Do I Need a Foreclosure Defense Lawyer?

When you are facing foreclosure, it can be overwhelming trying to determine your best path. Without a doubt, your first step should be to consult with a foreclosure defense attorney. Taking this first step as soon as possible is crucial to giving you the best chance of a satisfactory outcome in your case. As more time passes in your foreclosure case, more interest will accrue on your loan and equity will be lost. Especially if you intend to move from the property, getting an attorney involved early on can get the cased resolved quickly and save you money.

How early should I hire a foreclosure defense attorney?

The moment you know you are at risk of foreclosure, you should be consulting a foreclosure dense attorney.

Many mortgage lenders offer a pre-lawsuit notice provision in their contracts. This means the lender must provide advance notice of a foreclosure lawsuit to the borrower prior to filing. Typically, the lender must give notice ten days prior to filing a foreclosure complaint. In New Jersey, the Fair Foreclosure Act requires lenders to give borrowers notice 30 days prior to filing the foreclosure complaint. The document you receive may be labeled “demand letter” or “Notice of Intent.” They will be sent through regular or certified mail.

The moment you receive this letter, call a well-respected foreclosure defense attorney in your area. It is critical to make your first moves prior to the lender filing the foreclosure complaint. Proactively working with an attorney before the complaint is ever filed can save you money in three important ways:

1.   You won’t have to pay for your lender’s attorney fees.

2.   You will pay less in default interest (see below).

3.   You will pay less in your attorney fees.

Working with an attorney from the beginning will prevent you from having to pay an attorney to untangle a bigger, more complex mess later on. The courts and your lender are also much more likely to work with you towards a favorable outcome if you are proactive about your case from the beginning. Giving your attorney time to put you in a favorable position for negotiation can save you a lot of money, time, and headache.

Some loans have what is called “default interest.” This is a special, higher interest rate that kicks in once you default on your loan. Default interest can be an excessive amount (sometimes as much as 5% higher than your normal rate) that can make a huge difference in the final judgment amount you may face. Once you go into default interest territory, it is critical to work with a foreclosure defense attorney to get the loan reinstated, modified, or to sell the property as soon as possible. An experienced attorney knows the law and how to work with mortgage lenders to get the issue resolved quickly.

If you are looking for an experienced foreclosure defense attorney in NJ, Veitengruber Law has your back. We know how to work with mortgage lenders to negotiate a resolution that satisfies all parties.

Long-Term Unemployment: Is NJ Foreclosure Looming?

As New Jersey begins to open back up following the coronavirus epidemic and residents establish a new normal, a new issue is on the horizon. A new report released last month shows 1 in 5 New Jersey residents are at risk of foreclosure or eviction with 8.3% behind on mortgage payments. New Jersey, already one of the leading states in the country for foreclosures, could be facing a major housing crisis. Prolonged unemployment and rising housing costs have created anxiety about foreclosure. Here is what you need to know and how you can protect yourself from a NJ foreclosure.

The executive order issued in March 2020 putting a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions is still in place and will remain through the end of 2021. This means that those behind on their mortgage payments cannot be removed from their homes. However, since the courts have opened back up it is possible for lenders and landlords to begin legal proceedings against past-due accounts. So while you cannot be removed from your home during the moratorium, things can move quickly once it has lifted.

Long-term unemployment due to the national health crisis has exacerbated already high concerns over foreclosures. New Jersey’s unemployment rate peaked during the pandemic in April 2020 at 16.4% and still hovers around 7.5% now according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average unemployment rate in NJ before the pandemic was 3.4%. Thankfully those facing long-term unemployment have some options when it comes to maintaining their housing.

1.    Call Your Lender

If you haven’t already, reach out to your lender ASAP. They may have options in place to temporarily lower your monthly payments or provide forbearance for a period of time. If you have already utilized the programs your lender offers, see if they can provide an extension. If you were under a COVID-19 forbearance plan, you can request one additional 3-month extension for a conventional loan and two 3-month extensions for government backed loans (FHA, VA, USDA, etc.).

