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The Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will give Americans a one-time cash benefit based on their adjusted gross income. People whose income is derived primarily from Social Security retirement benefits are wondering those benefits render them ineligible for a stimulus check. The short answer is: probably not. Your stimulus check is based on your adjusted gross income from your 2019 tax return. If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, the government will use the numbers from your 2018 return.  The amount of your income, not the source, is the only criteria for eligibility for the stimulus check.  Now if your taxable income also includes distributions from retirement accounts such as an IRA or 401(k) plan and those distributions plus your Social Security retirement income put you over the $75,000 threshold, your stimulus check could be affected. Over $75,000 in 2019?  You Could Still Qualify for a Stimulus Check. Even if your income in 2019 is over $75,000, you can still qualify for a stimulus distribution. If your income is under that amount for 2020, you could be eligible, but it will come to you in the form of a tax refund once you file your 2020 income tax return. If IRA distributions put you over the threshold in 2019, you may want to reduce or eliminate distributions altogether if you do not need the income in 2020. The CARES Act suspended mandatory distributions from IRA accounts in 2020 so you can stay under the threshold by reducing or not taking your IRA distributions. There may be other implications to not taking your IRA distributions so before you decide one way or the other, you should consult with a tax or financial advisor. Use this stimulus calculator to estimate your benefit. Haven’t Filed Your 2019 Return Yet? You may be wondering whether you should file your 2019 tax return if you have not already done so. The answer is: maybe. If you think you’re going to owe money, you may want to wait to file. When it comes to the stimulus check, the lower your income, the higher your benefit. That means you have an opportunity to compare the two tax returns to see which one would yield a larger stimulus check. If it turns out that you owe money and the 2019 return would yield a smaller stimulus, you can simply hold off on filing the return. However, if your 2018 income was higher, you may want to hurry up and file your 2019 return to qualify for a larger stimulus check. You’ll have to file the 2019 return by July 15, 2020, don’t put it off too long. If you haven’t filed either a 2018 or 2019 return, you should file them as soon as possible. According to the IRS, if you didn’t file in either year, your stimulus check could be delayed. Have other questions? Call your LegalShield Provider Law Firm. They are available everyday to help you. #COVID

Gov. Tom Wolf today has ordered that all “non-life-sustaining” businesses in Pennsylvania must close their physical locations by 8 p.m. today, March 19, with enforcement actions to follow at midnight on Saturday March 21, 2020. Business List Subject to Governor’s Closure OrderDownload

On June 28, 2019, Governor Wolf approved HB 262, which includes the reduction of the inheritance tax rate from 4.5% to 0%. This applies to property transferred from a natural parent, adoptive parent or step-parent to or for the benefit of a child age 21 or under. The provision takes effect Monday, July 1, 2019. WGSF regularly assists with administration of estates and trusts. If you have questions about probate or need assistance with estate or trust administration, please contact a member of our estates team: Michael Fiffik or Jennifer L. Bamonte.

With heavy hearts we must announce that Robert “Bob” Brown has passed away at the age of 64. Bob passed on March 10, 2019, after a battle with lung disease. He is survived by his daughter, Taryn. Bob was an avid learner; he obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from Duquesne University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh in 1979. He then attended Dickinson School of Law where he earned his juris doctorate. Admitted to the practice of law in 1989, Bob dedicated his life to the service of others. Bob served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the Executive Assistant to the Secretary of Labor and Industry and as the Deputy Secretary for Economic Development. He then served as the Chief of Staff to Senator Mike Fisher, and served in the Governor’s Office of Chief Counsel. He also worked in the insurance industry for Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania, and in the corporate sector with Thorp, Reed & Armstrong and Innisfree Mergers & Acquisitions. In addition, Bob operated his own law practice for several years. For the past seven years, Bob served as the traffic clerk for Welch, Gold, Siegel & Fiffik, P.C. A walking compendium of traffic law, Bob aided thousands of members. He was an avid Pirates fan with a wry sense of humor and a love of Latin. He will be remembered as a colleague, mentor and friend, and is deeply missed. #legalshield #traffic

We’re pleased to announce that five attorneys from Welch, Gold, Siegel & Fiffik P.C. have been selected to the 2019 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list: Michael E. Fiffik Business/Corporate, Real Estate, Business Litigation Selected to Super Lawyers 2011, 2013 – 2019 Rising Stars 2005 – 2006 David P. Siegel Personal Injury – General, Estate Planning & Probate, Real Estate Selected to Super Lawyers 2011 – 2019 Richard F. Welch Personal Injury – General Selected to Super Lawyers 2013 – 2019 Matthew A. Bole Personal Injury – General, Civil Litigation, Workers’ Compensation, Family Law Rising Stars 2015 – 2019 Melissa A. Derby General Litigation, Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI Rising Stars 2018 – 2019 No more than five percent of the lawyers in Pennsylvania are selected by Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in their practice of law. Visit our page on SuperLawyers.com.

