Consumer Law:  New laws that limited borrowers to one payday loan at a time and doubled the amount of time borrowers had to repay the loans have drastically reduced the number of the payday loans in Virginia.  In 2008, Virginia's payday lenders made nearly 3.4 million payday loans, or about 281,000 each month. Through the end of May, lenders had issued 227,000 loans, or about 45,000 per month - an 84% decline.  That puts Virginia on pace to issue fewer than 600,000 payday loans for the first time since the lenders were authorized to do business in the state in 2002.  

Employment Law:  The federal Minimum Wage increased on July 24, 2009 from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour.  The increase also raises the amount of earnings automatically protected by Virginia law from wage garnishment.  Starting July 24, if earnings after required withholdings for federal income tax, state income tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax are $290 per week or less, the earnings can't be garnished.  This protection applies even after those earnings are deposited into a bank account.  After tax earnings greater than $290 per week can be garnished, up to a maximum of 25% of those earnings.

Family Law: Virginia, along with nine other states, earned a failing grade from a national teen dating violence prevention organization.  In its 2009 State-by-State Teen Dating Violence Report Card, Break the Cycle says that Virginia, along with 15 other states, does not specify who can file for a protective order on behalf of a juvenile.  In Virginia, if you are 18 or older, you can file for a protective order yourself; but if you are under 18, the law does not say who can file for you.  It will be up to the individual courts and judges whether a juvenile can get a protective order without a parent's permission.

Housing Law:  The Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act now requires that new owners acquiring property through foreclosure honor existing leases.  Tenants with term leases and more than 90 days remaining on their leases may not be evicted until the end of their lease terms.  The sole exception is that a new owner who seeks to occupy the unit as a primary residence may terminate the lease with at least 90 days notice.  In the case of leases with less than 90 days remaining in the term, month-to-month leases, and leases terminable at will, a minimum of 90 days notice also is required.  The law took effect May 20, 2009.

Public Benefits Law: The Social Security Administration now is offering the Direct Express® Card - a new debit card beneficiaries can use to get and use their benefits without a bank account. The benefits are deposited directly onto the card in full, on time, every month.  The card can be used to make purchases, pay bills or get cash at thousands of locations, and can be used anywhere that accepts Master Card debit cards.  And most transactions are free. Anyone receiving Social Security or SSI can enroll.  It's quick and easy to sign up for the card.  Call toll-free at 1-877-212-9991 or sign up online at www.USDirectExpress.com.