the paralegal survival guide facts and forms third edition

16
i The Paralegal Survival Guide Facts and Forms Third Edition VOLUME I Chapters I to VIII TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I Administrative Practice ....................................................................1 A. An Introduction to Administrative Law in South Carolina ............................. 1 B. Administrative Agencies in South Carolina .................................................... 2 1. Powers and Duties ................................................................................. 3 2. Agency Material .................................................................................... 6 C. The Administrative Law Court........................................................................ 7 1. Contested Cases ..................................................................................... 8 2. Appellate Jurisdiction .......................................................................... 13 D. Particular Agencies and Practice ..............................................................15 1. Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation ............................... 15 2. Procurement Panel ............................................................................... 17 3. Department of Revenue ....................................................................... 22 4. Department of Health and Environmental Control .............................. 26 5. Workers’ Compensation Commission ................................................. 28 E. Special Ethical Considerations in Administrative Practice ........................... 31 F. Conclusion..................................................................................................... 31 G. Appendices ...............................................................................................32 Chapter II Bankruptcy .....................................................................................41 A. Introduction ................................................................................................... 41 1. Purpose ................................................................................................ 41 2. History ................................................................................................. 41 B. South Carolina Bankruptcy Court ................................................................. 42

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Page 1: The Paralegal Survival Guide Facts and Forms Third Edition

i

The Paralegal Survival Guide Facts and Forms

Third Edition

VOLUME I Chapters I to VIII

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter I – Administrative Practice ....................................................................1 A. An Introduction to Administrative Law in South Carolina ............................. 1

B. Administrative Agencies in South Carolina .................................................... 2

1. Powers and Duties ................................................................................. 3

2. Agency Material .................................................................................... 6

C. The Administrative Law Court ........................................................................ 7

1. Contested Cases ..................................................................................... 8

2. Appellate Jurisdiction .......................................................................... 13

D. Particular Agencies and Practice ..............................................................15 1. Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation ............................... 15

2. Procurement Panel ............................................................................... 17

3. Department of Revenue ....................................................................... 22

4. Department of Health and Environmental Control .............................. 26

5. Workers’ Compensation Commission ................................................. 28

E. Special Ethical Considerations in Administrative Practice ........................... 31

F. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 31

G. Appendices ...............................................................................................32 Chapter II – Bankruptcy .....................................................................................41 A. Introduction ................................................................................................... 41

1. Purpose ................................................................................................ 41

2. History ................................................................................................. 41

B. South Carolina Bankruptcy Court ................................................................. 42

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C. General Concepts .......................................................................................... 42

1. Property of the Estate .......................................................................... 42

2. Automatic Stay – Lifting the Stay ....................................................... 43

3. Exemptions .......................................................................................... 43

4. Trustees – General Powers and Duties ................................................ 44

5. Proof of Claim ..................................................................................... 46

6. Discharge ............................................................................................. 47

D. Chapters and Relief Sought .....................................................................47 1. Chapter 7 ............................................................................................. 47

2. Chapter 13 ........................................................................................... 48

3. Chapter 11 ........................................................................................... 48

4. Subchapter V – Small Business Debtor Reorganizations .................... 50

5. Other Chapters ..................................................................................... 51

E. Consumer Issues ............................................................................................ 56

1. Student Loans ...................................................................................... 56

2. Income Taxes ....................................................................................... 56

3. Family Law – Conflict Between the Two Courts ................................ 56

4. Avoidance ............................................................................................ 57

5. Reaffirmation ....................................................................................... 57

F. Business and Commercial Issues .................................................................. 58

1. Chapter 11 Plan and Disclosure Statement .......................................... 58

2. Section 363 Sales ................................................................................. 60

G. Adversary Proceedings .................................................................................. 61

1. General ................................................................................................ 61

2. Dischargeability ................................................................................... 61

3. Preferences .......................................................................................... 62

4. Fraudulent Conveyances...................................................................... 62

H. Appendices .................................................................................................... 63 Chapter III – Defendant’s Litigation ...............................................................131 A. Introduction ................................................................................................. 131

1. Ethics ................................................................................................. 131

2. Areas of Law ..................................................................................... 131

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3. Responsibilities .................................................................................. 131

