My Civil Advocate

Starting a family can be exciting, stressful, joyful, and daunting - all rolled into one. As with most endeavors, a little foresight and planning can go a long way. Prior to a newborn's arrival, know the facts about what and how much your health insurance will cover. Give some thought as to whether you want a doctor or midwife to provide prenatal care and deliver the baby. Choose a pediatrician before a baby's birth. In the workplace, find out how much maternity leave can be taken and how much of it will be paid. Inquire as to your employer's policies on taking time off for doctor's appointments or to prepare for adoption. Consider the steps you must take to get health insurance coverage for your bundle-of-joy-to-be. Research the safest baby products available and which ones to avoid. Is your home free of hazards? Do your homework on child safety seats. Know your legal rights to nurse in public. When returning to work after the birth, be informed on what your righ...

Many people who file for bankruptcy are stressed over the potential impact it may have on their job. Relax. No employer- government or private- may legally fire you, demote you, reduce your salary, and so forth just because you filed for bankruptcy. That doesn't mean, however, that they cant fire you for other valid reasons while you're going through bankruptcy. An employer will often never even know that you filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The only time they might uncover this knowledge is if a creditor has sued you prior to you filing and has obtained a judgment to garnish your wages. When you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your employer will be notified to discontinue the wage garnishment. Regardless, it can't be used against you. If you have a regular job and file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the court may order bankruptcy payments to be automatically deducted from your paycheck, therefore your employer will know. In the hiring process, no government agency may ...