do i need to give my social security number to the lawyer when buying a house and paying cash

There is no need for it unless there is some claim of identity theft or something. There should be some compelling reason for the other side to need a social security number and they should have to prove that reason to a court. Too much information is available once a social security number is given out.

Full Answer

Do I need to give my Social Security number to lawyer?

Otherwise, you will have to make an appointment and go to the lawyer's office. * This will flag comments for moderators to take action. I generally never give out a social security number. There is no need for it unless there is some claim of identity theft or something.

Do I need a Social Security number to rent a home?

If you are renting out a home that is funded by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, you may not need to provide your Social Security number. The government does not require that Social Security numbers are collected for housing applications in this program.

Should I give my Social Security number to someone?

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes, according to the Social Security Administration. Knowing how easy it is for someone to steal your personal information and identity can make you uneasy about sharing your Social Security number. However, there are certain situations which require you to provide that number.

Do you need a Social Security number to file a lawsuit?

There is no need for it unless there is some claim of identity theft or something. There should be some compelling reason for the other side to need a social security number and they should have to prove that reason to a court. Too much information is available once a social security number is given out.

When should you give out your Social Security number?

When are you required to give your number? There are essentially two situations: You are doing something that is reportable to the IRS or your state's tax department; and/or. You are engaged in a financial transaction that is subject to the Customer Identification Program.

Is it illegal to ask for Social Security number?

Businesses, banks, schools, private agencies, etc., are free to request someone's number and use it for any purpose that does not violate a federal or state law. Sometimes they will issue a different number if you ask.

Can someone access my bank account with my Social Security number?

They can use your SSN to open a bank account in your name. That means that anyone with your SSN can easily open a bank account in your name, especially if the identity thief already obtained a driver's license in your name.

Should I give my Social Security number over the phone?

You should never provide your SSN to someone you don't know who calls you on the phone and requests it. This same warning applies to unsolicited emails and any forms you fill out on the internet. In general, don't give your SSN to anyone unless you are absolutely certain they have a reason and a right to have it.

What can Social Security number be used for?

In addition to Social Security, the SSN is now also used for a wide range of purposes. These include obtaining credit, opening a bank account, obtaining government benefits or private insurance, and buying a home or a car, among many other pursuits.

Is a Social Security number mandatory?

Evidence of identity is required of all applicants regardless of age. A valid nonwork reason is defined as a federal statute requiring an SSN to receive a benefit or a state/local statute requiring an SSN to receive a public assistance benefit.

Why do banks ask for Social Security number when cashing a check?

A bank may be required to obtain an identification number for several kinds of banking-related activities, including: When opening an account. For monetary (deposit and loan) transactions. For large currency transactions.

What can someone do with the last 4 digits of your SSN?

As long as a hacker or scammer has access to other personal information such as your name and address, they can use the last four digits of your SSN (in most cases) to open accounts in your name, steal your money and government benefits, or even get healthcare and tax refunds in your name.

How do you check if your Social Security number has been compromised?

If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490. You can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).

What information should you not give over the phone?

The primary piece of information you should never share over the phone is your Social Security number. Armed with your Social Security number, a thief or dishonest person can use it to apply for credit or try to contact your financial institutions and gain access to your accounts.

Is it safe to send your Social Security number through text?

Is it safe to text a social security number? No, it is not safe to send a social security number over text message.

Is it safe to give SSN online?

Some online applications require you to fill in the Social Security box before you continue with the application. If that's the case, you should feel safe entering your number as long as you see a green "https" or a green company name, a padlock, you're using an updated browser and you have an up-to-date antivirus.

James Zhidun Zhou

I typically ask for social security numbers as well in my consultations regarding bankruptcies but not for criminal defense or civil litigation work. So it depends on what your consultation is for. Social security numbers are necessary when filing for bankruptcy or in other types of legal representation.

Matthew Scott Berkus

Maybe it is a way for the attorney to determine who is serious about the services he or she offers. As has been pointed out, depending on the nature of issue at hand, the SSN may be necessary for the attorney to gather the necessary background to actually help you.

Paula Brown Sinclair

Without knowing the general nature of your legal concern and reason for the consultation, it is not possible to be definite. For some areas of law, the number can be essential. For instance, the number is needed up front for the disability case reviews I do because I obtain claim files from Social Security.

Is it legal to depose someone over the phone?

The answer to your first two questions is "yes". As to depositions over the phone, that is not common, but it is legal.

Is Fred Lung Kee Fong illegal?

Fred Lung-Kee Fong (Unclaimed Profile) No, it is not illegal. A person can ask for anything, but whether the attorney can force you to produce the information is a different question. Since you want to know if an attorney can ask, the answer is yes he or she can ask.

Do you have to give your SS number?

You don't have to give your SS#, but more than likely, if you don't, the other side will ask the Court to order you to and if you don't comply with the judge's order, the judge is likely to kick your case out of court. The other side is allowed to discover anything that could likely be admissible in the case. Presuming you have an injury case, almost all your medical records will be indexed by SS# and they will need the number to get those records. Your income records will be indexed that way too. The other side is entitled to get those records if you are claiming injuries and lost income. Good luck.