B. Initiation of Civil Litigation – Pleadings ..................................................... 132

1. Summons and Complaint................................................................... 132

2. Answer, Counterclaims, Cross-Claims, and Third-Party Claims ...... 133

3. Removal from State to Federal Court ................................................ 135

4. Amendments to Pleadings ................................................................. 135

5. Electronic Filing ................................................................................ 135

C. Discovery .................................................................................................... 137

1. Depositions ........................................................................................ 137

2. Interrogatories .................................................................................... 139

3. Request for Production ...................................................................... 140

4. Request for Admissions ..................................................................... 142

5. Subpoenas .......................................................................................... 143

D. Motions........................................................................................................ 144

E. Trial ............................................................................................................. 146

1. Preparation ......................................................................................... 146

2. Jury Information ................................................................................ 146

3. Voir Dire ............................................................................................ 147

4. Witness/Expert Files .......................................................................... 147

5. Trial Exhibit List ............................................................................... 147

6. Trial Exhibits ..................................................................................... 148

7. Trial Subpoenas ................................................................................. 148

8. Trial Notebook/Trial Brief................................................................. 149

9. Deposition Excerpts/Annotations ...................................................... 149

10. Paralegal Responsibilities at Trial ..................................................... 150

F. Post-Trial ..................................................................................................... 151

G. Conclusion ................................................................................................... 151

H. Practice Tips ................................................................................................ 152

1. Internet ............................................................................................... 152

2. Software ............................................................................................. 152

I. Index of Forms and Sample Documents ..................................................... 152

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Chapter IV – eDiscovery ...................................................................................237 A. Electronic Discovery Reference Model....................................................... 237

B. Amended Rules ........................................................................................... 238

C. Information Governance.............................................................................. 241

D. Identification ............................................................................................... 242

E. Preservation ................................................................................................. 245

F. Collection .................................................................................................... 245

G. Processing .................................................................................................... 247

H. Review and Analysis ................................................................................... 249

I. Production ................................................................................................... 250

J. Presentation ................................................................................................. 252

eDiscovery Checklist ................................................................................... 253 Chapter V – Elder Law .....................................................................................255 A. Introduction ................................................................................................. 255

B. Estate Planning ............................................................................................ 255

1. Overview ........................................................................................... 255

2. Wills .................................................................................................. 256

3. Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Matters ............................. 256

4. Health Care Power of Attorney ......................................................... 257

5. Trusts ................................................................................................. 258

6. Ethical Considerations ....................................................................... 259

C. Paying for Long Term Care ......................................................................... 260

1. Overview ........................................................................................... 260

2. Housing Options ................................................................................ 260

3. Long Term Care Insurance ................................................................ 262

4. Veteran’s Benefits ............................................................................. 263

5. Medicaid ............................................................................................ 264

D. Special Needs – Government Benefits and Planning Considerations ......... 265

1. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)................................................. 265

2. Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) ......................................... 266

3. Special Needs Trusts and Pooled Trusts ............................................ 266

4. ABLE Accounts ................................................................................. 268

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E. Resources .................................................................................................... 269

1. Books ................................................................................................. 269

2. Manuals ............................................................................................. 270

3. Organizations ..................................................................................... 270

F. Appendices .................................................................................................. 270 Chapter VI – Ethical Issues ..............................................................................291 A. Sources of Ethical and Professional Guidelines for Paralegals ................... 291

1. Regulation of Paralegals in South Carolina ....................................... 292

B. Ethical Considerations for Paralegals .......................................................... 293

1. Competence and Diligence ................................................................ 293

2. Client Confidentiality ........................................................................ 295

3. Conflicts of Interest ........................................................................... 299

4. Billing and Timekeeping ................................................................... 303

5. Unauthorized Practice of Law ........................................................... 304

6. Professionalism .................................................................................. 312

C. Conclusion ................................................................................................... 314 Chapter VII – Family Court Juvenile Process ................................................315 A. Introduction ................................................................................................. 316

B. Petition ........................................................................................................ 316

C. Taking into Custody .................................................................................... 316

1. Custodial Interrogation ...................................................................... 316

D. Detention ..................................................................................................... 317

1. Detention Hearing ............................................................................. 317

E. Intake ........................................................................................................... 318

F. Diversion ..................................................................................................... 318

G. Waiver (or Transfer of Jurisdiction) ............................................................ 318

1. Waiver Hearing ................................................................................. 319

H. Adjudication ................................................................................................ 320

1. Children’s Rights ............................................................................... 320

2. Guilty Plea ......................................................................................... 320

3. Adjudicatory Hearing ........................................................................ 321

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I. Disposition .................................................................................................. 321

