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Thank you so much for all your valuable assistance to me, my family and company for so many years! Lancaster Member

Among all of the LegalShield attorneys I have spoken with over the years Attorney Rosen is the best. Throughout our consult she was very knowledgeable in the subject matter, clarified legal points that I didn’t even know enough to ask, answered all of my questions clearly and completely and even provided examples for some, and lastly was patient, pleasant and kind throughout, without ever rushing me. In the future I will seek her counsel. Philadelphia Member

I’m writing to express my sincere gratitude to Attorney Laura Devine for her assistance in recouping my deposit from an unscrupulous contractor. Speaking with Attorney Devine allowed me to know where to start the process! Having the opportunity to get advice from her as well as informing the contractor that she was working with me encouraged him to refund my deposit. Had he not refunded my deposit, Attorney Devine gave me the follow-up steps. Thank you for your assistance! Duquesne Member

These are extremely trying times for U.S. workers, with thousands of businesses forced to close and let employees go as part of the efforts being made to combat COVID-19. If you’re out of work and having difficulty finding another job, you likely are piling up a long list of bills with no real source of income available to help pay them. The good news, though, is that there are resources to help if you’re struggling to make ends meet. 1. Apply for Unemployment Benefits. If you’re out of work, even as a sole proprietor or gig worker, you likely will qualify for unemployment compensation benefits. You should apply right away. The waiting week is waived so you’ll get benefits effective the date that you file. Apply here: https://www.uc.pa.gov/Pages/covid19.aspx 2. Get Paid Leave Benefits. The new Families First law went into effect on April 3, 2020 and entitles many workers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis to paid leave for up to 12 weeks. there are paid leave rights that kick in on and after April 3, 2020. If you’re out of work due to a COVID-19 shutdown or can’t work for a personal or family health reason, you may be entitled to paid leave. This is a new law so your employer may not fully understand its obligations so don’t hesitate to ask about it. You can find out more here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic 3. Talk to Your Landlord, Mortgage Company and Creditors. If you’re having trouble paying your bills, you’re far from alone. That’s why many creditors are offering special programs for people experiencing economic hardship right now. Banks, credit card issuers, and other lenders may be willing to work with you if you discuss your situation. Many of these creditors help on a case-by-case basis, so you won’t know what types of programs you qualify for until you ask. But some organizations are offering everything from waived late fees to deferred payments to minimum payment assistance and more. In addition, many utility and telecommunication companies are helping during the pandemic. Some companies have pledged not to discontinue service for the time being even if customers cannot pay their bills, and many also offer other types of assistance such as flexible payment plans or waived late fees. So if you’re struggling financially as a result of COVID-19, reach out to these providers to see what help you may be eligible for. Maybe local creditors won’t have these special programs. Your landlord may not be as willing to work with you. We can help. Our attorneys are available to help negotiate rent or loan deferments and repayment plans. 4. Consider Filing Bankruptcy. Are you struggling to manage debt from credit cards, medical bills, personal or business loans? Need a financial fresh start? If so, the filing for bankruptcy may be a solution to your financial problems. In addition to eliminate many of your debts, a bankruptcy can also stop the collection calls, temporarily freeze a mortgage foreclosure and halt debt collection lawsuits. A bankruptcy can put you in a financial position where you will be better able rebuild your good credit for the future. While bankruptcy can be a powerful debt solution tool, completing the bankruptcy petition is complicated. There are many decisions that must be made that will have significant consequences for the success of your bankruptcy and the fresh start that you are seeking. It is critical that you are guided by a knowledgeable and experienced attorney who understands the law and can give you a best chance for success. You can find more information about how we can help you with bankruptcy here. #bankrutpcy #chapter #consum #COVID

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