2.   Call a Government HELP Hotline

If you are worried about foreclosure, you can call 1-800-NJ-HOUSE to speak to a housing counselor directly. You can also check out this list to find other approved housing counselors. They may be able to provide some options before legal action is taken.

3.   Avoid Scams

Mortgage scams are rampant right now, with scammers preying on homeowners desperate to stay in their homes. If someone approaches you offering a quick fix in exchange for a fee, it is likely a scam. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Be vigilant about giving out your personal information and make sure you are talking with an approved counselor from the above list before you divulge any details about your situation.

If after everything you are still unable to make your mortgage payments and foreclosure is looming, Veitengruber Law can help. We offer effective foreclosure defense strategies and legal alternatives to help you save your home and get back on your feet financially.

If a Creditor Violated the NJ Automatic Stay, Can I Get My Money Back?

Once you file for bankruptcy, an automatic stay instantly goes into effect. This means that creditors are not allowed to make attempts to collect on debts you owe. Any process of collecting on debts already ongoing must stop immediately. This automatic stay is meant to allow the debtor time to get their finances in order and to protect their personal property. If a creditor or lender has attempted to collect money or property from you during the automatic stay period, or succeeds in collecting on the debts, you need to be aware of your rights.

The automatic stay prohibits all attempts to collect money or property from a debtor. This means no contact. A creditor is not allowed to reach out to the debtor for any reason. Phone calls, letters, legal notices, or notices of foreclosure or repossession must stop immediately.

---

The only exceptions to this are alimony and child support.

---

Any processes of collection or repossession already ongoing, like a sheriff’s sale or foreclosure, must stop immediately. The only contact creditors should have with a debtor is through their chosen legal representative. If a creditor violates this stay on contact or action, they can be held in contempt of court and face fines or legal consequences. If any property or money is taken from the debtor during the automatic stay, the assets must be returned to the debtor.

If you do receive a notice of collection or repossession after the automatic stay is in place, check the date first. If the letter was sent less than two weeks after you filed for bankruptcy, chances are it was sent out before your creditor was notified. Keep the letter, note the date you received it, and file it with the rest of your bankruptcy documents. If the creditor sends a letter after the first two weeks of the stay or sends a second letter, you need to take action to protect yourself.

While it may seem overwhelming, sometimes the easiest thing to do is call the creditor or collector and remind them that you’re in bankruptcy. It is possible that they simply have an error in their system that needs to be amended. If it seems like an honest mistake, you should document it and let it go. If, however, they tell you they will not be abiding by the automatic stay, it is time to reach out to your bankruptcy attorney.

If a collector or creditor goes even further and actually takes your property, money, or garnishes your wages, your attorney will likely want to get the court involved in the situation. If you are financially damaged by a creditor’s violation of the automatic stay, you can approach the court for redress. The court can ask the creditor to pay sanctions to cover the cost of the property or money that was taken and any attorney fees incurred.

If you think your creditors have violated the automatic stay, Veitengruber Law can help bring your case to court and secure payment for the damages. You have rights and protections in place throughout the bankruptcy process. We can make sure your rights are not being violated and take legal action when they are.

Aging in Place: Avoiding NJ Foreclosure in Retirement

Entering retirement can be a time of celebration and relaxation, but it can also lead to financial stress. You’ve spent your whole life working towards this moment, but managing your finances on a fixed income can be hard to get used to. While ideally you would be living debt-free in retirement, many homeowners are taking their mortgages and other debts with them into their senior years. If you are worried about how to continue to pay for your home after retirement, there are some steps you can take to avoid facing a NJ foreclosure.

