Ready to say goodbye to debt for good? Learn More
X
Attorney William A. McCarthy

Attorney William A. McCarthy

Tax Attorney (ret.)

William (Bill) started his legal career with a small firm in Southern California where he handled real estate matters, corporate acquisitions, and tax planning. After a few years, he decided on a different career path and took a job with the Office of Chief Counsel, a branch of the U.S. Treasury Department which primarily advises the Internal Revenue Service. In that role, he handled bankruptcy cases, approved tax payment plans (learning a lot about financial hardship), litigated numerous cases, advised agents, managed a team of attorneys, and instructed numerous courses. Throughout his work with the Treasury Department, he had a strong passion for helping others and writing. He received a national mentoring award for training junior attorneys along the way. Throughout his tenure with Treasury, he enjoyed writing papers (briefs, advisory opinions, guidance projects, etc.) with an eye towards simplifying the complex and providing clear and useful guidance. After roughly 30 years with the Treasury Department, his passion for writing and helping others ultimately led him to pursue a second career in legal writing.


All ArticlesDebtsEmploymentHousing

Articles written by Attorney William A. McCarthy

Lis Pendens Foreclosure: When Is It Used & How Does It Work?

Written by Attorney William A. McCarthyLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 23, 2025

Lis pendens is a notice lenders use when they initiate a foreclosure sale. It puts the public on notice that a lawsuit is pending and clouds the title so the property can’t easily be sold. Lenders commonly record a lis pendens when they file a foreclosure lawsuit. You'll need to know how to respond to this notice to save your home from foreclosure.

Read More →

Provisions of the California Homeowner Bill of Rights

Written by Attorney William A. McCarthy
Updated April 16, 2025

The California Homeowner Bill of Rights (HBOR) helps homeowners who are facing a foreclosure sale and was passed to make sure homeowners know they have alternatives to a forced sale of their home and what those alternatives are. This article describes what the California Homeowner Bill of Rights is and how it can protect you from losing your home.

Read More →

The Pros and Cons of Debt Consolidation

Written by Attorney William A. McCarthy
Updated January 30, 2025

Debt consolidation is a popular option for fixing your credit problems because it lowers the payment of one large, monthly bill. If your current debt repayment plan isn't working for you, read our pros and cons of debt consolidation to help you decide if this option could be right for you.

Read More →

Should You Take A Lower Paying Job While On Unemployment?

Written by Attorney William A. McCarthyLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025

If you’re receiving unemployment benefits, you generally need to be actively looking for work and accept “suitable work” when it is offered. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to accept any job offer, such as one paying less than you were making. Each state establishes its own definition regarding which jobs are suitable and must be accepted by a claimant (or they risk losing benefits). This article will discuss some of the factors that state guidelines take into consideration as well as some that might be unique to your situation.

Read More →
Y-Combinator

Upsolve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that started in 2016. Our mission is to help low-income families resolve their debt and fix their credit using free software tools. Our team includes debt experts and engineers who care deeply about making the financial system accessible to everyone. We have world-class funders that include the U.S. government, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and leading foundations.

To learn more, read why we started Upsolve in 2016, our reviews from past users, and our press coverage from places like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.