1. Predisposition Evaluation .................................................................. 321

2. Dispositional Hearing ........................................................................ 322

3. Probation ............................................................................................ 322

4. Commitment ...................................................................................... 322

5. Transfer to Department of Corrections (DOC) .................................. 323

J. Parole ........................................................................................................... 323

K. Right to Appeal ........................................................................................... 323

L. Expungement of a Child’s Record .............................................................. 323 Chapter VIII – Family Law ..............................................................................325 Part 1. Family Law: An Overview ................................................. 325

A. Background and Purpose ............................................................................. 325

B. Understanding Clients and Setting Expectations ........................................ 326

C. Initial Consultations/Necessary Information ............................................... 326

1. Preparation Prior to Filing Pleadings ................................................. 326

D. Client Novels ............................................................................................... 327

Part 2. Pleadings .............................................................................. 327

E. Contested or Uncontested? .......................................................................... 327

F. Form of Pleadings ....................................................................................... 328

G. Causes of Action ......................................................................................... 329

1. Divorce .............................................................................................. 329

2. Separate Support and Maintenance ................................................... 329

3. Child-Related Cases .......................................................................... 329

4. Contempt Actions .............................................................................. 330

5. Modification/Post-Divorce Cases ...................................................... 331

6. The “365 Day Rule” .......................................................................... 331

H. Temporary (Pendente Lite) Hearing ............................................................ 331

1. Form of Motions ................................................................................ 332

2. Service Issues .................................................................................... 332

3. Required Forms ................................................................................. 332

I. Procedural Motions ..................................................................................... 334

1. Motion for Appointment of Guardian ad Litem (“GAL”) ................. 334

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2. Motions for Medical or Psychological Examinations/Appointment of Clinical Psychologist ........................ 334

3. Motions for Appointment of a Forensic Accountant/Business Valuator .......................................................... 334

4. Motions to Compel ............................................................................ 334

5. Motions for Scheduling Order ........................................................... 335

J. Discovery .................................................................................................... 335

1. Interrogatories .................................................................................... 335

2. Requests for Production..................................................................... 335

3. Requests for Admissions ................................................................... 336

4. Subpoenas (SCCA254F).................................................................... 336

5. Depositions ........................................................................................ 337

K. Settlement .................................................................................................... 337

1. Mediation ........................................................................................... 338

L. Final Hearings ............................................................................................. 338

1. Approval of Agreement/Uncontested Final Hearings ....................... 338

2. Trial/Contested .................................................................................. 339

3. Preparing the Client ........................................................................... 339

4. Preparing the Witnesses..................................................................... 339

5. Preparing Trial Exhibits..................................................................... 340

6. Preparing the File .............................................................................. 340

7. Preparing a Trial Notebook ............................................................... 340

8. Preparing a Trial Toolkit ................................................................... 340

M. Post-Trial Issues .......................................................................................... 341

1. Order Filed, Served on Opposing Counsel, and Sent to Client ......... 341

2. Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) ............................... 341

3. Appeal................................................................................................ 341

N. Closing Letter to Client ............................................................................... 341

O. Index of Forms and Sample Documents ..................................................... 342 Index to Volumes I and II .................................................................................545

(Index for entire text included in both Volumes)

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The Paralegal Survival Guide Facts and Forms

Third Edition

VOLUME II Chapters IX to XV

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter IX – Foreclosures (Residential) .........................................................547 A. Pre-Foreclosure Considerations .................................................................. 548

1. Getting Your File in Order Prior to Pursuing a Foreclosure ............. 548

2. Fair Debt Collection Practices Act .................................................... 549

3. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (“SCRA”) (“the Act”) 50 App. U.S.C. §§ 501, et seq. (2003) ............................................... 549

4. Borrower in Bankruptcy .................................................................... 550

5. Deficiency Judgment ......................................................................... 550

6. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“the CFPB”) – Considering Loss Mitigation ............................................................. 551

B. Commencement of Foreclosure ................................................................... 552

1. Title Examination .............................................................................. 554

2. Lis Pendens, Summons, Complaint, and Notice of Foreclosure Intervention ............................................................... 555

3. File Lis Pendens, Summons, and Notice of Foreclosure Intervention ............................................................... 559

