tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-167789922024-02-08T07:00:11.393-08:00The Austin LawyerAnswering your questions about bankruptcy, business law, wills/trusts/probate, and family law in Austin, Texas.The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-2934004228286008562013-08-09T07:53:00.001-07:002013-08-09T07:53:50.336-07:00He turned the tables on the credit card company<div dir="ltr"><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.666666984558105px;line-height:20.70833396911621px">"They signed the documents without looking. They said what usually their borrowers say in court: 'We have not read it'," said Mr Mikhalevich.</span><br> <div><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.666666984558105px;line-height:20.70833396911621px"><br></span></div><div><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/borrowing/creditcards/10231556/Man-who-created-own-credit-card-sues-bank-for-not-sticking-to-terms.html?fb">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/borrowing/creditcards/10231556/Man-who-created-own-credit-card-sues-bank-for-not-sticking-to-terms.html?fb</a><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.666666984558105px;line-height:20.70833396911621px"><br> </span></div></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-47010798971707614412013-07-26T12:19:00.001-07:002013-07-26T12:19:35.101-07:00James Gandolfini's Will - A Case Study In What Not To Do<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100910985/">http://www.cnbc.com/id/100910985/</a><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-67198014368684308282013-07-24T08:49:00.001-07:002013-07-24T08:49:49.260-07:00Emotions and Investing - Good Advice From Vanguard<div dir="ltr"><a href="https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/investingtruths/investing-truth-about-emotion">https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/investingtruths/investing-truth-about-emotion</a><br></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-70105326102820440362013-07-15T10:46:00.000-07:002013-07-15T10:47:15.467-07:00Chase admits abusive debt collection practices<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/chase-made-errors-in-nine-percent-of-credit-card-collection-lawsuits-internal-survey-finds-20130711">http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/chase-made-errors-in-nine-percent-of-credit-card-collection-lawsuits-internal-survey-finds-20130711</a><br> <div><br></div><div><br></div></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-48144593208457165212013-07-01T10:46:00.001-07:002013-07-01T10:46:56.440-07:00Some good stuff on Intellectual Property and Mergers & Acquisitions from Richard Hsu<div dir="ltr"><p style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">1.<span style="font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">IP Assets in an M&A Transaction: <a href="http://hsutube.com/ip-assets-m-a/" target="_blank">http://hsutube.com/ip-assets-m-a/</a></span></p> <p class="" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></p><p style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">2.<span style="font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">Assignment in a Change of Control: <a href="http://hsutube.com/assign-coc/" target="_blank">http://hsutube.com/assign-coc/</a> (inspired by <a href="http://www.shearman.com/mkennedy/" target="_blank">Mike Kennedy</a>)</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif"> </span></p><p style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">3.<span style="font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">Collaborative Development Financing: <a href="http://hsutube.com/collab-dev-fin/" target="_blank">http://hsutube.com/collab-dev-fin/</a> (inspired by <a href="http://www.shearman.com/mkessel/" target="_blank">Mark Kessel</a>)</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif"> </span></p><p style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">4.<span style="font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">IP Ownership in a Joint Development: <a href="http://hsutube.com/ip-ownership/" target="_blank">http://hsutube.com/ip-ownership/</a></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif"> </span></p><p style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">5.<span style="font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">Reseller vs. License: <a href="http://hsutube.com/reseller-vs-license/" target="_blank">http://hsutube.com/reseller-vs-license/</a></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif"> </span></p><p style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">6.