Yardley

The Pennsylvania borough of Yardley is a cozy community in Bucks County with a total area of one square mile. Founded by a settler who immigrated to America in 1682, the borough was then known as Prospect Farm. During the Civil War, Yardley was an Underground Railroad station, and its known hiding places included warehouses on the Delaware Canal, the building that now houses Worthington Insurance, and the building that is now Continental Tavern. The borough is bordered by the Delaware River, the New Jersey town of Ewing, and Lower Makefield Township. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy or defending against criminal charges near Yardley, skilled lawyer John M. Kenney can help.

Drunk driving is a serious criminal charge in Pennsylvania. Like most states, the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is .08. However, Pennsylvania is different from some other states because the penalties are tiered (general impairment, high rate, and highest rate) based on increasingly higher blood alcohol content. General impairment is charged when a driver's BAC is .08-.099. Highest rate is charged when a driver's BAC is more than .16. If you refuse to take a chemical test when you are pulled over, you may be charged with general impairment but receive the highest level of penalties.

Assuming you did not injure anyone while drunk driving and this is your first offense, you may be eligible for a probationary program called Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD). However, you cannot participate in ARD if you had a minor under the age of 14 in the car when you were pulled over. The District Attorney has sole discretion over whether you are able to participate in this program. If the DA does accept you into ARD, you must complete a probation period and community service and pay your court costs. If you successfully complete all requirements and the ARD, your arrest record will be eligible for expungement, and you will not be officially convicted.

Bankruptcy laws were designed to provide debtors with a fresh start. Whether you are filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will need to take a credit counseling course approved for Pennsylvania residents filing for this process. You will receive a certificate of completion that you must file with your petition. The only exceptions to taking the counseling are for people on active military duty in a combat zone and people who are so physically or mentally impaired that they cannot fulfill the requirement. To file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you will need to pass what is called the "means test," which looks at the amount of your disposable income and compares it to the median income for your state. The test is designed to prevent debtors with high incomes who could pay off their debts over a period of time from filing for Chapter 7.

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is your only choice if you do not pass the means test. It can be a better choice if you have income and valuable assets that you want to keep, which are not covered by either Pennsylvania or federal bankruptcy exemptions. When you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you must commit to a debt repayment plan over a 3-5 year period.

Some of the most stressful experiences of people's lives revolve around financial difficulties and criminal investigations. Yardley attorney John M. Kenney is familiar with the bankruptcy process, and he can also help you face a criminal prosecution. Contact Mr. Kenney at (215) 547-3031 or by completing our online form.