No matter how much you plan for retirement, one unexpected event can throw everything off balance. Unforeseen expenses are some of the biggest reasons retirees struggle to make their mortgage payments. Medical bills can quickly amount to a small fortune. Divorce can leave one person struggling to make mortgage payments alone. Loss of income can affect homeowners even after retirement, due to loss of a part-time job or loss of invested funds. If you find yourself facing even one of these hardships, it may be difficult or impossible to make a mortgage payment.

If you believe a lower monthly payment would allow you to stay in your home, you should consider a loan modification. With a loan modification, your interest rate can be lowered, the loan term can be extended, and/or the principal can be reduced to make monthly payments more affordable. In order to be eligible for a loan modification, you need to prove to your lender that you can’t afford your current mortgage payment, but could if the payment was lowered.

When applying for a loan modification, it is really helpful to have an experienced attorney advocating for your interests. When applying alone, homeowners inexperienced with the process can make mistakes or neglect to provide sufficient evidence of their income. Lenders will reject applications if they believe the requester doesn’t have enough income to meet the lower payments. However, it may just be that you have not listed all of your income, or have have failed to describe your income appropriately. Any money you are receiving has the potential to help your chances of getting approved for a loan modification. At Veitengruber Law, we know what lenders are looking for and how to create an application will be approved.

While you are working to avoid foreclosure, it might be worth looking into increasing your income. If you have the space, renting a room to a relative or friend or renting out an unused space for storage can help supplement your retirement plan. Many retirees hold part-time jobs like dog walking, babysitting, elderly care, and freelancing. Even if you only take a job long enough to get your loan modification approved and pay off some debts, you can resume a carefree retirement once the threat of foreclosure is no longer looming.

The State of New Jersey has made efforts to give retirees a better chance of maintaining their standard of living while continuing to live in the garden state. Law makers have stepped in to help struggling seniors with the Property Tax Reimbursement Plan, also known as the “Senior Freeze.” For seniors who meet a list of requirements, this program freezes property taxes at the amount paid at the time of retirement. Under this program, any increases in NJ property taxes paid since retirement will be reimbursed. This program helps struggling seniors achieve a more consistent, lower cost of living.

Your retirement years should be stress-free and happy. Veitengruber Law is experienced in offering expert legal and financial advice to carry you through retirement with financial security. Enjoy your golden years the way you should—in the comfort of your own home.

STOP a NJ Sheriff’s Sale and KEEP YOUR HOME

In New Jersey, it can take a long time to foreclose on a home. There are a lot of options to explore before you get to the point of foreclosure. If, however, you find yourself unable to work with your lender to get a loan modification and a foreclosure commences, you may be facing a sheriff sale of your home. The good news is, even at the point that a sheriff sale has been scheduled, there are still ways to stop the auction and save your home. Veitengruber Law is here to offer valuable legal advice to get you through this time sensitive situation.

After it has been decided the home will go to sheriff’s sale, the lender or the homeowner can ask the court to adjourn, or postpone, the sale temporarily. Under NJ law, the adjournment can be requested for any or no reason at all, but the homeowner can only ask for adjournment twice whereas the lender can ask as many times as they want. These adjournments last for two weeks and give the homeowner time to consider their options.

In New Jersey, each county has its own adjournment procedures and sets its own costs for requests. Generally, the fee is small – around $28 – in most counties. All requests for adjournment must be made in person and the fee must be paid up front. The request can be made in a letter listing the docket number and sheriff sale number along with the property address and date of the sale. Some counties offer a standard form to request the adjournment. We can help you submit this request to make sure you are approved for your two week adjournment.

In limited situations, the homeowner can ask for additional adjournments. This formal request to the Court would only be granted for good cause, like if a sale of the home is pending or the homeowner is likely to be approved for a loan modification. Additional requests for adjournment can be costly and are at the full discretion of the judge, so it is important to try to work toward a solution within the time limits provided by your two allotted adjournments.

