Welcome to the D&B Blog

What Bankruptcy Can and Cannot Do for You

25 Oct 2021

When you’re in debt over your head, bankruptcy may be the best option. In many ways, filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy can give you a fresh financial start. Although it affects your credit and you may need...

What You Can’t (or Shouldn’t) Include in a Will

20 Oct 2021

Writing a will is a good way to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. The fact that you wrote a will does not automatically mean it’s valid, however: certain provisions cannot be legally upheld. Before you...

antipsychotic drug abuse in nursing homes

Antipsychotic Abuse in Nursing Homes

15 Oct 2021

The New York Times recently published an article about antipsychotic drug abuse in nursing homes. It’s not a new problem, but it is a horrifying one. Nursing home residents may be prescribed antipsychotic drugs to act as “chemical straitjackets.” Antipsychotics...

Back Injuries are a Common Workers’ Compensation Issue Across Industries

05 Oct 2021

From construction sites to retail shops, back injuries are common in many industries. Whether you’re a skilled physical laborer or you work in an office, there’s always a risk of straining, spraining and otherwise injuring your back. Back injuries can...

When to Update Your Estate Plan

20 Sep 2021

Life moves faster than we realize. One moment, you’re starting your first job, and the next, you’re meeting your first grandchild. As your life changes, it’s important to update your estate plan. There are some major events that should trigger...

Can I Discharge an Unemployment Overpayment in Bankruptcy?

10 Sep 2021

Millions of Americans have lost their jobs thanks to the COVID-19 crisis. This has sent many households into financial distress, even with unemployment payments helping bridge the gap. Now imagine that you’ve been notified that you were overpaid unemployment insurance—and...

The United States Senate Has Introduced a Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Act

04 Sep 2021

On August 10, 2021, several members of the United States Senate introduced a promising new nursing home bill. The Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Act of 2021 is designed to reform the way nursing homes operate. If the bill is...

Changes to Ohio Workers’ Compensation Laws

20 Aug 2021

On June 29, 2021, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 75 into law. This law appropriates funds for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) for 2022-2023. It also created new changes to Ohio workers’ compensation laws. The bill goes...

Estate Plan: Can Your Spouse Inherit if You’re Legally Separated?

15 Aug 2021

An estate plan is a great tool: it ensures that your assets are distributed to the exact people you want to have them. What happens if you’re legally separated, and planning on getting divorced? If you die before the divorce...

When You Can Apply for a Mortgage After Bankruptcy

15 Aug 2021

Filing for bankruptcy can have a lasting effect on your finances. Even after your debts are successfully discharged, bankruptcy remains on your credit report for years to come. Many clients wonder if they’ll be able to get a mortgage after...

What to Do if You Can’t Find a Loved One’s Estate Planning Documents

25 Jul 2021

If your loved one has recently passed away or deemed mentally incompetent, you’ll need their estate planning documents. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney and other estate planning documents are designed to distribute their property according to their wishes. Unfortunately, sometimes...

Can I Get My Repossessed Car Back by Filing for Bankruptcy?

21 Jul 2021

Depending on where you live, owning a car is often necessary for getting to work, school and for running errands. A repossessed car can make a difficult situation even worse. Not only are you struggling to make ends meet, but...

Understaffing in Nursing Homes Creates a Serious Risk of Harm and Inequities

16 Jul 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected nursing homes and has torn the bandage off to reveal the historical problem of understaffing in those facilities. The HSOA Journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine recently published an article entitled, “Time to Ensure...

Slips, Trips and Falls Are a Leading Cause of Workers’ Comp Claims

05 Jul 2021

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, slips, trips, and falls are one of the leading causes of workers’ comp claims. About 15 percent of work-related fatalities fall into this category each year. They can happen at any workplace...

Socially Isolated Seniors More Likely to Suffer Falls

25 Jun 2021

When the elderly are socially isolated or live alone, they are much more likely to suffer falls. The most socially isolated seniors are 24 percent more likely to fall—and if they live alone, they’re 36 percent more likely to end...

Why and How Would Someone Disinherit a Child?

15 Jun 2021

Plenty of people have rocky relationships with their families, but few believe they’ll ever be disinherited. Whether you’re an adult child wondering why your parent failed to leave you an inheritance, or a parent hoping to prevent your estranged kids...

What to Do if You’re Sued by a Debt Collector During or After Bankruptcy

10 Jun 2021

Debt collectors are notorious for harassing debtors. Calling all day and night, sending threatening letters, and filing lawsuits are all common practices. When you’re in the process of filing for bankruptcy—or that debt was discharged in bankruptcy—it can be especially...

What Is a Trustee Required to Do?

20 May 2021

You might be considering using a trust as part of your estate plan—or someone may have asked you to be the trustee for their estate. Before you make a final decision, make sure you understand what is required of trustees....

How Divorce Affects Bankruptcy

15 May 2021

Unfortunately, not every marriage works out—and many of them fail due to financial issues. Whether you’re ending your marriage because you’re drowning in debt, or your divorce is the reason for your debt, bankruptcy may help you recover. Since your...

What to Know About Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Policies

10 May 2021

All nursing homes are required to have an elder abuse and neglect policy. These policies are designed to keep their residents safe, provide a method for patients and visitors to report abuses and demonstrate expectations of staff. However, just because...

Estate Planning for LGBTQ Couples

20 Apr 2021

Same-sex marriage has been federally recognized since 2015, thanks to the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges. This landmark decision afforded the same automatic legal protections to LGBTQ couples as heterosexual couples receive—but that doesn’t protect you if you choose...

Can You Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy?

15 Apr 2021

Love them or hate them (let’s be honest, you probably hate them), student loans are a fact of life for millions of Americans. Loans we took out in our late teens and early twenties can burden us for the rest...

How Nursing Home Elopement Can Qualify as Abuse

10 Apr 2021

When you think of elopement, you’re probably thinking of the romantic kind—wedding bells, a fabulous destination, and two folks desperately in love. When it comes to nursing home elopement, however, the situation can be dire. In a legal and nursing...