WGSF 2018 Holiday Greeting

Appeal your property tax assessment. The assessed value of your property has a big impact on the amount of property taxes that you pay. Inaccurate assessments are common. There is no fee to file the appeal. Attorneys will give you the best chance of success. They usually charge a flat fee or take a percentage of the tax savings if successful. Deadlines are usually in March or April so act fast. Apply for a homestead exemption. Many counties offer discounts for owner-occupied properties. Check with your local county treasurer for programs in your area. Senior Citizen tax relief programs. Pennsylvania offers tax relief programs that benefit eligible seniors age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The state rebate program details can be found here: http://ow.ly/Hzzj308Zwox. Some county programs are even more generous (Allegheny and Philadelphia counties). Check your local treasurer’s website or office for more information. Bonus tip: Call the real estate team at WGSF with questions on how you can save real estate taxes. We can assist you with applications for relief programs. #realestate #taxes

May 26, 2016 The owner and operator of a Pittsburgh area warehouse storage systems company sustained significant injuries to his biceps and rotator cuff.  The surgical procedure to repair his shoulder injury failed and he was unable to return to work and operate his company.  The employer subjected him to two different independent medical examinations and filed a petition to terminate his wage loss benefits.  He contacted Attorney Michael E. Fiffik and his two injury cases were settled for a combined amount of $140,000. #settlement #workerscompensation

The Title Search After your sales contract has been accepted, a closing agent, such as our law firm, will search the public records to look for any problems with the home’s title. This search typically involves a review of land records going back sixty or more years. Approximately one-third of all title searches reveal a title problem that should be fixed before you go to closing. For instance, a previous owner may have had minor construction done on the property, but never fully paid the contractor. Or the previous owner may have failed to pay local or state taxes (See our prior article on Common Title Problems). The quality of your closing agent has a big impact on whether something found in the title search is considered a “title problem” and if so, whether it’s brought to your attention and later fixed. Even with the best closing agents, no matter how careful or efficient, human beings can make mistakes which could ultimately result in financial loss if not insured. Two Types of Title Insurance Policies There are two types of title insurance policies: Owner’s Title Insurance and Lender’s or “Mortgagee’s” Title Insurance. An Owner’s Policy is issued in the amount of the purchase price and insures the title to the property for as long as the insured person owns the property or has liability through warranties of title. A Mortgagee’s Policy insures the lender in the amount of the loan against the invalidity or unenforceability of the new mortgage. The policy decreases as the loan is paid down and expires upon payment in full of the loan. Separate title insurance policies protect different interests. Homeowners assuming that they are adequately covered without the protection of title insurance may learn a costly lesson. It is important to know that the mortgagee policy does not provide coverage for the homeowner. Also, a prior owner’s policy will not protect a new buyer. Consider, for example what would happen if upon the purchase of a new home the buyer were to rely on the seller’s owner’s policy and later discovered a previous undisclosed interest or that a large judgment or tax lien was filed against that seller after he took title to the property. Or, suppose the individual purporting to sign the deed as your seller’s wife was an imposter (believe it or not, that happens!). Although title insurance agents make every effort to eliminate the risks involved in the purchase or mortgage of real property, there will always be certain risks for the buyers and investors. The only way to be covered for these catastrophes is to purchase title insurance coverage. The title insurance policy insures your interest subject to exclusions stated in the policy and insures against loss or damage resulting from: Any title risks covered by that policy up to the amount of the policy; and any costs, attorneys’ fees and expenses we have to pay under the policy. Don’t assume that your property has no title problems or that you have adequate insurance simply because the closing agent issues a title policy. The coverage afforded by a title policy can be “gutted” with excessively broad exclusions. You should ask specifically what your policy will cover – you’re entitled to know because you are paying for it! If a claim is made against your title as insured, the title insurance underwriter protects you by defending your interest in any court case and paying the costs, attorneys’ fees, and expenses incurred in that defense. If the claim is proven to be valid, the title insurance underwriter will pay the costs of your claim, up to the amount of the policy or will undertake the responsibility of perfecting the title as insured at its own expense. Summary In summary, the benefits of title searches and insurance are: (1) clears title problems, (2) pays valid claims, and (3) provides a defense for claims attacking the title as insured. Finally, unlike most types of insurance, the title insurance premium is paid only once. If the owner’s and lender’s policy are purchased simultaneously, there is a substantial discount. Fiffik Law Group, P.C. provides a full range of services to residential and commercial buyers and sellers. We are approved attorneys for Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, Chicago Title Insurance Company and Conestoga Title Insurance Company. Our real estate services group consists of Michael E. Fiffik, Esquire and Lacey Gordon, Esquire. Reach them at 412.391.1014. #realestateclosing #closings #realestatepittsburgh #realestate #realestateinvesting #realestateattorney #titleinsurance #realestatebusiness #whatistitleinsurance #realestate #realestatepennsylvania #settlementagent

My wife, Joyce, and I would like to congratulate you and your organization for having an employee, Jennifer Bamonte, with the understanding and compassion for the elderly among your clients. Jennifer has been most patient and responsive to our needs for the required legal documents necessary for our Powers of Attorney and Wills. She has made a rather difficult (for an 87 and 82 year-old couple) preparation of acceptable documents, much easier with her patience and concern. We have been members of Legal Shield (formerly Pre-Paid Legal) for several decades and are glad to have your organization on our side. Thank you very much Member from Honey Brook, PA

This was a very stressful time in my life and I wanted LegalShield to know that they treated me wonderfully from the receptionist to the Lawyer.  They made me feel at ease. Member from Richlandton

I am very impressed with Attorney Melissa Derby.  She spoke to me with compassion and thoroughly explained the pros and cons.  I had a very positive experience.  My legal issue may not be solved yet, but I am confident that I am being expertly guided. Thank you! LegalShield Member