Archives

Keep Your Benefit Money Separate

If you receive unemployment, Social Security, disability, or other government benefits, keep your benefit money separate!  This will allow you to protect those benefits in certain instances, such as filing bankruptcy or being sued by a creditor. A person I’ll call Ted (not his real name) with debt problems recently contacted me for help.  Ted […]

Debt Because Of Coronavirus

Have you gotten over your head in debt because of coronavirus? If so, bankruptcy might be the solution for you. You can eliminate your debts with a chapter 7 bankruptcy, almost always without paying anything for those debts. Many people have lost all or a great deal of their income because of the coronavirus. Or […]

Fixing Your Debt Problems & Credit

Fixing your debt problems with bankruptcy will not ruin your credit, contrary to popular opinion.  In fact, filing bankruptcy can actually fix your credit in addition to its main benefits of getting rid of your debts and protecting you from creditors. First, if you are behind on your bills, your credit is not your biggest […]

Negotiating With A Creditor

Are you negotiating with a creditor to try to lower your debt?  Some people do this because they can’t or don’t want to file bankruptcy.  However, negotiating yourself without an attorney can cost you a lot more money than an attorney would cost. A current client who I’ll call Barb (not her real name) wanted […]

Abusive Debt Collection

Abusive debt collection practices are common.  However, most of this is illegal and you can fight back! There are both California and federal laws that protect you against this abuse. Most of the abusive debt collection is committed by debt collectors who are hired by your creditors to collect from you, because they don’t get […]

Student Loan Debt Relief

Legislation for student loan debt relief has just been introduced in the U.S. Senate.  The legislation was introduced by Democrat Dick Durbin from Illinois, and Republican John Cornyn from Texas.  The FRESH START Through Bankruptcy Act of 2021 will reinstate bankruptcy discharges for federal student loan debt.  This is huge! Since 1998, federal student loans […]

Filing A Separate Bankruptcy

If you are going to be filing a separate bankruptcy while you are married, be sure that your spouse is willing to sign a waiver.  If you are married, you may file a joint or separate bankruptcy, just like you may file a joint or individual tax return.  For this purpose, it does not matter […]

Filing Bankruptcy Won’t Ruin Your Credit

For most people, filing bankruptcy won’t ruin your credit, contrary to popular opinion.  In fact, filing bankruptcy can actually fix your credit in addition to its main benefits of getting rid of your debts and protecting you from creditors. First, if you are behind on your bills, your credit is not your biggest problem.  Not […]

Strip 2d & 3d Mortgages

You may be able to strip 2d & 3d mortgages with chapter 13 bankruptcy!  “Lien stripping” changes junior liens like 2d & 3d mortgages from secured debts to unsecured ones that can be discharged in bankruptcy without losing your home.  The junior mortgage must be completely “underwater” in order to do strip it, so this […]

Prevent Foreclosure

In order to prevent foreclosure, don’t wait to get help to save your house.  Waiting until the last second could prevent you from getting the help you need. I got a call on a Friday afternoon from a person facing foreclosure the following Tuesday.  While it was still possible to file a chapter 13 bankruptcy […]