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.
Articles written by Attorney William A. McCarthy
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. McCarthy. Legally 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 →Lis Pendens Foreclosure: When Is It Used & How Does It Work?
Written by Attorney William A. McCarthy. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 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 →Understanding a Bank Levy and What You Can Do if Your Account Is Frozen
Written by Attorney William A. McCarthy. Legally reviewed by the Upsolve Team
Updated December 13, 2024
If a creditor or debt collector sues you for an unpaid debt and they win, they may be able to get a court order for a bank levy. This allows them to take funds you owe directly from your bank account. Most creditors will have to jump through some legal hoops to do this, but some government agencies can levy your bank account without first getting a court order.
Read More →Provisions of the California Homeowner Bill of Rights
Written by Attorney William A. McCarthy.
Updated November 9, 2021
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.
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