Once the sale of the home has been stalled or stopped, you have a few options to consider. Because you have missed more than three payments, the loan is declared to be in default and the lender will not just let you start paying again to catch-up on missed payments. These missed payments and late fees are combined with any real estate taxes or insurance that has been paid by the lender along with any legal fees to make up the “arrears.” The arrears must be paid before the lender will allow you to start making monthly payments again.

There are a few ways to pay off the arrears. The first is to pay them off in one lump sum, which can be difficult if not impossible for most people. The second is to negotiate a loan modification with your lender and have the arrears added to the principal balance of the loan. Even if you have tried and failed to get a loan modification in the past, with Veitengruber Law’s help it may still be possible to work out a loan modification. This could permanently close your foreclosure case and save your home. A loan modification is often the most ideal way to resolve a foreclosure case and we will do everything they can to work toward this goal.

The final option to repay arrears and end your foreclosure case while keeping your home is to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Once bankruptcy is declared, a sheriff sale of your home will be immediately stopped. While the idea of filing for bankruptcy can seem intimidating, bankruptcy is actually a very useful legal tool to get back on top of your finances. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy will likely save your home from foreclosure and also give you options to mitigate your debts. If you also have excessive credit card debt or other debt from medical or other unplanned expenses, these debts can be managed within the same bankruptcy case. Working with an experienced  bankruptcy law attorney who also provides foreclosure defense services will help you determine the best way to save your home and get you on the path to a better financial future.

There are a lot of considerations to take into account when facing a sheriff sale of your home in New Jersey. We understand that this is a deeply personal decision and we will be there to support you every step of the way. Don’t assume you are out of options because a sheriff’s sale is scheduled. Contact us today for an expert assessment of your situation and save your home!

Navigating the NJ Foreclosure Process

New Jersey has the highest rate of foreclosure in the United States.  More than 74,000 homes went through the foreclosure process in 2016 and while some improvement was seen in 2017, this remains a huge issue for New Jersey residents. Navigating the NJ foreclosure process can be overwhelming to say the least. At Veitengruber Law, it is our goal to give our clients peace of mind during this complicated process.

It is important to note that NJ is a judicial foreclosure state. This means all foreclosures must go through the court system. The lender must sue the occupant in an attempt to get his/her investment back. The process is cumbersome and time consuming, with the state taking on average 1,300 days to foreclose a housing unit.

A foreclosure starts with the occupants of a home missing a mortgage payment. The foreclosure proceedings can begin after one missed payment, but this is rare. Generally, most lenders allow 120 days after a missed payment before starting the foreclosure process.

Before the lender can initiate foreclosure proceedings, the lender is required by law to send a ‘Notice of Intention to Foreclose.’ This is a formal letter indicating the rights of the occupant to cure the debt and the amount required to do so. The letter must also indicate the occupant’s right to contact an attorney during the foreclosure process.

After the Notice of Intention is sent, the lender will file a lawsuit in court. The lawsuit will indicate that the lender is trying to sell the house to satisfy the money owed. Once the lender serves the occupant with the lawsuit, the occupant will have 35 days to respond. In order to dispute the lawsuit, the occupant must respond to the suit in front of the judge in order to explain why they legally should not lose their home. If this time passes with no response, the lender can ask the judge for a default judgment and potentially win the suit.

If the lender wins the suit, they can sell the house. NJ has a ‘right to redeem’ law which allows the occupant a short period of time to get the house back, typically lasting up to ten days. After this, the court will order the sheriff to initiate a sheriff sale, or public auction. The occupant will receive notice of the date of the sale and will have the chance to request a two-week postponement in order to gain more time to either refinance or sell the property. The deed to the home will be transferred to the lender two weeks from the date of sale.

While NJ certainly does have laws to protect home owners, it is important to act fast and with a full understanding of the law. The attorneys at Veitengruber Law are experienced in foreclosure law. Every foreclosure has its own complications and one mistake can mean the loss of your home. Having an experienced NJ foreclosure attorney during this process can help in several ways. Foreclosure defenses are complex and foreclosure law is always evolving. When your home is on the line, it is important to have an expert on your side to ensure you are complying with detailed court filing procedures and rules.