4. Service of Pleadings on Defendants .................................................. 559

C. Issues Common in Foreclosure after Commencement ................................ 560

1. Contested Versus Uncontested Foreclosure Cases ............................ 560

2. Referrals ............................................................................................ 561

3. Discovery Considerations .................................................................. 561

4. Trial Considerations .......................................................................... 561

5. Notice of Hearing; Notice of Sale ..................................................... 561

6. Notice of Hearings and Hearings Before the Master-in-Equity or Special Referee ........................................... 562

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D. Foreclosure Sale – Safe Bidding and Compliance Procedures – Post-Judgment Procedures .......................................................................... 564

E. Appendices .................................................................................................. 567 Chapter X – Intellectual Property ....................................................................609 A. Trademarks .................................................................................................. 609

1. Introduction ....................................................................................... 609

2. Types of Trademarks ......................................................................... 610

3. The “Use” Requirement..................................................................... 610

4. Application Procedures...................................................................... 611

5. Duration and Maintenance of Trademarks ........................................ 612

B. Copyrights ................................................................................................... 613

1. Introduction ....................................................................................... 613

2. Legal Requirements of Copyright ..................................................... 614

3. Registration Procedure ...................................................................... 614

4. Ownership of Copyright .................................................................... 616

5. Duration of Copyrights ...................................................................... 618

C. U.S. Patents ................................................................................................. 618

1. Introduction ....................................................................................... 618

2. Utility Patents .................................................................................... 619

3. Design Patents ................................................................................... 626

4. Plant Patents ...................................................................................... 626

5. Duty of Candor .................................................................................. 628

D. Trade Dress ................................................................................................. 629

1. Introduction ....................................................................................... 629

2. Trade Dress Protection ...................................................................... 629

3. The Federal Circuit: Don’t Worry, Everybody Reads the Labels ..... 630

4. Trade Dress Survives ......................................................................... 630

E. Trade Secrets ............................................................................................... 631

1. Source of the Law .............................................................................. 632

2. Elements (Proof in a Case Must Be Organized Around These) ........ 632

F. Jurisdiction: The Intertwining of Federal and State Court Systems and Certain Peculiarities of IP Litigation .................................................... 632

1. Patent Litigation ................................................................................ 632

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2. Copyright Litigation .......................................................................... 634

3. Trademark Litigation ......................................................................... 635

4. Unfair Competition Litigation ........................................................... 635

5. Choosing the Claims .......................................................................... 636

6. Preliminary Relief ............................................................................. 636

7. Counterclaims .................................................................................... 637

8. Affirmative Defenses ......................................................................... 637

9. Summary Judgment ........................................................................... 637

G. Appendices .................................................................................................. 638 Chapter XI – Law Firm Security .....................................................................659 A. Introduction ................................................................................................. 659

1. S.C. Supreme Court Ordered Amendments to the Rules of Professional Conduct ................................................ 659

2. Important ABA Formal Opinions ...................................................... 659

3. Moving Forward ................................................................................ 660

B. A Word on Law Firm Security .................................................................... 660

C. Getting Started ............................................................................................. 661

1. Security as a Competitive Advantage ................................................ 662

2. Budgeting for Security....................................................................... 662

D. Attack Surface ............................................................................................. 662

1. Employees and Third Parties ............................................................. 663

E. Social Engineering ...................................................................................... 664

1. Common Social Engineering Attacks ................................................ 664

2. How to Decrease the Effectiveness of Social Engineering................ 666

F. Insurance Coverage ..................................................................................... 667

G. Incident Response ....................................................................................... 669

H. Attorney-Client Privilege (ACP) and Cybersecurity ................................... 669

I. Risk or Gap Analysis ................................................................................... 669

1. Define a Security Baseline ................................................................ 670

2. Recommended Policies, Plans and Procedures to Consider .............. 670

3. Recommended Standard Operating Procedures to Consider ............. 671

4. Third-Party Risk Assessments ........................................................... 672

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J. Who’s Running the Security Show? ........................................................... 672

1. Example Initial Security Meeting Agenda ........................................ 673

2. Post-Meeting Tactical Steps .............................................................. 673

K. Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) .............................................. 674

L. Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Protection ................................... 674

