San Diego Law Today » Our Attorneys

Riding for a Great Cause

D.J. Rausa — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:35:35 +0000

I’m excited to announce that I’ve signed up to cycle 80 miles this weekend to benefit the victims of the earthquake that destroyed the capitol city of Haiti. I’m an avid cyclist anyway, and when I saw a chance to combine my love

of cycling with a great cause, I pledged my support.

The “80 for Haiti” bike ride is an 80-mile ride organized by AdventureCORPS on Old Highway 80 in San Diego. Our entry fees of $80 will go to MercyCorps, a relief organization that is helping coordinate relief efforts in Haiti. The ride was capped at 157 participants, and I am fortunate to be able to lend my support.

San Diego Chapter 13 Bankruptcies Affected by New Court Decision

D.J. Rausa — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:33:50 +0000

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to consolidate your debts into monthly payments that you should be able to pay off over three to five years. A bankruptcy lawyer helps you put together a plan proposal that we take to the courts. In the plan, we add up your income and expenses and lay out all the debt you need to pay back.

A recent court decision in California has tightened a loophole that might have allowed people to falsely inflate the amount of expenses they incur each month. These expenses, commonly called phantom expenses, involve property or collateral, such as a house or a car, that a person filing bankruptcy actually intends to get rid of. For example, let’s say you are making payments on a car. You want to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy, but you actually plan to surrender the car to the bank. You cannot compute the payments you were making on the car you’re going to get rid of when you put together the Chapter 13 Payment Plan.

Because changes to the laws of bankruptcy in San Diego change so often, it’s important to find a professional to help you evaluate the decision that’s best for you. Make sure your San Diego Bankruptcy Attorney is up to date on the most recent court decisions and regulations that could affect the success of your bankruptcy.

I’m always happy to sit down for a free consultation to explore all your options. Feel free to make an appointment today.

Attorney D.J. Rausa Elected to San Diego Bankruptcy Forum Board of Directors

D.J. Rausa — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:15:22 +0000

I’m pleased to announce that I have been elected by my peers on the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum to a second term on the Board of Directors.

I will sit on the education committee, allowing me to help create educational programs for San Diego bankruptcy professionals. The San Diego Bankruptcy Forum is a non-profit organization of professionals working in the areas of bankruptcy and insolvency, including attorneys, accountants, trustees, bankers, real estate professionals, auctioneers, appraisers, consultants and others involved in the bankruptcy and insolvency process.

My involvement with the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum keeps me in touch with the San Diego bankruptcy community, including the judges, practitioners and court staff who help shape the bankruptcy process for consumers and businesses. And being a part of the education committee means that I can keep up to date with the latest changes in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings that may affect my clients.

Welcome to San Diego Law Today

D.J. Rausa — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:25:46 +0000

We at Rausa & Mason are dedicated to helping you find answers to your pressing legal matters. This blog will feature our conversations about happenings that affect our clients and information you need to know.