Toledo Law Blog

Safety tips for roadside work zone employees

On behalf of Mahaffey & Associates, LLC posted in accidents and injuries on Friday, September 13, 2019.

Working on a roadside construction team is a rewarding and dangerous job all rolled into one. You get to be part of a team that is repairing outdated infrastructure or building new roads in newly developed areas of Ohio. On the other hand, you are constantly exposed to the dangers of speeding vehicles and distracted drivers. Below, you will find some safety tips for roadside work zone employees.

First and foremost, always wear your personal protective equipment. Most of this will be issued by your employer. It includes a reflective vest and other reflective apparel, steel toed boots, goggles, a hard hat, gloves and more. If you will be working on the side of an overpass, it could also include a harness.

How does a trust protect my loved ones?

On behalf of Mahaffey & Associates, LLC posted in Family Law on Friday, August 30, 2019.

Protecting your loved ones after you have passed away is a worry many people have, especially those who have children with special needs. An excellent way to make sure your children are properly taken care of when you are gone is by creating a special needs trust. Today, we will answer the question how does a trust protect my loved ones?

If your loved one receives government benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you cannot leave them an inheritance in your will totaling $2,000 or more or it can impact their benefits. Instead, you can make sure your loved one is provided for by creating a trust. The trust will hold the assets, not your loved one, which means they can still receive their benefits.

Why is summer driving in Ohio so dangerous?

On behalf of Mahaffey & Associates, LLC posted in accidents and injuries on Friday, August 16, 2019.

The summer months in Ohio are filled with trips to the pool, visits to grandparents, day trips to museums and so much more. With the kids on summer vacation, there's so much to do in so little time. But, why is it more dangerous to drive in the summer months than any other time of the year? We will explore the reasons in today's post.

For starters, there is more congestion in the summer months. The kids are no longer in school, which means families are hitting the road for vacation. This adds to the congestion of daily rush hour and others who are out running errands or visiting the doctor.

How to plan a vacation in midst of child custody agreement

On behalf of Mahaffey & Associates, LLC posted in Family Law on Friday, August 2, 2019.

Being part of a child custody agreement is never easy, even if you have a decent relationship with the other parent. You are bound to disagree about different things, including summer vacations. Today, we will provide you some tips for planning a vacation while involved in a child custody agreement.

You will likely end up in court for custody interference if you fail to meet with the other parent to discuss vacation plans. You cannot just pack up your child and head across the country for a road trip. Vacations need to be discussed, scheduled and then carried out based on what was agreed upon between you and the other parent.

As a student, your future looks bright—except for that OVI

On behalf of Mahaffey & Associates, LLC on Saturday, July 27, 2019.

Summertime means a break from classes at the University of Toledo and perhaps a summer job, but most of all, fun with friends.

Unfortunately, fun sometimes leads to one beer too many. If you drink and drive, you risk an arrest on suspicion of OVI, and a conviction could seriously disrupt your plans for the future.

How to avoid being injured on the job in Toledo

On behalf of Mahaffey & Associates, LLC posted in accidents and injuries on Friday, July 19, 2019.

The work you perform each day might not be dangerous, but you could still wind up suffering an injury on the job. You don't have to work at a construction site, in a warehouse, with heavy machinery or even in the emergency services to suffer a work-related injury. Today, we will discuss how you can avoid being injured on the job in Toledo.

First and foremost, wear protective equipment if it is issued to you or if you feel the need to do so. Protective equipment can help prevent traumatic injuries to your eyes, face, skin and other areas of your body when you work near flames, chemicals and other hazards.

How much of your income can you lose to wage garnishment?

On behalf of Mahaffey & Associates, LLC on Saturday, July 13, 2019.

Once your finances start to spiral out of control, it can prove difficult to get things back to a manageable state. If your debts have continued to compound over time, you may find creditors hounding you, and in some cases, this can lead to you losing some percentage of your wages.

According to NerdWallet, a wage garnishment occurs when your employer receives a court order to withhold a portion of your paycheck so that it can go toward debts you owe. As you can imagine, losing any part of your paycheck can prove troubling, and if you are already struggling to make ends meet, it can make it even harder to pay your rent or mortgage, feed your family and so on.

Reasons for modifying a child support order

On behalf of Mahaffey & Associates, LLC posted in Family Law on Friday, July 5, 2019.

A family situation that involves a child support order does not have to be a difficult one. Even if you have trouble getting along with the other parent, you need to make the effort to avoid fighting and other communication issues when around the children. Many people often wonder if they can change the amount of their child support order. Yes, you can, under certain circumstances.

If you have lost your job, been demoted or had your hours reduced at work; you can file to have the child support order modified. This is one of the most common reasons for modification of an order. Why? The person paying the order will have trouble sticking with the amount they were ordered to pay if they have lost their job or their hours were cut at work.

Discussing your estate plan with your adult children

On behalf of Mahaffey & Associates, LLC posted in Estate Planning on Friday, June 21, 2019.

The estate plan is one of the most important legal moves you will make in your lifetime. It protects all of your assets, money, property and your family in the time of your death. It outlines how your heirs are to receive your money upon your death and much more. If you have an estate plan in place, be sure to discuss it with your adult children before it's too late.

Not everyone will want to tell their adult children the amount of money they will inherit upon their death. But, this is an important discussion for many reasons. The first of those is if a child will be inheriting a family business. They should know this ahead of time, especially if they do not plan on keeping the business in the family or need to learn the ins and outs of the business.

When parents go to jail

On behalf of Mahaffey & Associates, LLC on Saturday, June 8, 2019.

When a parent is sentenced to a term in jail or prison, whether it's a long or short stay, their child also has to pay the price for their crime. For some children, their parents have been incarcerated since they were young infants, and they have never known a life with their parent playing an active role in their lives. For others, they watched their parents be accused and convicted of a crime, then said their goodbyes as they went to begin their prison sentence. These children often feel confused and scared as they begin their new lives without parental guidance and love. While some fortunate children are able to live with supportive relatives, far too many others find themselves bouncing between foster homes or homeless on the streets.

Children with incarcerated parents: Facts and figures to consider