Image: “House Keys” by Steven Depolo – licensed under CC 2.0

Reverse Mortgage Foreclosures: Can They Be Stopped?

What are reverse mortgages?

Reverse mortgages allow homeowners ages 62 and up to borrow against the equity of their primary residence to receive a loan in the form of either a revenue stream or a lump sum of money from their lender. In order to be eligible for a reverse mortgage, homeowners must first meet a few basic requirements.

The homeowner(s) have to be at least 62 years old and either own their home outright or have a very strong equity built up and owe very little on their mortgage. They must also occupy their home as their primary residence and hold the title to their home. While they typically get a bad rap, reverse mortgages oftentimes provide senior citizens with a valuable and much-needed source of funding to assist with a wide variety of needs that can occur with aging.

Some common reasons seniors seek reverse mortgages are to:

• Finance a child’s college education
• Pay for necessary medical expenses and bills
• Fund home repairs and remodels
• Supplement social security income to maintain an adequate standard of living throughout retirement.

It is worth noting that while the homeowner gets to remain living in their home and keep the title to the home as collateral, they are still required to pay all necessary taxes, property maintenance and repair costs, homeowner’s insurance payments, and interest and fees on their loan.

What happens if circumstances change?

While reverse mortgages can be a feasible and even financially sound option for certain people, there are some potential pitfalls to take into consideration before ever opting for a reverse mortgage in the first place. It is important to understand the specifics of what you are undertaking as a homeowner. For instance, a reverse mortgage is immediately owed back to the lender upon the occurrence of any of the following circumstances:

• The borrower(s) decide to transfer the title or sell the home and succeed in doing so.
• The borrower(s) reside elsewhere for over a year, thereby relinquishing the primary residence status of the home in the eyes of the lender.
• The borrower(s) fail to meet the terms and conditions of the mortgage; for instance falling delinquent in homeowner’s dues or property taxes, or allowing the condition of the property to substantially deteriorate.
• The borrower(s) pass away.

If in the near future you are considering moving, living away from your home for more than a year, or if you currently have a terminal illness, you may want to look into alternatives to a reverse mortgage so that you do not leave your loved ones in a bad financial situation upon your departure.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once the reverse mortgage becomes due for any of the aforementioned reasons, the homeowner(s) (or their heirs) are legally liable to pay back the lender in full, including any applicable taxes and fees.

Can a reverse mortgage foreclosure really be stopped?

If you find yourself or your loved ones on the verge of a reverse mortgage foreclosure, you are not entirely without viable options. Contact a NJ real estate lawyer or foreclosure defense attorney who can help determine if you are eligible for a reputable loan modification on the reverse mortgage. There is also the option of selling the property yourself or allowing a relative or friend to pay off the remaining balance owed on your reverse mortgage.

A real estate attorney with experience in NJ reverse mortgage foreclosures will be best equipped to help answer any questions you may have and help you weigh the pros and cons of all your options. They will walk you through every step of the decision-making process with the end goal of ultimately helping you avoid a reverse mortgage foreclosure.

Why Post-Sheriff’s Sale Mortgage Modifications are Unicorns

Homeowners who have found themselves struggling to make their mortgage payments may end up in foreclosure sooner rather than later. Even missing a few payments, even if you then get back on track, can cause some lenders to initiate foreclosure proceedings.

It’s true that it can be easier to ignore a potential “foreclosure warning,” even if you know you’re behind on your mortgage. Believe us when we say that burying your head in the sand is something A LOT of people do. The problem with this coping technique is that it almost always ends up with the homeowner losing their home to foreclosure – even if that is not what they want.

If you’ve found yourself at risk for foreclosure, it’s important to seek help NOW from a NJ foreclosure defense attorney before your home is foreclosed by your lender. Once your home is sold at Sheriff’s Sale, it is much more difficult to redeem your mortgage (read: get your home back).

