Practice Tools

Please note that this material is from the prior edition of Access to Utility Service and has not been updated. The material is presented for historical purposes.

Medical bills often arrive unexpectedly and send many families into a financial tailspin. Unanticipated out-of-network medical bills, which frequently happen during emergencies, can reach hundreds or thousands of dollars. The No Surprises Act (NSA), which passed in 2020 and went into effect in 2022, broadly prohibits out-of-network bills for emergency and certain non-emergency situations.  

This  89 page compendium of existing laws that foster resident ownership of manufactured home communities is a November 2023 document from NCLC.    It lists the citation and detailed summaries of each of these laws found in 21 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

In today's video, we're going to explore a topic that's both intriguing and potentially troublesome – Zombie Second Mortgages. 🏡💀 You might be wondering, what are Zombie Second Mortgages, and how can they affect your homeownership and financial well-being? Don't worry; we've got you covered! In this informative and engaging video, we'll break down everything you need to know about this spooky aspect of real estate. Don't let Zombie Second Mortgages haunt your homeownership dreams! Join us in this video to arm yourself with knowledge and practical insights.

This sample letter can be used to request the Mortgage Optional Election (MOE) for a non-borrowing spouse. In addition to the death certificate, marriage certificate, and SSN, it is a good idea to explain the non-borrowing spouse's ownership interest or legal right to remain in the property (even if only under state intestacy laws). Include any applicable citation to state law and attach any relevant documents (such a will naming the  non-borrowing spouse'   as beneficiary, or an heirship affidavit, if appropriate under state law).

The short argument found in the document can be used to dispute a mortgagee’s attempt to charge additional fees in the reinstatement or cure amount the borrower must pay for a property charge default. The servicer might attempt to include these fees in a reinstatement quote to avoid foreclosure, or in a proof of claim in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

This budget worksheet can be used in a reverse mortgage situation to determine a homeowner’s expenses and income.  It can be also used in other contexts.

For post-August 4, 2014 loans where NBS was named as an Eligible Non-Borrowing Spouse in the loan docs, this sample NOE can be used to dispute the servicer’s failure to evaluate the NBS for the deferral period, or improper denial based on failure to meet the requirement of establishing ownership or legal right to remain in the property within 90 days of the borrower’s death.

This is a 15-page blank standard form agreement suitable for where a surviving spouse is not on a reverse mortgage to keep the survivor in the house after the passing of the other spouse.