Public Pueblo's Smart Growth Advocates

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Adoptions	International Adoptions, by Federal Citizen Information Center International Adoption & International Child Abduction, by U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
Aging Parents and Adult Children	Aging Parents and Adult Children Together, Alternatives to Guardianship by the Federal Citizen Information Center
Airline Crashes	After the Crash, What You Can Expect Next, by HALT
Attorney General	Attorney General's All States, by National Association of Attorney Generals Colorado Specific: Colorado Attorney General FAQ's (includes answers to identity theft, complaints against professionals, state workers or utilities, car disputes, internet gambling, junk email, lemon law claims, recording telephone calls, tenant rights, etc.)
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Bankruptcy	For information on what bankruptcy is, the different types, and what the differences mean to a bankruptcy filer in the short and long term, see: Life Advice, by Federal Citizen Information Center Bankruptcy Basics, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, March 2004 Bankruptcy FAQ's, US Bankruptcy Court Difference Between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, by Rebecca Berlin on AllLaw.com Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: Know What to Expect, by Sarah Taylor on AllLaw.com Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Know What to Expect, by Sarah Taylor on AllLaw.com U.S. Bankruptcy Courts Bankruptcy: What Happens When Public Companies Go Bankrupt, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission Bankruptcy Fact Sheet, by the U.S. Air Force Academy Fraudulent transfers, by Filing-Bankruptcy-Form.com See also Consumer Handbook to Credit Protection Laws, by The Federal Reserve Board (July 2001) See also Why Divorce and Bankruptcy Often Go Hand and Hand, by Celeste Marchand on AllLaw.com
BBB	Better Business Bureau
Breast Cancer Malpractice	Resource for Victims of Breast Cancer Malpractice by The Law Offices of Joseph A. Hernandez
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Child Support	Handbook on the Child Support Enforcement Act U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families U.S. Child Support Enforcement, by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, ALL STATES Child Support Guidelines.com, a comprehensive resource for the interpretation and enforcement of child support in the U.S. You can access, statutes, cases, calculators, research, etc. for all 50 states. Delinquent Dad.com, a comprehensive free resource of self-help materials and forms for those seeking to collect or enforce child support arrangements Colorado specific: - Colorado Child Support Enforcement Office - A Father's Guide To Child Support, by the Colorado Department of Human Services Child Enforcement Division - Building Your Child's Future, by Colorado Division of Child Support Enforcement, May 2004, Colorado Department of Human Services - Achieving Success, Colorado Division of Child Support Enforcement, May 2004, Colorado Department of Human Services.
Courts	Courts Self Help (Pro Se) Centers, All States Colorado Courts
Company Info., getting	For information about companies, see Getting Info About Companies, by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission See also our Legal Professional Category research page.
Copyrights	For information on copyrights, definition of, basics, etc., see: USPTO U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress
Consumer Info.	See Federal Citizen Information Center
Credit Laws	Consumer Handbook to Credit Protection Laws, by The Federal Reserve Board (July 2001)
Credit Repair	Consumers should beware that common complaints are made about credit quick-fix firms, including outrageous fees and bad advice. If the information on the credit report is correct, no one can erase it. The following are sites for self-help: National Foundation for Credit Counseling Financial Planning Association Your local bank’s budgetary counseling service, if any
Credit Report, Clean Up	Be punctual on payments Pay down debt to less than 30% of available credit limit Close credit card accounts that are paid off or are not in use Avoid or limit credit inquiries by lenders If applicable, move a card balance to an installment loan – this may boost a credit score
Credit Reporting Agencies	Credit reports should be reviewed at least once a year and before one applies for any loan. The three major agencies are Equifax, 800-685-1111; Experian, 888-397-3742; and TransUnion, 800-888-4213. Credit bureaus and creditors should be contacted in writing if one finds errors. Proof should be provided to back up claims, such as canceled checks, etc. Once the creditor verifies the mistake, the disputed item must be removed within 30 days. And, any disputed information that cannot be verified by the credit bureau must be deleted from your report right away. Ask the bureau to send correction notices to anyone who received your report in the past six months. See also, Mail, Junk to opt out of mailing lists given by credit agencies to credit card companies and insurance companies.