When a property has already been foreclosed upon and the Sheriff’s Sale has passed, the original homeowner has ten (10) days to redeem the mortgage. As you can imagine, ten days is a very short period of time for any legal process. (NJ foreclosures fall under the category of “judicial foreclosures,” which means all documentation and proceedings must go through the New Jersey Court system.)

Because the ten-day time limit post-Sheriff’s Sale is so painfully short, we often say that a mortgage modification after foreclosure sale is a unicorn. They are rare, hard to accomplish, and almost impossible to find examples of.

UNLESS…

You can increase your odds of being approved for a mortgage modification after foreclosure sale – and that is by filing for bankruptcy. In New Jersey, filing for bankruptcy gives foreclosed homeowners sixty (60) days post Sheriff’s Sale for redemption.

Sixty days is a whole lot better than ten days! In two months, Veitengruber Law can help you apply for and obtain a mortgage modification even after your home has been sold at Sheriff’s Sale. HOWEVER, the odds of success of receiving a loan modification within that 60 period is fairly low.  It requires the homeowner to be organized and diligent in document production. It also may require a short sale or a hard money loan (or 401K loan, pension loan, or personal [family] loan).

A mortgage modification is necessary because your previous monthly mortgage payment was obviously too high. Redeeming (re-assuming) your mortgage as is will only end badly. You also have the option to attempt to sell the home via sale, short sale or Deed-in-lieu.

For whatever reason, if you don’t want to file for bankruptcy, the chances of saving your home via redemption after the foreclosure sale are low due to the ten-day bankruptcy guideline and you will have a relatively short amount of time to vacate your home after the sheriff sale occurs.

On the flip side, homeowners who proactively approach a foreclosure defense attorney before their home has sold at Sheriff’s Sale have a much better chance of being approved for a mortgage modification. This will allow you to keep your home without struggling so hard to make your mortgage payments, as they will be reduced to fit within your budget. Once you are approved for a mortgage modification, your foreclosure case will be closed.

NOTE: If your home is scheduled for Sheriff’s Sale within 37 days or less, you will need to file for bankruptcy in order to apply for a mortgage modification. This is further proof that taking action as soon as possible is best if you want to keep your home. When you come to your NJ foreclosure defense attorney more than 37 days before your Sheriff’s Sale, you’ll have more options, and you will not have to file for bankruptcy.

 

 

NJ Mortgage Help for Single Parents

Going through a separation and divorce is never easy, but the complication level increases when you add children to the mix. Establishing a stable family life for your kids is something every good parent strives to do, and divorce can throw a wrench into even the best laid plans.

Supporting the expenses required as a newly single parent is a daunting task as you attempt to maintain as much constancy and normalcy for your children as possible. To that end, the marital/family home is most often where divorced parents elect for their children to remain living.

With that being said, finances don’t always stretch far enough for one parent on their own to pay the mortgage on that family home, along with all other monthly expenses. If both parents are able to pitch in financially to keep the children and one parent in the home, the chances of losing the home are lower. However, the threat of foreclosure for recently divorced single parents is real, and although frightening, it is not something that will go away if you ignore it.

If you are a single parent fighting to keep the home your children have thus far grown up in, you may be overwhelmed by the responsibility of making that monthly mortgage payment on your own. Missed payments are common after significant life events like job loss, illness, death, and, you guessed it – divorce.

The bank will never throw me out since I have young children, right?

Unfortunately, too many people simply give banks and lenders a lot more credit than they deserve. Your bank does not care if you have children, an elderly parent, three sick dogs and a chronic illness – their bottom line is money. You may think, “But there are people working at that bank; surely there is someone there with enough empathy to see that I am struggling.”

While that may be true – of course there are kind people working in banks and lending institutions – they must follow the instructions they are given by their superiors. A mortgage loan that is not being paid on time or at all WILL be sent into foreclosure by the lender. The question is not “If” but “When.”