M. Employee Termination Controls ................................................................. 674

1. Sample Termination Process Checklist ............................................. 675

2. Temporary Access and Automatic Revocation ................................. 676

N. Controlling Access to Data Systems ........................................................... 676

1. Passwords .......................................................................................... 676

2. Multi-Factor Authentication .............................................................. 678

3. Single Sign-On (SSO) ....................................................................... 679

O. Cybersecurity Training ................................................................................ 680

1. The Following Are Suggested Training Topics................................. 680

P. Testing and Protecting the System .............................................................. 680

1. Penetration Testing ............................................................................ 680

2. Vulnerability Scans ........................................................................... 681

3. Anti-Virus, Anti-Malware and Endpoint Protection ......................... 682

4. Firewalls and Unified Threat Management (UTM) ........................... 683

Q. Proof of the Security Program ..................................................................... 684

1. Examples of Proof of the Security Program ...................................... 684

R. Websites, Web Hosting and Domain Registration ...................................... 684

1. Services to Add to Web Hosting Subscription .................................. 685

S. Records Management Protection ................................................................. 685

1. Things to Consider Regarding Records Management and Protection .............................................................. 685

T. Encryption ................................................................................................. 685

1. Data at Rest: Things to Consider ....................................................... 686

2. Data in Motion: Things to Consider .................................................. 686

3. Email Encryption ............................................................................... 686

4. Encrypted Chat .................................................................................. 687

U. Data Classifications ..................................................................................... 687

1. Examples of Data Classification ........................................................ 688

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V. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) ....................................................................... 689

1. Data Loss Prevention Tools: What to Look For ................................ 689

2. Non-Digital Safeguards to Consider .................................................. 689

3. Email Data Loss Prevention .............................................................. 690

W. Mobile Device Management (MDM) .......................................................... 690

1. Mobile Device Considerations .......................................................... 690

X. Cloud Products ............................................................................................ 691

1. Why the Cloud? ................................................................................. 691

2. Cloud File Storage ............................................................................. 692

3. Cloud-Based Law Firm Management Software ................................ 693

4. Cost vs. Value .................................................................................... 694

5. Your Firm Can’t Compete ................................................................. 694

Y. Data Sharing and Sharing Auditing ............................................................. 695

1. Things to Consider When Data Sharing ............................................ 695

Z. Patch Management ...................................................................................... 696

AA. Aging Applications ..................................................................................... 696

BB. System Backups .......................................................................................... 697

1. Things to Consider When Developing a Backup Strategy ................ 697

CC. Secure VPN ................................................................................................. 697

DD. Future Concerns .......................................................................................... 698

1. Drones................................................................................................ 698

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) ................................................................. 699

3. Cybercrimes ....................................................................................... 699

EE. Conclusion ................................................................................................. 701

1. A Recap of Where to Start ................................................................. 701

FF. Useful Resources ......................................................................................... 701

GG. Works Cited ................................................................................................. 702 Chapter XII – Office Administration ...............................................................703 A. Recruiting and Hiring Paralegals ................................................................ 703

1. Establishing Position Requirements .................................................. 704

2. Sources of Paralegal Candidates ........................................................ 704

3. Pre-Hiring Due Diligence .................................................................. 704

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4. New Hire Orientation ........................................................................ 705

B. Paralegal Education, Training and Development ........................................ 705

1. Paralegal Education Programs ........................................................... 705

2. In-House Training ............................................................................. 706

3. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and Professional Memberships .......................................................... 706

4. Career Path for Paralegals ................................................................. 706

C. Paralegal Role in Case Management ........................................................... 707

1. Technology ........................................................................................ 707

2. Docket Control .................................................................................. 708

3. Calendars and Checklists ................................................................... 708

4. Delegation Skills ............................................................................... 709

D. Ethical Considerations ................................................................................. 709

1. Scope of Paralegal Authority ............................................................. 709

2. Identification of Paralegal ................................................................. 710

3. Prohibition on Practicing Law ........................................................... 710

4. Confidentiality ................................................................................... 711

5. American Bar Association Guidelines............................................... 711

E. Economic Benefits of Paralegal Utilization ................................................ 711

1. Paralegal as a Profit Center ............................................................... 711

2. Timekeeping and Billing ................................................................... 711

F. Future of the Profession .............................................................................. 712

G. Exhibits........................................................................................................ 712 Chapter XIII – Plaintiff’s Litigation ................................................................719 A. Introduction ................................................................................................. 719

B. Intakes, Interviews and Information Gathering ........................................... 719

1. The Initial Client Interview: What to Ask ......................................... 720

2. Public Information ............................................................................. 721

3. Private Information ............................................................................ 722

4. Non-Client Interviews ....................................................................... 722

C. Developing Damages .................................................................................. 724

1. Economic Damages ........................................................................... 724

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2. Non-Economic Damages ................................................................... 725

