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Wrongful Death, Civil Litigation, Civil Rights and Personal Injury
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Missouri
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Q: Can I use the Delayed Discovery Rule for wrongful death and sue the police for inadequate investigation in a 16-year-old case in Missouri?
My son's death was ruled a suicide 16 years ago, but I recently discovered evidence suggesting it may have been murder. In December 2025, I obtained photos from the police department showing he had been in a significant fight before being shot—bloody lips, a black eye, and other injuries. A... View More 
Ian M Chaikin
answered on Jul 23, 2026
answered on Jul 23, 2026
Potentially, but these are two separate legal issues, and each has significant legal hurdles.
For a wrongful death claim, the key question is whether Missouri law allows the statute of limitations to be extended based on newly discovered evidence. Some legal claims can be affected by a... View More
Q: How to terminate child support in NJ after mother's death?
I'm currently paying child support in New Jersey under a court order. Unfortunately, the mother of my child has passed away. How can I go about terminating or modifying the child support obligations under these circumstances?
Michael Andrew Conte
answered on Jul 23, 2026
answered on Jul 23, 2026
Assuming you are now have sole custody of your child, I would start by calling the child support call center at 877-655-4371, explaining the situation, and asking them to place an immediate hold on the case and their protocol to close it out. They will likely require a death certificate to close... View More
Q: Should I consider bankruptcy due to credit card debt on a retirement income?
I live in New York and I'm considering filing for bankruptcy. I have several credit card debts and have fallen behind on the monthly minimum payments. My financial difficulties began when one of my creditors took double payments over several months, leading to a significant deficit in my... View More
William Waldner
answered on Jul 26, 2026
answered on Jul 26, 2026
There are two separate questions here, and it helps to take them in order.
First, what can a creditor actually collect from you? If your only income is Social Security and a pension, that income is protected. Social Security is shielded by federal law, and New York exempts most pension and... View More
Q: Should I consider bankruptcy due to credit card debt on a retirement income?
I live in New York and I'm considering filing for bankruptcy. I have several credit card debts and have fallen behind on the monthly minimum payments. My financial difficulties began when one of my creditors took double payments over several months, leading to a significant deficit in my... View More
Carl Cottone
answered on Jul 29, 2026
answered on Jul 29, 2026
Why are you driving yourself crazy when, since you have only retirement income, you probably qualify for Chapter 7. You may be in the "Moral Obligation" quagmire. Moral obligations are a two way street. You have moral obligations to your family and friends and they have a moral obligation... View More
Q: Should I consider bankruptcy due to credit card debt on a retirement income?
I live in New York and I'm considering filing for bankruptcy. I have several credit card debts and have fallen behind on the monthly minimum payments. My financial difficulties began when one of my creditors took double payments over several months, leading to a significant deficit in my... View More
PREMIUM
Howard E. Knispel
answered on Jul 23, 2026
answered on Jul 23, 2026
Most people are unaware that when you negotiate down debt, the amount you save is taxable as income. If you settle a $10,000 debt for $5000.00, the $5000.00 you saved is income to you and is taxable. If you qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, all of the debt may be erased and there is no taxable... View More
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