Many clients that I see have tried everything to avoid bankruptcy. And, that’s sometimes a good strategy. But, in their desperation, they go to the modern-day loan sharks- payday and title loan companies. Sounds good, right? Just get some money to tide you over until
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We Can Help You with Student Loan or College Debt—It is Not Hopeless!
In 2012 I wrote a blog article about how difficult college graduates are finding it to pay their student loans. Paying student loans is still one of the biggest problem facing today’s millennials – people in their 20’s and 30’s–right now, is student loans. As
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The Bankruptcy Automatic Stay— Your Superhero! Protects and Collects for you!
The bill collectors are calling nonstop, and are starting to call at all hours of the day. You talk to a bankruptcy lawyer, and review your options. If you end up filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Federal Bankruptcy Law gives you a
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What is an Adversary Complaint in a Bankruptcy Case?
An adversary complaint is really just a legal term for a lawsuit filed in a Chapter 7, Chapter 11 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. When you file a bankruptcy case, you are “Petitioning” the US Bankruptcy Court for relief from your debts. In return, creditors
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Chapter 13 Debt Limits as of April 1, 2013—Can I file Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
When people need to reorganize and repay their debts, they turn to Chapter 13. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy allows people to catch up on house or car payments, and is a consolidation of all personal debts. Sometimes, people have so much debt that they can’t qualify
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New State Median Incomes for Bankruptcy Means Test as of April 1, 2014—What Does That Mean?
The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the new State Median Incomes to be used with the Bankruptcy Means test. This figure is based on the size of your family and where you live. In general, if your family is below the median, you would
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Questions to Ask as You Interview a Lawyer for your Bankruptcy Case
When you are trying to decide who to hire to be your attorney for a bankruptcy case, as much as you are trying to figure out what to do, you are trying to see if the lawyer will be the right one for you. Just
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Watch out for Bankruptcy Petition Preparers – They are not Lawyers
The Bankruptcy law does allow non-lawyers to help people file for bankruptcy protection on their own. They are called “Petition Preparers” and there’s a whole section of the Bankruptcy Code devoted to them. But, just because they are out there, does not mean that they
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Illinois Foreclosure Help—Talk to a Lawyer Before Filing an Answer in Court!
During the last few years of the “housing crisis”, I’ve seen many people whose houses are in foreclosure. They want to save their house. They get the “court papers”- the Complaint for Foreclosure. So they go to court and try to figure out what to
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Be Careful if you decide to Short-Sell Your house in 2014! Tax Break on Homeowner Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Expired.
Since 2007, when the housing market crashed, Congress created an exception to the normal rule. The normal rule is that if a mortgage lender forgives some of the debt on your house from a short sale or “deed in lieu of foreclosure”, you, the one
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