Can a defendant disclose your social security number?

There was a time when your social security number was protected from disclosure . However, now, the defendant is entitled to it so they can ascertain whether you received any medicare or medical benefits. If you did those liens must be satisfied from any settlement funds.

What are the two situations where you are reporting something to the IRS?

There are essentially two situations: You are doing something that is reportable to the IRS or your state’s tax department; and/or. You are engaged in a financial transaction that is subject to the Customer Identification Program.

What are the three credit reporting agencies?

The three main credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Federal and state agencies when applying for benefits: Social Security, Medicare, disability, Medicaid, and other aid programs`. Investment advisors and brokerage houses. Banks.

Can you refuse to give out a service?

Refuse to give it out. Be aware, however, companies and other organizations can elect to not provide you service if you refuse.

Who can write on checks?

Retailers and grocery stores (some want to write it on checks presented for payment)

Is a social security number a golden key?

Your Social Security number is a golden key. With it, thieves can take out credit and commit other identify theft in your name. The best protection we have is to give our Social Security numbers only when absolutely necessary. When are you required to give your number?

Who can give out my social security number?

Anyone who contacts you by phone, official looking mail, or text asking (or demanding) your Social Security number. Only give it out when you initiate the contact and only when it is necessary.

What to do if you are denied a rental?

A credit check cannot be completed without your permission and specific information such as your Social Security number. If you are denied a rental home because of your credit, you should get a copy of your credit report so you know what kind of damaging information is on there.

Can a landlord ask for a social security number?

Landlords are legally allowed to ask you for your Social Security number on a rental application , but you are also permitted to discuss how that number will be used. Ask how you can be sure it will be kept secure and find out who will have access to it.

Do landlords need to match your name with your social security number?

Landlords want to make sure you are who you say you are, so they'll need to match up your name with your Social Security number. Someone with a suspicious past could try to rent a home using a different identity. Comparing your Social Security number to the rest of the information you provide on your application will prove your identity.

Is a social security number good for background checks?

Your Social Security number is helpful for this type of screening as well. A background check will either demonstrate that you have no derogatory information in your past, or it will provide information on arrests, court cases and other potentially negative details.

Is identity theft a crime?

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes, according to the Social Security Administration. Knowing how easy it is for someone to steal your personal information and identity can make you uneasy about sharing your Social Security number. However, there are certain situations which require you to provide that number.

Who is Cari Oleskewicz?

Cari Oleskewicz is a writer and blogger who has contributed to online and print publications including "The Washington Post," "Italian Cooking and Living," "Sasee Magazine" and Pork and Gin. She is based in Tampa, Florida and holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications and journalism from Marist College.

How are revenue shortfalls handled?

In the US, revenue shortfalls are handled primarily by creating more money. Government monetary creation to replace unpaid taxes does slowly devalue everyone else's dollars. As you noted, this is a cost to "the rest of us", -except that the cost to the rest of us from someone not paying income tax is typically only 14% of the taxpayers income tax evasion. US citizens bear a small percentage of the cost of taxes evaded because most government expenditures are financed from sources other than income tax (62% of 2018 expenditures [52% of the budget] came from sources other than the income tax) and because the most the devaluation costs of creating additional dollars to cover unpaid income taxes are borne by foreigners (63% of US dollars are held by foreigners, only 37% held by US citizens in 2014). https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS22331.pdf

What happens when the government has a cash shortage?

When government has a cash shortage, the government prints, borrows, and otherwise expands its balance sheet. Most of the dollars borrowed will never be paid, and it is mostly foreigners who will lose. In the US, revenue shortfalls are handled primarily by creating more money.

Why is Big Brother making all of us report?

So between the people intentionally not paying taxes and those doing it out of ignorance, that is why big brother is making all of us report.

Do you need a SSN to register a deed?

Register of Deeds requires Buyer's SSN (and obviously Seller's) when recording the Deed in my municipality. Title company handles recording, so SSNs have to be provided to title company here.

Can a buyer read my SSN?

If you're the buyer, they can/will just read your SSN off of lender docs, assuming there is a loan involved.

Can a title company handle SSN?

While it is important to handle your SSN with care, I believe you can trust a title company to handle your SSN responsibly. If there were no record of what you paid for the property that was kept track of by your SSN, how would there be any way of knowing how much, if any, taxes are owed, if you sell the property? When you report the sale and your tax preparer calculates the profit or loss, it's all kept track of by your SSN or the tax ID number of your entity ( LLC, S-Corp, etc.), if you aren't buying in your own name.

Does government monetary creation to replace unpaid taxes devalue everyone else's dollars?

Government monetary creation to replace unpaid taxes does slowly de value everyone else's dollars. As you noted, this is a cost to "the rest of us", -except that the cost to the rest of us from someone not paying income tax is typically only 14% of the taxpayers income tax evasion .

What happened to the Social Security numbers of Fort Monmouth?

So, the next time someone asks you for your Social Security number, reflect on this: In December, the Army announced that hackers stole the Social Security numbers of 36,000 visitors to Fort Monmouth in New Jersey, including intelligence officers. Cyber activists took control of the CIA's website.

