Book: Battling Debt Anxiety

When filing for bankruptcy, protecting a home or cars is often on the front of many people’s minds. This is probably because of a common misconception that the government and creditors will be permitted to seize all your assets and liquidate your entire estate. However, there are many ways in which your property can be …

Chapter 8
Will I have to give up my car or lose my home? Read More »

How a bankruptcy filing affects a person’s credit score is a major concern of almost everyone who is considering the benefits of starting over. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there passed along by well-meaning friends and family members. The truth about how a consumer’s credit changes depends a lot on what their …

Chapter 7
What is the effect on my credit score? Read More »

Most people contemplating bankruptcy obviously are in a financial bind. As a result, it is natural that one of the questions they ask of a bankruptcy attorney is how much it will cost to file. While this desire to keep the cost as low as possible is understandable, those considering bankruptcy should be aware that …

Chapter 6
How Much Should It Cost to File Bankruptcy? Read More »

If you make more than the median income for your household size and cannot pass the Means Test, you may be unable to qualify to file bankruptcy under Chapter 7. Most debtors who do not clear these two hurdles will then opt for filing under Chapter 13 and perform a Wage Earner Plan for the …

Chapter 5
What if I make too much money for a Chapter 7 and run afoul of the Chapter 13 limits? Read More »

Although most folks looking for relief from overwhelming debt would prefer the “quick and dirty” Chapter 7 discharge, there are several reasons why filing under Chapter 13 and making payments for 3-5 years might be preferable. Of course, those households with over-the-median income will likely have to file a Plan anyway and may not have …

Chapter 4
What are the benefits of Chapter 13 Wage Earner Plan? Read More »

Many clients ask about the differences between the various chapters in bankruptcy and whether they have a choice in determining under which chapter they will file. The answer is, as in many things in life, it depends. Qualifying for a Chapter 7 case (liquidation) will require that either: (1) the debtor’s household income falls below …

Chapter 3
What are the benefits of filing under Chapter 7? Read More »

Bankruptcy is an ancient right. Medieval church law provided for the discharge of debt in exchange for the liquidation of all but one’s necessary assets. This led to the enactment of the first bankruptcy laws in merry old England and was a precursor to our modern Chapter 7 bankruptcy law. But even that advancement was …

Chapter 2
What is the difference between Chapter 7, Chapter 11 and Chapter 13? Read More »

Will bankruptcy brand me as a complete failure? If you’re feeling down in the dumps because of financial problems, don’t despair! You’re in good company! Take a look at this list of very famous people who filed for bankruptcy or endured severe financial hardship before the modern bankruptcy code was adopted. Keep in mind that …

Battling Debt Anxiety – Chapter 1 Read More »