Category Archives: Structured Settlement News

A Short Note On Structured Debt Settlement

If an organization is responsible for any injury or death of a person, then that organization may provide regular payment to that person or family members of the deceased person over a period of time. This process is known as structured settlement. This is a process of providing compensation to the victim in the form of installment payments instead of a lump sum amount. In case you have faced injury due to the malpractice of an organization, you can become eligible for a structured debt settlement to compensate for your financial costs (due to the injury) and financial loses.

Understanding the process of structured settlement

Structured settlement involves payment in parts which is done over a period of time through an annuity system. The victim or the family members of the deceased (in case of death) may file a case against the organization (that is responsible) for the damage done. The issue can be resolved (by the organization) by offering a structured debt settlement to the claimant. To obtain structured settlement, the claimant must drop the case that is filed against the organization. It should be done before the case is taken to the court.

Cases in which structured settlement is applicable:

  • In case of serious injury, that will require long-term medical treatment.
  • Inability to work due to the injury or the inability to earn the same level of money that the person used to earn before.
  • In case of death of a person where his/her family members will be in need of a regular income.
  • Disability caused by the injury (temporary or permanent) which may call for a long recovery period.

The benefits of structured settlement

Severe injuries or death are intensely traumatic. They can make the situation worse by calling for massive financial trouble. Structured settlement can be a solution to at least the financial problems. You can take care of the medical debts and other forms of debts (as a result of the injury) by receiving structured debt settlement. Given below are the benefits of structured settlement:

1.) Financial security can be obtained – Through the process of structured settlement, you’ll be getting regular payments over a period of time instead of one lump sum amount. It would give you a sense of financial security as a regular flow of income will come your way.

2.) Freedom from tax liability – You’d not be required to pay any tax for the money received through structured settlement. This is indeed an advantageous feature of this method.

3.) Court hassles can be avoided – Court involvement will call for a lot of costs from both the defendant’s and claimant’s end. The defendant party would often prefer to offer a structured settlement to avoid the hassles and charges of the court. It would be beneficial for you as well because you can eliminate court costs and receive a regular flow of payment. It will spare you of the need to go to the court whenever called for.

Structured settlement has its share of disadvantages as well. In case of senior citizens, this may not be a good plan due to life expectancy. It would be better for them to receive a lump sum amount with which they can live their life according to their wishes. In other cases, a lump sum amount can be more beneficial as it can be used to make more through investment or other money making medium.

Nevertheless, structured settlement can be a good way to ensure a regular flow of income. You can get rid of your debts caused by the injury with the help of this structured debt settlement.

Selling Structured Settlements For A Lump Sum


Why Do People Sell Their Structured Settlements?

There are plenty of people who receive structured settlements, and some of them are happy with getting
that set amount each month. But some of them decide that they aren’t happy with waiting for the money,
they want it right away.

There are a few reasons why people decide to sell their structured settlement in order to get their
money in one lump sum.

1. Money for emergency – One reason that people sell
structured settlements
is that an emergency comes up,
like a needed operation. No one knows when something
might come up for themselves or for a member of their
family.

2. Money to invest – Another reason is that they want
to invest some of the money. If the stock market is in
good condition, they might choose something to invest
in with the money they get from the lump sum
settlement
.

3. Money to spend – Something that people who have
received a structured settlement want to do with a
lump sum is to buy a house, or maybe take a trip.

4. Money for the future – It’s sad to say, but
sometimes people who are receiving a structured
settlement
have a shorter lifespan because of their
injuries, so they want to make sure that their family
is taken care of.

No matter what people choose to do with the money they receive from selling a structured settlement, some people find that this is the right choice for them.

Questions To Ask Structured Settlement Buyer

You have chosen a buyer for your structured settlement
and you are wondering what the rest of the steps are.
Now we’ll take you through the rest of the process so
that you know what you should do to make the process
as easy as possible.

1. Once you have chosen your buyer, you will need to
provide the buyer with some information. The quicker
you gather the information, the less time it will
take, but the process can last anywhere from two to
fourteen days.

The things that you may need to provide are the
following:

Release/court judgment/settlement agreement The
contract from the payment provider or insurance
company/Annuity policy Bank statement or stub to
verify payment Your own personal information, which
could include a state issued ID or driver’s license.
Copy of divorce decree or marriage license (if it
applies) Any documents discharging a bankruptcy (if it
applies) Information about your lawyer

2. After everything is in the buyer’s hands, this is a
good time to ask them what about the underwriting
process and how it works. Beware if the buyer says it
will be a short processing time.

3. Once the underwriting process is done, the buyer
will give it to a judge to review. Ask your attorney
if you should appear, and if it’s in your best
interests. Find out from the buyer what the costs are
and who will be responsible to pay them.