<span style="font-size:7pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'"> </span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">What is the Licensed Property? <a href="http://hsutube.com/licensed-prop/" target="_blank">http://hsutube.com/licensed-prop/</a></span></p> </div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-29425679320272970582013-06-23T21:05:00.000-07:002013-06-23T21:06:13.218-07:00Former DA arrested for hiding evidence<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/ken-anderson-court-of-inquiry-resumes/nXRLm/#cmComments">http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/ken-anderson-court-of-inquiry-resumes/nXRLm/#cmComments</a><br> </div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-68794367988157130942013-06-21T18:31:00.001-07:002013-06-21T18:31:32.251-07:00Should commissions on mutual funds be illegal?<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2013/06/21/the-intelligent-investor-going-dutch-could-fee-hurdles-come-down-everywhere/">http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2013/06/21/the-intelligent-investor-going-dutch-could-fee-hurdles-come-down-everywhere/</a><br> <div><br></div><div><br></div></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-59694711361424634462013-06-10T11:49:00.001-07:002013-06-10T11:49:36.987-07:00Attorneys - Here is how not to please the Court<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.cathnewsusa.com/2012/01/judge-orders-minnesota-attorney-arrested-for-anti-catholic-slurs/">http://www.cathnewsusa.com/2012/01/judge-orders-minnesota-attorney-arrested-for-anti-catholic-slurs/</a><br> </div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-50236767095025509982013-06-07T08:58:00.001-07:002013-06-07T08:58:57.438-07:00Watch out for Revocable Living Trust Scams<div dir="ltr"><div style>From the State Bar of Texas:</div><div><br></div><a href="http://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForThePublic/FreeLegalInformation/ElderLaw/LivingTrustScamsandtheSeniorConsumer.pdf">http://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForThePublic/FreeLegalInformation/ElderLaw/LivingTrustScamsandtheSeniorConsumer.pdf</a><br> <div><br></div><div><br></div></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-80250774816717740042013-06-04T14:13:00.003-07:002013-06-04T14:13:41.409-07:00An argument in favor of ETF's<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323826804578468933572113120.html?mod=hp_jrmodule">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323826804578468933572113120.html?mod=hp_jrmodule</a><br> </div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-28318930786477915602013-06-04T14:13:00.001-07:002013-06-04T14:13:21.997-07:00You are overpaying for money management<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/youre-overpaying-for-money-management-2013-06-03?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLE_Video_Third">http://www.marketwatch.com/story/youre-overpaying-for-money-management-2013-06-03?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLE_Video_Third</a><br> </div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-3086006325025792013-04-30T08:48:00.000-07:002013-04-30T08:49:08.255-07:00Another rich guy with no Will - Howard Hughes<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.enotes.com/howard-hughes-will-reference/howard-hughes-will">http://www.enotes.com/howard-hughes-will-reference/howard-hughes-will</a><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-36159626201168306802013-04-30T08:21:00.000-07:002013-04-30T08:22:07.987-07:00Largest unclaimed inheritance in the history of New York<div dir="ltr">It's important to have a Will!<div><br></div><div><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><a href="http://gawker.com/holocaust-survivor-leaves-largest-unclaimed-inheritance-484605126" target="_blank">http://gawker.com/holocaust-survivor-leaves-largest-unclaimed-inheritance-484605126</a><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><span><font color="#888888"><br clear="all"> <div><br></div></font></span></font></span></div></div></div><br></div></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-45121277581809217302013-04-02T10:43:00.001-07:002013-04-02T10:43:35.108-07:00Supreme Court Haiku<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://supremecourthaiku.com/blog1/">http://supremecourthaiku.com/blog1/</a><br></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-41406243196618258922013-04-01T14:13:00.001-07:002013-04-01T14:13:29.994-07:00Wow - sobering stat<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><strong style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial;font-size:11.818181991577148px;line-height:17.27272605895996px">MORE SENIORS TURNING TO PAYDAY LOANS, STUDY FINDS</strong><br> <div dir="ltr"> <span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial;font-size:11.818181991577148px;line-height:17.27272605895996px">Dallas Morning News - March 31, 2013</span><br style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial;font-size:11.818181991577148px;line-height:17.27272605895996px"> <span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial;font-size:11.818181991577148px;line-height:17.27272605895996px">When the Center for Responsible Lending released its latest report on payday loans, one statistic jumped out at me: More than 25 percent of bank payday loan borrowers are Social Security recipients. This is the latest in a series of studies showing that seniors are carrying more debt at a time in their lives when they can ill afford such a burden.