Why do they ask for my SSN?

1. Take a minute and think. Maybe they ask for SSNs blindly, because everyone else does, or because that's how they've always done it. Maybe they actually need it. See if their reason sounds legitimate. (For example, Credit.com's Credit Report Card does ask for your SSN in order to generate your credit score and credit report summary -- an industry standard -- but the information is fully encrypted with a bank-level authentication process.)

How to confirm my SSN?

1. Anyone who calls or sends you an official-looking email, who texts you a link to any site or designates a number to call where you are asked to confirm your SSN. If they call, check the credit or debit card that is the subject of the communication, call the customer service number listed on the back, and ask for the security department. If they email or text, do the same, or go directly to the institution's website (provided you know who they are). Make sure you type the correct URL, and make sure that the page where you are asked to enter your information is secure. Only provide personal information if you're the one who controls the interaction.

What happens when you are an identity thief?

With it an identity thief can wreak havoc, hijacking your old credit accounts, establishing new ones, buying cars and houses, committing crimes, even obtaining medical products and services while pretending to be you, endangering not just your credit and your reputation, but also your life.

How to identify someone without a social security number?

There are many different ways to identify you without a Social Security number, including your driver's license or account number. Fight to use those instead. 3. If you must share your Social Security number, do so, but make sure the people taking it down have strong security measures in place to protect it.

How likely is a social security number to be a victim of identity fraud?

Consumers whose Social Security numbers are exposed in a data breach are five times more likely to become fraud victims than those who aren't, according to the latest identity fraud report by Javelin Strategy & Research.

How many consumer files have been accessed since 2004?

And, these incidents are only the crumbs on top of the coffee cake when you consider that hackers and thieves have improperly accessed more than 600 million consumer files since 2004.

What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?

In the USA, there is a federal law called the “Fair Credit Reporting Act” (FCRA); the FCRA regulates how “information” from reports can be used and it provides that the applicant has certain rights. The landlord has to be able to defend the rental decision (if it used the cred.

How long does a landlord have to defend a rental decision?

The landlord has to be able to defend the rental decision (if it used the credit report information) for a period of time given by the FCRA statute of limitations (could be as long as five years), so having the appropriate information on file for each applicant is quite the necessity unfortunately.

Why do they use Social Security number when renting an apartment?

They then use the Social Security number to check the credit report of the applicant. This is a very standard operating procedure in the process of renting an apartment. But your question suggests that you've already rented the apartment because you refer to the person asking you for your Social Se. Continue Reading.

How often do credit agencies give free credit reports?

The credit reporting agencies must provide you with a free credit report once a year if you ask for it. Do that instead of giving out information that is vulnerable to being stolen and used by thieves.

Why do we need a social security number?

We require a Social Security Number so we can run a credit and background check on prospective tenants. We only do this if the tenant has been pre-approved by the property owner (whether that’s us or one of our clients).

How many digits are in a GRE?

Continue Reading. Social Security Number (SSN) is a nine digit unique identification number issued to all permanent and temporary working residents of The United States of America. GRE is managed by Educational Testing Service (ETS) which is an American organization.

What is the definition of socialism?

For me, the definition of socialism is that the government is taking over the means of production, aka business. Social security does not take over for the private sector. Social security provides what is effectively a small amount of old age insurance.

What is Identityhawk credit monitoring?

IdentityHawk® provides you with the tools you need to access and monitor your financial/credit information through the program's credit reporting and monitoring benefits. IdentityHawk® provides only limited credit monitoring services which are accessible to its members via the identityhawk.comwebsite. IdentityHawk® is not accepting new customers. Credit information provided by TransUnion Interactive, Inc.

What happens if you refuse to provide your SSN?

If you refuse to provide your SSN, companies may choose not to do business with you , but there's no law that prevents them from asking for it. These are some examples of businesses that require a Social Security number for legitimate purposes: • Insurance companies.

What does SS number mean?

Federal law mandates that state Departments of Motor Vehicles, tax authorities, welfare offices, and other governmental agencies request your SS number as proof that you are who you claim to be.

What should my first response be when someone asks for my social security number?

If someone requests your Social Security number, your first response should be, "Why?"

When was the Identity Theft Task Force established?

Criminals took advantage of that complacency, and as a result, the federal government established the Identity Theft Task Force in 2006. One of the first recommendations the task force made was decreasing the unnecessary use of Social Security numbers.

Can a company use your social security number?

It's important to remember that, once a company has your Social Security number, there are few restrictionson what they can do with it. You'll therefore want share this information only when absolutely necessary or required by law. Being very careful about sharing your SSNor any other personal information is a recommended way to help deter identity theft.

Who has the right to request your SSN?

Who has the right to request your SSN? Federal law mandates that state Departments of Motor Vehicles, tax authorities, welfare offices, and other governmental agencies request your SS number as proof that you are who you claim to be. However, the Privacy Act of 1974 requires that government agencies at the local, state, and federal level disclose to each person whether submitting your Social Security number is required, details on the use of this information, and what law or authority requires its use.