4. If your request is approved, the buyer will give
you the money.

Remember this is just a set of guidelines, and each
situation is unique.

Large Structured Settlements

Tips For Getting A Large Structured Settlement

When you are in an accident, you want to make certain that you can get the biggest settlement that you can get. So here are some tips so that you can get a large structured settlement.

Make sure the evidence at the scene is secure

You want to make sure that, without a doubt, the
company knows that you are not at fault. So you want
to make sure that everything is as it was in the
accident.

Don’t make assumptions about injuries

Many injuries don’t show up until later, so you don’t
want to assume that you aren’t injured.

Keep up to date with appointments

Go to see a doctor, even if you don’t feel injured,
and make sure to keep your appointments. If you don’t
go to the doctor, then it will be harder to explain to
the insurance company that you are really hurt.

Keep track of lost wages

Make certain that you have doctor’s notes for days
that you have missed after the accident and keep track
of what you have lost in your wages.

Don’t start low in negotiations

One of the rules of thumb is that the insurance
company won’t ever go higher, but they will come down.
So don’t start at the lowest amount you’ll settle for,
but start higher. This way you have negotiating power
without losing anything.

These are just a few of the things to remember when you have been in an accident and are expecting a
settlement. If you remember these tips, they will help you to get a larger settlement from the insurance
company.

Choosing a Buyer for a Structured Settlement

Structured Settlement Buyer

There are numerous reasons to sell a structured settlement and get a lump sum payment. There could be unexpected medical expenses or other immediate expenses. Or perhaps the money is needed to purchase a home. But whatever the reason there are things that need to be thought out before dealing with a structured settlement purchaser.

So how do you decide where you should go to so that you can sell your structured settlement and get a fair deal with it? How do you know which of the many companies or individuals would be a good fit for you?
Structured Settlement Buyer
There are a couple of places that you can go, and things that you can do before you make your decision.

Talk to friends and family

One of the first and foremost things you should do is talk to people you trust and who have gone through the same type of thing. You know that you can trust their judgment and they will be honest.

Search online

If you don’t know of anyone who has had a structured settlement and sold it, then you can do some research online about the different places that you can go to. You may be able to find people who have gone there and were satisfied with the results.

If you have decided to sell your structured settlement, be sure to do your homework and see where you will get the best offer and deal. When you are well informed, you will be able to make the best decision that will be right for you. Do not be afraid to get second opinions and to look around to see what is available.

And, as usual, don’t do anything that involves a great deal of money without contacting your financial adviser or attorney. They may have the information that you need while you are looking for the right structured settlement buyer.

Personal Injury Compensation in the Form of Structured Settlements

The article below discusses the benefits of structured settlement payments as compensation for an injury you may have suffered and have become entitled to damage compensation.

 

 

Compensation for My Personal Injury

If a personal injury attorney determines that you do, indeed, have a valid personal injury case, then you will be entitled to damages.

ORLANDO, FL, December 31, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ — If a personal injury attorney determines that you do, indeed, have a valid personal injury case, then you will be entitled to damages. Damages are basically the expenses or losses you have incurred due to the negligence of the other person and may included both economic and non-economic factors. An economic expense or damage would be the cost of doctor visits, while a non-economic damage would be pain and suffering as that cannot be actually measured or assigned a cost like a doctor’s visit can. The damages to which you will be entitled all depend on the injuries you suffered and the circumstances of your injuries (i.e. if the defendant shows malice or reckless disregard for your safety).

Personal Injury Damages

The following is a comprehensive list of the damages available in personal injury claims. Please keep in mind that you will not necessarily be entitled to all of the damages listed below, but more likely, you will receive some combination of the damages:

- Present and future medical expenses

- Present and future lost wages

- Household services (the cost of hiring someone to maintain the plaintiff’s house during recovery)

- Mental anguish

- Loss of consortium (loss of the benefits of a relationship because of the accident or injury)

- Loss of enjoyment of life

- Pain and suffering

- Permanent disability

- Disfigurement

- Funeral expenses in the event of wrongful death

Settling a Personal Injury Case

Personal injury cases are settled either in a formal lawsuit or, more commonly, through an informal settlement (a negotiation between the plaintiff and defendant). When the verdict or negotiation is reached, the compensation will be awarded. Typically, minor to moderate injury cases are compensated with a lump sum payment, while more severe injury cases are often settled with a structured settlement. There are some benefits to structured settlements such as:

- Structured settlements are often tax-free income because they are usually in the form of annuities or U.S. Treasure Securities, which are not taxed at the state or federal level.

