door, fence, or gate or does any act that exposes animals, crops, or other property to waste, destruction, or freedom; unlawfully dumps litter on property; or trespasses on property other than a structure or conveyance. For misdemeanor trespass, possible penalties include:

  • Up to 60 days in jail;
  • Up to 6 months of probation, and;
  • Up to $500 in fines.

Under certain circumstances in Florida the charge can even be enhanced to a third degree felony with elevated penalties.

There are several viable defenses to a charge of trespass and it is important to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney in the event you are arrested for trespassing. If you or a loved have been arrested for trespassing, call Blick Law Firm today and schedule a free 15-minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer.

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Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is a complex area of law and involves many considerations, including whether to file, determining which type of Bankruptcy to file, the use of exemptions, understanding the protections of the Bankruptcy Code and using them to your advantage.

Many people utilize bankruptcy as a strategy for resolving unmanageable debt. Today, it is more common than most realize and can be a refreshing solution to a debt-ridden life.

When considering Bankruptcy, a Chapter 7 filing is a useful way to discharge of most debt and can relieve the burden of creditor collection attempts. Chapter 7 Bankruptcyis generally available when the debtor has little property aside from the basic necessities like furniture and clothing; and the debtor has difficulty making payments on basic expenses, or has very little money left after doing so.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is a liquidation proceeding whereby the debtor turns over all non-exempt property to the bankruptcy trustee who then converts it to cash to pay off the creditors. Usually within four months the debtor then receives a discharge of all dischargeable debts. Usually, these dischargeable debts include your credit card debt, old medical bills, utilities bills, unsecured loans, pay day loans, and most other types of unsecured debt.

The advantage to filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is that your unsecured debt is completely eliminated, the process is fairly quick, and the automatic stay that takes place after filing prohibits creditors from making collection efforts.

It is important to be aware that while Chapter 7 Bankruptcy may ultimately relieve a debtor of the burden of insurmountable unsecured debt, it is a process that requires the production of several documents and tedious preparation. The more prepared the debtor is, the more seamless the process becomes.

No matter what your situation is, obtaining quality legal consultation from an experienced bankruptcy attorney is beneficial. Contact Blick Law Firm today at (813) 931-0840. Schedule a free 15 minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer to assess what option is best for you. Think quick, call Blick!

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Juvenile Crimes in Florida

In Florida, persons under the age of 18 are considered minors and tried as juveniles for crimes they commit rather than as adults. The distinction in Florida, as in all states, is made to separate offenses perpetrated by those under a certain age determined as the age of majority. In certain cases, the court will still sentence a juvenile as an adult depending on the severity of the crime committed.

In contrast to the objective to punish adults for their crimes, the state seeks to rehabilitate juveniles and prevent future misconduct. With the focus of juvenile justice set on rehabilitation, the courts seek to assist minors in functioning properly in a normal adult society. However, many juveniles face strict sentences for their crimes, and often times detainment of the juvenile can last for extended periods.

Many people expect juveniles to receive a slap on the wrist for their offenses, but courts often times attempt to deliver a strong message to youths in order to enforce a positive awareness of the consequences of their decisions.

If your minor child has been arrested for a crime and you have questions or concerns about their rights, call Blick Law Firm today at (813) 931-0840. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer.

 

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Real Estate: IRS rule on excluding gain of home sale

If you have made a capital gain from the sale of your main home, you may be eligible to exclude all or part of the gain from your income. The Internal Revenue Service issued a pamphlet, Publication 523, Selling Your Home, which provides directions, rules, and requirements for filing capital gains when selling your home. The pamphlet gives thorough instructions on how to determine whether or not you qualify for the exclusion.

The general requirements include:

  • The home sold is considered your main home – “main home” is defined in the pamphlet as the home you lived in the majority of the year whether it is a house, condo, cooperative apartment, mobile home, or houseboat.
  • You have lived in the home at least two of the past five years
  • Additionally, you are allowed to exclude up to $250,000 of the gain on the sale of your main home if you file as an individual; or up to $500,000 if filed jointly.

Generally, the income exclusion is allowed if these requirements are met unless: you have excluded the gain from a prior home within two years prior of the current sale; you only sold the land on which your main home is located, but not the house itself, or; you sold the remainder interest in your home to a related person.

If you or a loved has legal concerns regarding the sale of your home call Blick Law Firm today at (813) 931-0840. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer. Think quick, call Blick.

For more information regarding the IRS Publication 523 visit: www.irs.gov/pub523.

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Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a complex area of law and involves many considerations, including whether to file, determining which type of Bankruptcy to file, the use of exemptions, understanding the protections of the Bankruptcy Code and using them to your advantage.

Many people utilize bankruptcy as a strategy for resolving unmanageable debt. Today, it is more common than most realize and can be a refreshing solution to a debt-ridden life.

When considering Bankruptcy, a Chapter 7 filing is a useful way to discharge of most debt and can relieve the burden of creditor collection attempts. However, many times a debtor has equity in a home or property and would like to file for Bankruptcy but not surrender their home. In these cases, a debtor can reaffirm the debt for the particular property they would like to maintain and keep making the payments, or file for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy which allows the debtor to reorganize the debt into a consolidated and more manageable payment.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy gives the debtor an opportunity to manage their debt over a period of 3 to 5 years and still maintain the rights to both exempt and non-exempt property. This is particularly useful when the debtor has a large amount of equity in the home or property. Chapter 13 also helps by reducing payments on debts that cannot be discharged by Chapter 7, such as Student Loans; additionally, Chapter 13 helps avoid wage garnishment, delays the foreclosure process on the home, protects co-signers, and allows for an overall extension on the repayment term of most debts.

However, the decision to declare Bankruptcy also comes with consequences. The disadvantages of filing Chapter 13 include:

  • Credit reports will show a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy filing for 7 years
  • The debtor will receive high interest rates on future credit
  • The debtor will have a strict budget in place in order to ensure the reorganized debt payments
  • Legal representation fees tend to be higher, plus added court costs

If you are having trouble meeting your debt obligations, consult an experienced Tampa Bankruptcy attorney to discuss your options.

Call Blick Law Firm today at 813-931-0840. Make an appointment for a free 15 minute consultation with Michael Blickensderfer to see if Bankruptcy is right for you.

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Driving with a Suspended License

Everyday Florida drivers get behind the wheel unaware that their diving privilege has been suspended, cancelled, or revoked. Law enforcement officers make daily arrests for driving with a suspended license which can lead to complications when trying to reinstate your driving privilege.

Driving without knowledge of the suspension generally leads to the issuance of a non-criminal citation. However, it is important to know that payment of the non-criminal citation operates as an acknowledgment of guilt and points may be assessed against your license because it is considered a moving violation.

In Florida, it is a criminal traffic offense if a driver operates a motor vehicle with knowledge that their driver’s license is cancelled, suspended, or revoked. The following charges may result from Driving with a Suspended License with knowledge of the suspension:

(1) First conviction is a second degree misdemeanor;

(2) Second conviction is a first degree misdemeanor;

(3) Third, or subsequent conviction, is a third degree felony and possible jail time may have to be served.

It is important to know that multiple infractions of Driving with a Suspended License can lead to very serious consequences, and drivers with repeated violations can become listed as Habitual Traffic Offenders.

The penalty of driving with your license suspended, whether you have knowledge or not, can be serious and generally lead to complications with your future driving privilege.

If you or a loved one have been arrested or issued a citation for driving with a suspended license, call Blick Law Firm today at (813) 931-0840. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation with attorney Michael Blickensderfer.

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