It’s not a bad economy, poor budgeting skills, or credit card interest that keep you from getting out of debt. It’s emotions, not reasons, keep people from filing bankruptcy and starting fresh. Even if Reason says that you’ll never pay your debts off in the usual way. Reason also says that paying old debt steals […]
Pay Off Credit Cards At Zero Percent
I’ve got news for you: There’s a government program that lets you pay the balance on your credit card without interest and owe nothing more. Sound like one of those snarky radio ads? This one’s legit. Meet Chapter 13. Credit card interest is the killer Here’s the refrain I hear from clients, over and over. I […]
No Foreclosure If Loan Modification In Process
The cruelest trick played on homeowners trying to modify their mortgage was dual tracking. One side of the bank assured the borrower that their loan modification application was being considered and they didn’t need to worry. All the while, the other side of the bank was conducting a foreclosure sale. The borrower wakes up to […]
Family Lawyer’s Cheat Sheet to Bankruptcy
Here, in a nutshell, are bankruptcy basics for family lawyers. This isn’t everything you need to know to navigate a dissolution where one spouse files bankruptcy, or when marital debts suggest both spouses should file. It’s a start to a complex issue. You can get the basic introduction to concepts and terms operative in bankruptcy […]
Bankruptcy Is Not Your Last Resort
Every personal finance guru intones that “bankruptcy is the last resort.” In my opinion, they have it wrong: bankruptcy is the big gun in getting out of a financial mess. But it shouldn’t be the last thing you try to get financially healthy. You shouldn’t mess around with lesser solutions if those solutions don’t do […]
Doing The Means Test Yourself
Posts on internet bankruptcy boards feature individuals who have “filled out the means test” and then proceed to announce their conclusions. Given the uncertainties in the legal community about how to apply the means test, I can’t imagine a non lawyer learning anything reliable from trying to do this themselves. As a certified bankruptcy specialist, I […]
Bankruptcy Alphabet: K Is For Keep
The letter K is for the stuff you keep through bankruptcy. The cartoon image of someone going through bankruptcy has them wearing a barrel instead of clothes. It’s a funny image but it’s not real. Most debtors keep far more of their assets than you’d image. Here’s why. Exemption law protects assets The Bankruptcy Code […]
California Courts Provide On Line Help
Individuals with matters before the state courts of California have an updated resource in the Self Help Center. The information here can be either good background if you have a legal problem or a treasure-trove if you expect to represent yourself in court. It even includes a section on bankruptcy, as part of the materials […]
Who Profits When Money Trouble Is Shameful?
Talking about our financial troubles is taboo in this society. In fact, we are more willing to talk about our sex lives than our money troubles. We lionize those who make a fortune. Everyone expects to live the middle class life. It becomes easy to think that something is wrong with you if you aren’t […]
Epedemic of DIY Chapter 13s to Stop Foreclosures End in Trajedy
Warning: virulent outbreak of do-it-yourself bankruptcies all around. Symptoms: panic over prospect of foreclosure Supposed remedy: file your own skeleton Chapter 13 bankruptcy to stop foreclosure Prognosis: enjoy the stay for about 2 weeks, followed by foreclosure relapse Homeowners facing foreclosure Three different would-be clients called in a 10 day period this month, to stop […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- …
- 69
- Next Page »