3. Punitive Damages .............................................................................. 726

D. Consulting Experts ...................................................................................... 726

E. Commencing the Action .............................................................................. 727

1. Summons and Complaint................................................................... 727

2. Commencement ................................................................................. 727

3. Process ............................................................................................... 728

F. Discovery .................................................................................................... 728

1. Interrogatories .................................................................................... 729

2. Request for Production of Documents and Things ............................ 730

3. Request for Admission ...................................................................... 730

4. Scheduling Order ............................................................................... 731

5. Subpoena ........................................................................................... 731

6. Depositions ........................................................................................ 731

7. Responding to Discovery................................................................... 732

G. Motions Practice .......................................................................................... 733

1. Motion to Dismiss ............................................................................. 733

2. Motion to Compel .............................................................................. 733

3. Summary Judgment ........................................................................... 733

H. Alternative Dispute Resolution ................................................................... 734

1. Introduction ....................................................................................... 734

2. Preparation for Dispute Resolution ................................................... 735

I. Trial ............................................................................................................. 736

1. Preparation ......................................................................................... 736

2. During the Trial ................................................................................. 738

3. Post-Trial Motions ............................................................................. 739

J. Settlements, Disbursements, and Liens ....................................................... 739

K. Appendices .................................................................................................. 740 Chapter XIV – Residential Real Estate ...........................................................759 A. Overview and the Role of the Paralegal ...................................................... 759

B. Opening Files and Gathering Information ................................................... 760

C. Preparing Engagement Letters .................................................................... 761

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D. Conducting Searches Required by the USA Patriot Act ............................. 761

E. Scheduling Closings .................................................................................... 761

F. Handling Title Work ................................................................................... 761

1. Ordering Title Work .......................................................................... 761

2. Reviewing Title Work ....................................................................... 762

3. Determining Whether to Order a Survey ........................................... 762

4. Preparing Title Insurance Commitments ........................................... 762

5. Dealing with Title Defects ................................................................. 763

G. Preparing Documentation for Closings ....................................................... 763

1. Cash Closings .................................................................................... 763

2. Purchase Closings Involving Financing ............................................ 763

3. Refinance Closings ............................................................................ 763

4. Home Equity Line of Credit Closings ............................................... 763

5. Mail-Away Closings .......................................................................... 763

H. Dealing with Lenders .................................................................................. 764

I. Dealing with Real Estate Agents ................................................................. 764

J. Communicating with Clients ....................................................................... 764

K. Managing the Closing ................................................................................. 764

L. Disbursement ............................................................................................... 765

M. Recording .................................................................................................... 765

N. Post-Closing ................................................................................................ 765

O. Exhibits........................................................................................................ 766 Chapter XV – Social Security Disability ..........................................................775 A. Types of Disability Benefits ........................................................................ 775

1. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) – Title II ...................... 775

2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – Title XVI ............................. 776

3. Survivor’s Benefits ............................................................................ 776

4. Disabled/Widower Benefits (DWB) .................................................. 777

5. Disabled Child’s Benefits (Disabled Adult Child) ............................ 777

6. Social Security Disability – Blindness .............................................. 777

7. Cessation Cases/Continuing Disability Review ................................ 777

8. Dependent’s Benefits ......................................................................... 778

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B. The Disability Application Process ............................................................. 778

1. Initial Application .............................................................................. 778

2. Reconsideration Level ....................................................................... 779

3. Hearing Request ................................................................................ 780

4. Appeals Council ................................................................................ 781

5. Federal Court ..................................................................................... 781

C. Case Evaluation ........................................................................................... 781

1. Five-Step Sequential Evaluation ....................................................... 782

Step One – Substantial Gainful Activity ........................................... 783

Step Two – Severity .......................................................................... 783

Step Three – Listing of Impairments ................................................. 784

Step Four – Past Relevant Work ........................................................ 784

Step Five – Other Work ..................................................................... 785

D. Role of the Paralegal in Social Security Disability Cases ........................... 788

1. Potential Client Intakes ...................................................................... 788

2. Scheduling Appointments.................................................................. 789

3. Initial Client Intake ............................................................................ 790

4. Case Development/Management ....................................................... 790

E. Frequently Asked Questions and Common Client Calls ............................. 791

1. Disability Insurance Benefit (DIB)/Title II Cases ............................. 793

2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/Title XVI Cases ..................... 793

F. Forms ........................................................................................................... 808 Index to Volumes I and II .................................................................................869

(Index for entire text included in both Volumes)