</span><br style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial;font-size:11.818181991577148px;line-height:17.27272605895996px"> <span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial;font-size:11.818181991577148px;line-height:17.27272605895996px"> </span><br style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial;font-size:11.818181991577148px;line-height:17.27272605895996px"> <a href="http://txcatholic.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=de09e4a63fff28ade4c599ed2&id=16d24cbcd2&e=eec90141ab" style="color:rgb(23,72,138);font-family:Arial;font-size:11.818181991577148px;line-height:17.27272605895996px;font-weight:bold" target="_blank">http://www.dallasnews.com/business/columnists/pamela-yip/20130331-more-seniors-turning-to-payday-loans-study-finds.ece</a><br style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial;font-size:11.818181991577148px;line-height:17.27272605895996px"> <span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial;font-size:11.818181991577148px;line-height:17.27272605895996px"> </span><br></div> </div><br></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-57332437208357860092012-12-26T11:03:00.001-08:002012-12-26T11:03:37.694-08:00Student Loan Debt Is Ballooning - See This Chart<a href="http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NA-BT838_Studen_G_20121127183304.jpg">http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NA-BT838_Studen_G_20121127183304.jpg</a> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-18205275611794818412012-11-03T12:39:00.000-07:002012-11-03T12:40:14.435-07:00This has nothing to do with law, but it's fascinatingThis is really cool.
<br>
<br><a href="http://dvice.com/archives/2012/10/ethiopian-kids.php">http://dvice.com/archives/2012/10/ethiopian-kids.php</a>The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-18204754967208367412012-10-26T11:21:00.000-07:002012-10-26T11:22:14.161-07:00Medical Debt Has Huge Impact On Bankruptcy Filings<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/05/earlyshow/health/main5064981.shtml">http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/05/earlyshow/health/main5064981.shtml</a><div><br></div><div><br></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-72630515152747724902012-08-21T14:18:00.001-07:002012-08-21T14:18:39.610-07:00Why You Should Be Wary Of Investing In A Hedge Fund<a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-hedge-funds-may-not-be-right-for-you-2012-08-20?grcc=a7f24c54a647d13131fa762b3b407132Z3ZhpgeZ0Z107Z200Z129Z2&mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_personalfinance&grcc2=ec81c45fe8b322c6cfd0d5d080866c1d~1345583764374~18f3b45caef80572d421f68a979bd6dc~joefulwiler~1345574637221~3~2~0~0~0~107~200~129~0~2~">http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-hedge-funds-may-not-be-right-for-you-2012-08-20?grcc=a7f24c54a647d13131fa762b3b407132Z3ZhpgeZ0Z107Z200Z129Z2&mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_personalfinance&grcc2=ec81c45fe8b322c6cfd0d5d080866c1d~1345583764374~18f3b45caef80572d421f68a979bd6dc~joefulwiler~1345574637221~3~2~0~0~0~107~200~129~0~2~</a> <div><br></div><div>They don't reliably beat a plain vanilla S&P 500 index fund.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-25849961952228378642012-08-08T11:28:00.001-07:002012-08-08T11:28:54.287-07:00Fed Govt is taking people's Social Security benefits for unpaid student loans<a href="http://www.smartmoney.com/borrow/student-loans/grandmas-new-financial-problem-college-debt-1344292084111/?grcc=a4f895e7054a7059c6202ead76abe9fcZ3ZhpgeZ0Z945Z200Z122Z2&mod=WSJ_hps_sections_personalfinance&grcc2=42c73cb69dec487e83620f173e1812d4~1344450110805~18f3b45caef80572d421f68a979bd6dc~joefulwiler~1344450032742~3~2~0~0~0~945~200~122~0~2~">http://www.smartmoney.com/borrow/student-loans/grandmas-new-financial-problem-college-debt-1344292084111/?grcc=a4f895e7054a7059c6202ead76abe9fcZ3ZhpgeZ0Z945Z200Z122Z2&mod=WSJ_hps_sections_personalfinance&grcc2=42c73cb69dec487e83620f173e1812d4~1344450110805~18f3b45caef80572d421f68a979bd6dc~joefulwiler~1344450032742~3~2~0~0~0~945~200~122~0~2~</a> <div><br></div><div>This is going to leave some seniors in a very tough spot financially.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-66772225345384129532012-07-11T15:42:00.001-07:002012-07-11T15:42:17.820-07:00The dangers of a Do It Yourself will<a href="http://www.gftpln.org/Article.do?orgId=450&articleId=16968">http://www.gftpln.org/Article.do?orgId=450&articleId=16968</a> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-55298372812876773742012-06-22T22:06:00.001-07:002012-06-22T22:06:19.970-07:00The data is in - tort reform is baloney<a href="http://www.statesman.com/opinion/tort-reforms-slight-impact-no-shock-2402843.html">http://www.statesman.com/opinion/tort-reforms-slight-impact-no-shock-2402843.html</a> <div><br></div><div>Just another example of wealthy special interest groups buying off legislators. </div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-33254642470821410792012-05-01T09:56:00.001-07:002012-05-01T09:56:28.750-07:00Finally - some bankruptcy relief for student loans on the horizon<div><br></div><div><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:8px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> The growth of student debt is stirring debate about whether the government should step in to ease the burden by rewriting the bankruptcy laws—again.