Mediators discuss alternative to court – Imagine your neighbor suing you over a barking dog, or your landlord refusing to return your deposit. What if you don’t have time or money to go to court? Mediation is the answer for many people because it is often cheaper and faster than litigation.

Ask Carrie: Social Security and Divorce: Can You Collect Benefits on Your Ex’s Earnings Record?  – The first requirement is that your marriage must have lasted for at least 10 years. Interestingly, it doesn’t matter if your ex has since remarried—you’re still in the picture benefits-wise.

Real estate Q&A: Foreclosure may wipe out lien holder’s claim – Liens have priority in the order in which they are recorded, so if the lender recorded its mortgage before your judgment, it can foreclose your lien along with his ownership (as long as it followed certain procedures in the foreclosure process, such as including your lien in the lawsuit).