Serena Siew is an attorney with a specialty in immigration defense and legal writing for the general public. She is a member of the State Bar of California and admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court for the Central District Court of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She obtained her J.D. from Southwestern University having clerked for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and a federal appellate judge in Buenos Aires. She has practiced immigration defense before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, Board of Immigration Appeals, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Her fights for inadmissibility waivers and humanitarian parole have been publicized as have her articles on immigration and water law. Born and raised in California, Serena graduated cum laude from the University of Southern California. She received a CALI Excellence Award for legal writing on White Collar Crime and has written for The Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Daily Appellate Report. Additionally, Serena comes with years of experience writing content for over 100 national law firms. When not working, Serena enjoys trying to stay on horses using her ever-diminishing riding skills.
Articles written by Attorney Serena Siew
How To Beat a Credit Card Lawsuit in Court
Written by Attorney Serena Siew. Legally reviewed by Attorney Paige Hooper
Updated March 3, 2025
Getting sued by a credit card company can be intimidating. Maybe you’ve become so good at ignoring collection calls that you’re tempted to trash the complaint and summons. Don’t. You have legal rights and defenses that you’ll lose by not contesting the lawsuit. Plus, if you fight back in court, your chances of winning the case are much better than you might initially expect.
Read More →How To Write a Hardship Letter for a Short Sale
Written by Attorney Serena Siew. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
If you choose to write a hardship letter for a short sale, you’ll want to make yours stand out to lenders so that you have a better chance of avoiding foreclosure. This article discusses what to include—and what not to include—in a hardship letter requesting approval for a short sale.
Read More →I’m Unemployed. How Can I Get Help With My Mortgage Payments?
Written by Attorney Serena Siew. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
If you’ve lost your job and need help with your mortgage, don’t panic. Several mortgage assistance programs may be available to you.
Read More →Removing a Repossession From Your Credit Report
Written by Attorney Serena Siew. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
A car repossession can stay on your credit report for up to 7 years and the negative impact can be devastating if not dealt with. But a repossession does not have to ruin your financial future. In fact, you have more options than you think. This article explains why a credit report is important, how to get a free report, and steps you can take to remove negative marks like repossession from your record.
Read More →Can I Reaffirm My Mortgage in a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
Written by Attorney Serena Siew. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
The reaffirmation of mortgage debts is possible in Chapter 7 bankruptcy but it's not necessary. Learn what a reaffirmation agreement is how it affects your home mortgage.
Read More →What Repossession Fees Mean For You
Written by Attorney Serena Siew. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 24, 2025
Repossession fees are what creditors pay to repossess your car. Towing, storage, and auction fees are common examples. If you’re delinquent on your car loan and your car is repossessed, those fees are passed on to you. Keep reading to find out more about repossession and what repossession fees mean for you.
Read More →Using an Offer in Compromise to Settle a Tax Debt
Written by Attorney Serena Siew.
Updated May 3, 2021
An Offer in Compromise is a good choice when there's a large debt covering more than one tax year. The IRS will only consider an offer if you meet all the eligibility criteria and the IRS finds that making you pay your entire tax burden would cause extreme financial hardship.
Read More →