Credit, Reduce Risk of Theft	It is recommended that bank statements, receipts and unused credit cards/offers be torn up before throwing them in the trash. It is also recommended not to carry your social security card in your wallet. Also, you should never give out your credit card/social security numbers unless you have started the transaction and you trust the company. See Identity Theft
Child Custody	Custody 911 Paternity & Child Custody, discussion forum Divorce Issues, discussion forum Domestic Violence issues, discussion forum
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Death	What to Do When Someone Dies, by the Colorado Bar Association
Debt	With Old Debt, Know Your Limits, by Bankrate.com (2004)
	Your Rights under the Fair Debt Practices Act, by Bankrate.com (2004)
Directories	Yellow pages White pages Reverse look-ups Pueblo Colorado online
Disability	Dealing With Disability, by MetLife Consumer Education Center with assistance from the U.S. Department of Education
Discrimination	Colorado, List to Various Agencies regarding civil rights, by the Colorado Bar Association See also Employee Information
Divorce	For a comparison of the benefits and disadvantages of individual, joint and "user" accounts and steps to take if you divorce or separate, see Credit and Divorce, by the Federal Trade Commission (1988) For information about divorces, legalities, divorce mediation, financial concerns, and helping your children, see Divorce, by MetLife Consumer Education Center. This pamphlet has been reviewed by the Division for Public Education of the American Bar Association. State Specific: · Colorado: · Colorado Divorce Handbook, by The Law Office of Stephen J. Harhai · Colorado Divorce Information, by HarrisFamilyLaw.com · Colorado Divorce Law Fact Sheet, by the United States Air Force Academy Why Divorce and Bankruptcy Often Go Hand and Hand, by Celeste Marchand on AllLaw.com See also, Collaborative Law: A Better Way Resolving Divorce & Other Disputes, by HALT
Domestic Violence	See also The Workplace & Domestic Violence Resources
Dog Bite Laws Drunk driving; DUI, etc.	Dog Bite Law. This website is created and maintained by Attorney Kenneth Phillips. The site is accessed by thousands of users each day. The site provides instant access to dog bite laws nationwide and frequently asked questions, to say the least. Attorney Phillips will answer questions via e-mail for no charge. Attorney Phillips represents dog bite victims throughout the United States, and has been recognized as the leading national authority on dog bite law. See drunk driving; DUI, etc. on the Professionals Page.
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Employee Information Estate Planning	Fairmeasures Corporation, Legal Training; Employee Handbook; on-line wrongful termination information; on-line checklist to find out if you have a "million dollar" case. Losing a Job, by the MetLife Consumer Education Center; this pamphlet has been reviewed by the National Foundation for Unemployment and Workers Compensation. Editorial services provided by Meredith Custom Publishing. elaws, by the U.S. Department of Labor The Workplace & Domestic Violence Resources Plan Your Estate, by Halt (2004). "This guide outlines the major steps of estate planning. It informs consumers about the most popular estate planning tools for transferring assets-wills and trusts. Consumers will learn how to create a legally valid will and also gain valuable insight into the various kinds of trusts, including the popular revocable living trust. The guide goes on to discuss other probate avoidance techniques, such as holding assets in joint tenancy, naming a beneficiary on your life insurance policy or IRA, or making outright gifts of money or property." "According to some estimates, as many as 70 percent of us will die without a will. If you die without making decisions about who gets your property or who takes care of your dependent loved ones, the court will make those decisions for you," said HALT Program Director Theresa Meehan Rudy. Life Times: A Financial and Charitable Planning Guide, by HALT
Eviction	Colorado Specific: Colorado Specific: Do It Yourself Eviction, by Colorado Legal Services
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Federal Government Resources	Federal Citizen's Information
Financial Sites – Retirement Planning	American Savings Education Council. This is a non-profit organization that educates Americans about personal finance, including retirement planning. Through this site and http://www.choosetosave.org/, you can download brochures regarding saving for retirement and access links to more than 100 financial calculators. Social Security Administration. This is a government site that offers helpful information about your Social Security Benefits. You can download your Social Security statement, apply for benefits on-line and use a calculator to determine what your benefits will be at various retirement ages.