- Structured settlement payments are made over time, so the injured receives an income for several years to a lifetime.

- Often the injured can schedule the payments to best suit his or her needs.

If you feel you may have a personal injury case and live in the Orlando, Florida area, please visit the website of The Law Offices of Michael V. Barszcz, M.D., J.D. today to schedule a confidential consultation or to learn more about personal injury law at www.themdjd.com.

 

This article appeared here at:  http://world.einnews.com/247pr/254976

Eliminate Debt by Selling Off Structured Settlement

Selling off structured settlement and using the proceeds to pay off debt

Nowadays, there are many people who receive structured settlements as a consequence of a financial arrangement reached after a legal action or a personal injury lawsuit. This financial agreement will include payment of dollars throughout a stipulated period of time and this makes the structured settlements grow in popularity over the past few decades. Being in debt and staying in debt are both harassing experiences and therefore you need to look for ways in which you can get out of the debt cycle. Selling off your structured debt settlements is one worthy way of getting immediate cash to pay back your creditors. If you’re not aware of the ways in which you can seek debt relief by selling off structured settlements, here are some steps.

  • Get in touch with a trustworthy buyer: The first step that you need to take is to look for a buyer who will be ready to purchase the structured settlement from you. N this case, you have to shop around among various buyers and make sure that you choose the buyer who can provide you with a lump sum amount of cash in lieu of the structured settlement. In case you ultimately work with an authentic company, you can expect some valuable advice regarding the maximum amount that you can turn into cash in order to repay your revolving credit card debt. You should also bear a strong drive to make this entire process successful.
  • Compare the amount you’ll sell and repay: The next step that you have to take is to calculate the total amount of debt that you owe to your credit card debtors. Unless you know this amount, it is impossible for you to decide the amount that you will sell off to the structured settlement buyer. Make sure that you sell off the exact amount that you need to pay back to your creditors and not anything more than that. If you can store some more of it, you may not have to seek the help of professional debt relief companies to repay your debt. You can adopt this same process to put an end to all your financial woes. Restrict your selling so as to be able to make use of it in the near future.
  • Start repaying the debt soon: As soon as you get the lump sum amount of money from the structured settlement buyer, you should start repaying your credit card debts as soon as possible. Credit card debts always have a negative impact on your credit score and therefore you need to make sure that you delete them as fast as is humanly possible for you. Don’t distribute the proceeds among other sources as using it for taking financial moves is usually appreciated.

Therefore, when you’re drowning in a sea of credit card debt and you don’t want to take help of a professional agent to get out of debt, you should try selling off your structured settlements. Take the steps mentioned above and then use the money to repay your high interest debt.

Why You Should Insist On Structured Settlements?

What are structured settlements?

This question may have entered your mind if you are suffering from an injury caused by the negligence of another person, group, or company. Personal injury litigation remains the common route of those seeking compensation from those responsible for your injuries. In recent years, however, these settlements have emerged as a second option in personal injury claims. Structured settlements can be defined a predetermined amount of money that is given to claimants over a set period of time. A decision about the duration and nature of payment is taken by both the parties usually in presence of lawyers.

Some find it better to use this payment plan for personal injury claims. They prefer it over a lump sum payment for a variety of reasons.

  • A lump sum payment remains elusive if plaintiffs want to earn compensation through court. An estimate puts the number of cases won by plaintiffs to be as low as 10%.
  • Defendants often come up with excuses and are able to tilt the decision in their favor. A court of law relies entirely on evidence and this results in a negative outcome. It is therefore better to have something rather than nothing.
  • Sometimes the court itself agrees on granting judgments with structured settlement as the mode of payment. This is done after hearing the views of both parties and offering them time to discuss the matter with each other.
  • Out of court settlements remain the most common route of agreeing on this type of payment plan. This reduces the financial burden of litigation and offers quick processing of claims if both parties have agreed to the settlement.

This type of settlement is done with the help of an outside broker. Once all parties have agreed to the arrangement, an outside broker comes into the picture and negotiates with both parties’ lawyers. This may take a week or even a month, depending on the objections posed by the defendants or the plaintiffs, among other issues. Once a deal is signed, the defendants are legally bound to offer you the monthly, quarterly, or yearly payments. The duration of payments is also decided at this time.

Structured settlements are usually done through a life insurance company in the form of annuities. Given the workings of the insurance industry, premiums and discount rates play an important role in deciding about a settlement plan. Sometimes the plaintiffs have to wait for months before they receive a payment. You can avoid this delay by presenting a strong case to the insurance company and pursuing it with gusto. A competent lawyer can help you in completing the necessary procedures in the shortest time possible. He or she will also keep an eye on inflated values, high commission, and other tricks used by the insurance company and defendants.

