What is the minimum and maximum number of hours one can work before being considered part time?

The United States Department of Labor, through the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), does not define full-time or part-time employment: www.dol.gov/compliance/topics/wages-other-full-time.htm. It is a matter left to agreement between employee and employer.

Whether an employee is considered full time or part time does not change the application of the FLSA. Also, FLSA does not limit the number of hours per day or per week that employees aged 16 years and older can be required to work: www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/013.htm.…

Does a durable power of attorney need to be notarized or witnessed?

Power of attorney laws vary by state. There is usually a section of each state’s statutes that directly addresses powers of attorney, and there is often a section specifically for durable powers of attorney. Many states require that a durable power of attorney be in writing and contain some specific language about the intent for the power of attorney to continue past the time the person creating the power is capable of managing their financial affairs.

Many states require that …

My husband died earlier this year and I suddenly have to take care of managing our finances. How do I get started?

In all relationships, there is naturally some division of labor that is negotiated. When one partner in the relationship dies, the other is left to take care of all of the responsibilities. This can be overwhelming.

The nature of the responsibilities range from household management to handling the finances to taking care of the children to car care. You may decide that it’s too much to manage on your own and will want to hire professional help for some of …

How can I organize my personal and financial papers in case of an emergency?

Organizing your personal and financial documents in case of emergency is a smart thing to do. Having these documents organized and available will help get your finances on track in the event of a crisis such as a death in the family or recovery following a natural disaster.

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit at http://www.operationhope.org/images/uploads/Files/effak2.pdf is an excellent tool to get your papers in order.

You may also want to create a “Grab ‘n’ Go” box that is portable, …