Financial Sites – Tax Planning	Internal Revenue Service. This is the official U.S. government tax site. From this site, one can access IRS forms, IRS publications, apply for identification numbers, ask questions by email, check refund status, etc.
Financial Sites – Debt Management	National Foundation for Credit Counseling. NFCC is the nation’s largest nonprofit counseling network; they provide money-management advice on-line or contact information of their agencies.
Financial Sites – Consumer Information	Consumer Federation of America. This is a national consumer advocacy group that provides education and advice from various topics, including health and personal finance. You can also access links to federal consumer agencies. First Gov for Consumers. This site provides consumer information and advice and offers links to a vast selection of federal Web sites and resources, including the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS. You can review brochures, press releases, studies and other helpful information.
Financial Sites – Comparison Shopping	BizRate. This is a search engine that includes millions of products from thousands of merchants. One can read customer reviews, product information and price choices. ShoppingSpot. This is a supermarket that provides links to coupon vendors and price comparison sites (such as PriceGrabber, PricingCentral and MySiimon). You can also access product reviews from Good Housekeeping and Consumer Reports. In addition, one can also access the latest product recalls and scams.
Financial – Retention of Documents	Save papers that support tax returns for three to six years in case of an audit and retain indefinitely records that serve as proof of important financial transactions. Shred all documents before tossing them out. The following is a list of what to toss and what to keep according to Stephanie Denton, former president of the National Association of Professional Organizers: Toss after one year or less: ATM and bank-deposit slips after you have recorded the amounts in your check register and checked them against your monthly statement; Sales receipts for minor purchases; Bank, brokerage, mutual fund and credit card statements after you have reconciled them with your year-end summary; and Pay stubs after you have checked the amounts against your W-2. Keep three to six years: Copies of your W-2s and 1099s; Cancelled checks, mortgage statements and receipts for deductible expenses; Year-end credit card summaries that detail spending for deductible items; and Year-end statements documenting mortgage and property interest paid. Retain indefinitely: Your old tax returns (but not the supporting documents); Records of major purchases for insurance purposes; Transaction records and year-end brokerage and mutual fund statements for as long as you own the investment, plus three to six years for tax purposes; Receipts for home improvements for tax reasons; Wills, living wills and trust documents; and A list of the beneficiary designations on your retirement and other financial accounts, as well as the financial firms with whom you do business and your account numbers. Tell the person you have designated as executor where to find the list and other relevant financial papers.
Foreclosure	Colorado Specific: Foreclosure - Know Your Rights, Where to Get Help and Ways to Help Yourself, by Colorado Legal Services.org
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Health & Code Violations	Colorado Specific: Health & Code Violations: Know Your Rights, Where to Get Help and Ways to Help Yourself, by Colorado Legal Services.org
Helmet Laws	See Motorcycle Helmet Laws by Edgar Snyder & Associates
Home Buying, New	100 Questions and Answers About Buying a New Home, by HUD Borrower's Guide to Home Loans, by AARP Don't Be a Victim of Loan Fraud, by Federal Citizen's Information Center How to Buy a Home With a Low Down Payment, by Federal Citizen's Information Center HUD Home Buying Guide Buying Your Home, Settlement Costs & Helpful Information, by Federal Citizen Information Center, Department of Housing & Urban Development Consumer Handbook on Adjustable Rate Mortgages, by Federal Reserve Board, Office of Thrift Supervision En Espanol, click here