As we head into fall and then winter, I thought everyone might enjoy a few pictures taken by my friend Pat Albright at Fern Ridge, west of Eugene. One is of our 1970 San Juan 21, taken from his Hunter 23. The other two are from the San Juan itself on a beautiful Oregon evening in late August. If you follow Pat's Facebook page, you already know that he is a very talented photographer. Thanks Pat!
I put on a necktie for this picture for the new website. It was actually the first time I had worn one since March 17th, the last day that the Bankruptcy Court had in-person hearings at the Courthouse.
Since then, everything is on the phone, including all of our appointments with potential clients and all of the Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Creditors Meetings. It seems that all of our clients feel that it is much less stressful to call in for their hearing that it would have been to have to go in person. It is also much easier just to get a call from me than it would be to have to fight the traffic to get downtown and then try to find a parking place just to sit in my office and talk with me in person.
For 40 years, I wore a coat and tie to work almost every day. I always thought that my clients would like to see that I was serious about being a lawyer and looked like I knew what I was doing. But when I put the tie back on for the photo session for the new website, I discovered that it is now seriously uncomfortable.
So here's to the all-on-the-phone, remote court hearings and client appointments. If things every get back to normal and there are clients who actually want to come in to our office and meet with me, I am afraid that they'll find that the necktie is now a thing of the past!
My new website is now online. Check it out at www.oregon-attorneys.com and let me know what you think. There are a lot of new photos and information. The big advantage over the old page is that this one is much easier to edit myself. So please let me know if you see any typos or things that need to be fixed. There is one problem that they are working on right away- my blog wasn't carried over from the old website. This is being addressed and I will soon be able to post new blogs! Please contact me through the new website or call 541-344-7472 if you have questions about tax collections or bankruptcy.
We're halfway through 2020 and it seems to me like it has been at least 10 years since January 1st.
At Behrends, Carusone & Covington, Attorneys at Law PC, I am so fortunate to have the support of my partners, Jud Carusone and Kim Covington. Our excellent, top notch paralegals and office manager have adjusted quickly and easily to our new routines while the practice of law has changed completely.
The office is closed to the public and we all work remotely from home a majority of the time. All appointments and Court Hearings are done on the phone. But the funny thing is that it actually seems to work better. It is easier for our clients if they don't have to fight the traffic to come downtown. Instead, they just get a call from me and we discuss their questions and options while they comfort and safe at home. Our "no show" rate for free initial bankruptcy consultations has gone from 25% to less than 2%.
And it is just easier for everyone to participate in the Court Hearings when they are done by conference calls. This means that more creditors can participate and get the answers they need when someone who owes them money files bankruptcy. And it certainly is easier for our clients because most of them don't even have to take the day off work.
So to all of my friends, family, clients and fellow professionals, I hope that you are able to stay healthy and safe. Please let me know how you are doing.
I am working on a new, updated web page. I expect that it will be uploaded by the end of July, 2020.
Of course, I will still offer free, one-hour bankruptcy consultations and will still do the complicated bankruptcy paperwork with my clients. If you are wondering why you should pay a bankruptcy attorney so much when you have to fill out the bankruptcy paperwork yourself, call to set up an appointment. My goal is to reduce your stress level and sending you home with 40 pages of questions including lots of legal terms is not going to help accomplish that goal. We'll do the paperwork together over the phone.
I will also continue to offer reduced fee tax settlement appointments. My usual hourly rate is $295.00 but for $250.00 for an hour long appointment, I will review your situation with you and let you know if you have a chance of qualifying for an offer in compromise that could save you a lot of money and get your problems with the IRS and the Oregon Department of Revenue under control. National tax settlement companies charge thousands to give you the same information.
Watch for the new web page in late July!