</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:8px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> In 2005, Congress prohibited student debt from being discharged through bankruptcy, except in rare cases, because of concerns that many young graduates—who often have no major assets such as a house or a car—would be tempted to walk away from loan obligations.</p> </div><div><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:8px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> Some lawmakers now want to temper that position, pointing to concerns that a significant number of Americans could be buried under education loans for decades. Their efforts, however, would apply only to private loans—a fraction of the market.</p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:8px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> In the past decade student debt has surged as tuition and enrollment climbed. At the same time, college graduates' earnings have declined. The average debt load of all new graduates rose 24%, adjusted for inflation, from 2000 through 2010, to $16,932, says the Progressive Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank in Washington. Over the same period, the average earnings of full-time workers ages 25 to 34 with no more than a bachelor's degree fell by 15% to $53,539.</p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:8px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> Terri Reynolds-Rogers, a 57-year-old health-program manager from Palmer, Alaska, declared bankruptcy in 2007, but still has $152,000 in student debt. She said she dropped out of medical school in 1999 to care for her two children after her husband died of brain cancer.</p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:8px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303978104577364120264435092.html?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_careerjournal">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303978104577364120264435092.html?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_careerjournal</a> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:8px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> <br></p></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-11570467323224770582012-03-22T10:02:00.001-07:002012-03-22T10:02:19.088-07:00Student Loan Debt Tops $1 Trillion<br><div><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:8px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> The amount Americans owe on student loans is far higher than earlier estimates and could lead some consumers to postpone buying homes, potentially slowing the housing recovery, U.S. officials said Wednesday.</p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:8px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> Total student debt outstanding appears to have surpassed $1 trillion late last year, said officials at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal agency created in the wake of the financial crisis. That would be roughly 16% higher than an estimate earlier this year by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.</p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:8px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> <br></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:8px;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:8px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:1.4em;line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"> <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303812904577295930047604846.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsForth">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303812904577295930047604846.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsForth</a> </p></div><div><br></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16778992.post-86112331808132198002012-02-16T10:42:00.001-08:002012-02-16T10:42:28.066-08:00Consumer Protection to regulate debt collectors and credit bureaus<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/46414250/Credit_Report_Firms_Debt_Collectors_Face_New_Oversight">http://www.cnbc.com/id/46414250/Credit_Report_Firms_Debt_Collectors_Face_New_Oversight</a> <div><br></div><div>This sounds like good news to me.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div> The Austin Lawyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10560143913849571444noreply@blogger.com0