It always helps to purchase structured settlements from more than one insurance company to ensure financial stability over the years. It will also protect your payments from company bankruptcies and other problems.

Darren is a financial planner who specializes in assisting individuals and families with their current financial goals and retirement planning. Specializing in annuities but also REIT’s, Darren is also familiar with life insurance planning. He enjoys writing articles on various aspects of financial planning and what you can do to protect your net worth. You can check out his latest articles on Sell Structured Insurance Settlement tips and other decisions when it comes to your life insurance polices.  Published on http://cmvlive.com/money/personal-finance/why-you-should-insist-on-structured-settlements

Structured Settlement Help

Structured settlements can be undone.

Just found this article on how to be a better lawyer.  This was interesting, but what was most interesting was #4, “Make sure you are aware that structured settlements can be undone.”   This is what this site is all about.

A structured settlement or even an annuity that is purchased for financial planning purposes, can be great tools.  According to Hank Didier  “history has shown us that our clients can and will sell them if their overall settlement plan is inflexible as things change over time.”   It’s well known that many people end up selling their annuity to get their structured settlement money quickly in times of need, like emergencies.  And they end up trading quite a bit of the money that they would have received, had they waited for the periodic payments, in exchange for getting out their money fast.

The reason that he brings this up is “Because this often happens at a great loss”, therefore he tells his fellow lawyers that “we must help our clients look to options that have the flexibility to allow them to adapt financially over time as situations may change.”

If structured settlement make sense to the client’s situation, “then consider using both recurring and lump sum payments over time that provide for the unexpected. By doing this, you are helping to minimize the likelihood that your clients may consider approaching a high-discount rate factoring company to sell their structured settlement for ‘cash now’.”

This is great advice for both the attorney and the person who could possibly be awarded a structured settlement or in the financial planning realm, someone who is thinking of using annuities as part of their plan for the future.

But whatever the case, individuals should consult with their own lawyers, accountants or financial planners.  This, is exactly how he ends his article, click here to read more, “Also, explain to your clients that if they ever do run into trouble, they should call you or their structured settlement professional for help, as you can help them find the right solution while protecting them from predatory factoring companies.”

Getting Cash For Structured Settlements

Selling A Structured Settlement

Selling Structured Settlements

I've Got Cash From My Structured Settlement

You were awarded a structured settlement, and after a few years you have decided to sell it and get cash for a structured settlement. What do you do now? Well, the following are some steps that you should take so that you make the best decision. So, if you want to get money for structured settlement payments, this will take you through the first part in selling your structured settlement.

1. The first thing you will want to do is to figure
out what your financial needs now, present and future.
You will want to talk to an attorney or a financial
advisor.

2. The next thing to do will be to get in touch with
the provider of your payments, and find out the amount
left, the number of payments left, and your structured
settlement’s terms. Also get all of the contract
information so that you can give it to the buyer.

3. Figure out how much of your settlement you want to
sell. If you sell payments that will be coming shortly
after you sell, you will be offered more money than
those that are coming in the future.

4. Find a reputable structured settlement buyer and
make certain that you are comfortable with them.

5. Get quotes from different buyers, and weigh all
factors before making a final decision. These factors
include comfort level, experience, and reputation, to
name a few.

6. Finally, you will sign a contract with the buyer.
Make certain that you have your attorney read over the
contract before you sign anything.

You have chosen a structured settlement purchaser and you are wondering what the rest of the steps are. Now we’ll take you through the rest of the process so that you know what you should do to make the process as easy as possible.

1. Once you have chosen your buyer, you will need to
provide the buyer with some information. The quicker
you gather the information, the less time it will
take, but the process can last anywhere from two to
fourteen days.

The things that you may need to provide are the following:

  • Release/court judgment/settlement agreement
  • The contract from the payment provider or insurance company/Annuity policy
  • Bank statement or stub to verify payment
  • Your own personal information, which could include a state issued ID or driver’s license.
  • Copy of divorce decree or marriage license (if it applies)
  • Any documents discharging a bankruptcy (if it applies)
  • Your Attorney’s information

2. After everything is in the buyer’s hands, this is a
good time to ask them what about the underwriting
process and how it works. Beware if the buyer says it
will be a short processing time.

3. Once the underwriting process is done, the buyer
will give it to a judge to review. Ask your attorney
if you should appear, and if it’s in your best
interests. Find out from the buyer what the costs are
and who will be responsible to pay them.

4. If your request is approved, the buyer will give
you the cash for the structured settlement.

Remember this is just a set of guidelines, and each situation is unique, and requires consultation with your attorney or financial adviser, before starting to sell a structured settlement.