How can I keep the bank from foreclosing? I just need a little more time!

The best move you can make if you’re in a similar situation is to take action before your home is foreclosed upon by your lender. You may qualify for a loan modification or refinancing. A New Jersey foreclosure and bankruptcy attorney should be the next person you call. Not many attorneys specialize in both areas, so it is important that you work to find a certified NJ attorney who has the experience you need.

Why do I need a bankruptcy attorney? I’m not broke and I want to keep my home.

An experienced NJ attorney who handles both foreclosure defense and bankruptcy matters will be able to stall your foreclosure by using the Automatic Stay. This tactic can only be utilized if the debtor files for bankruptcy.

Even if filing for bankruptcy was not on your top ten list of things to accomplish in life, it is a means to an end that has helped a multitude of people in your exact situation before.

 

Image: “Mother’s Moment” by Leonid Mamchenkov – licensed under CC 2.0

Veitengruber Law: Working with Elder Lawyers

 

Elder law is the legal practice that focuses on representing senior citizens in regards to age-specific issues like: estate planning, Medicaid, disability, long-term care, administration of wills, guardianship, commitment, elder abuse protection, end-of-life planning, nursing home care and contracts, and many other issues that may arise in the aging population.

Essentially, elder law attorneys have a loaded job description: representing older Americans in just about any legal area you can think of. As you can imagine, it can be a bit overwhelming if a client (or couple) has a lot of needs at the same time.

Attorneys who get the best results for their clients are those who have a narrow area of focus. This allows them to become experts in their practice area(s) in order to both expedite the processes required by their clients and to get reliable, high quality results. Elder law attorneys who concentrate solely on elder law are consistently great at what they do.

Even so, the elder law attorney may still find himself overloaded with work from time to time, when, as mentioned above, a particular client requires a lot of attention. Additionally, any attorney can get overwhelmed if they have a sudden rush of new clients.

Elder law attorneys assist a specific type of client (the aging) in a variety of areas. This makes them the perfect partner for an attorney who specializes in specific areas rather than type of client.

Example: Elderly clients Fay and John come to your elder law practice wanting to set up their estate plans. They have a lot of assets (but not a lot of money), numerous beneficiaries and stipulations, and present a rather challenging and time consuming case. In addition to estate planning, Fay is also having issues with Medicaid that need attention, and John’s sister has just entered a nursing home wherein they suspect she is being neglected and/or abused.

On top of all of that, Fay and John stopped paying their mortgage six months ago and are about to lose their home to foreclosure. Although they knew foreclosure was inevitable, they’ve now realized that renting or buying another home will cost more than they were already paying their mortgage company each month. They want to know how they can save their home, which is scheduled for Sheriff’s Sale in two weeks.

The best option for their elder law attorney in this situation would be to connect them with a local foreclosure defense attorney who has significant experience in “last minute” foreclosure saves. By working together, both attorneys can provide everything Fay and John need so that they can continue living comfortably in retirement.

Other reasons to consider taking a “tag team” approach to an elder law practice include: clients who need to file for bankruptcy, real estate contract review, landlord/tenant disputes, credit repair, debt resolution and elder fraud.

Veitengruber Law is a full-service real estate and debt relief solutions law firm in New Jersey helping clients with foreclosure defense, bankruptcy, credit repair and other debt relief problems. We welcome any elder law attorneys who’d like to collaborate in order to give our joint clients the best results possible through retirement and beyond. We have offices in Monmouth, Burlington and Camden Counties and also serve Ocean, Mercer and Gloucester county clients.

Connect with us on LinkedIn, shoot us an email or give us a call. Monmouth, Ocean and Mercer Counties – (732) 852-7295; Camden, Burlington and Gloucester Counties – (609) 297-5226 or (856) 318-2759.

Image credit: C.Performa