If you've gone through a divorce or suffered a serious medical setback, and you're struggling to meet your financial obligations, you may be considering bankruptcy as a way to get a fresh financial start. When you file for Chapter 7, Chapter 11 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you'll immediately have the protection of the automatic stay, which prevents … [Read more...]
Bankruptcy Options for Your Small Business
Posted on April 13, 2018
When you decide to go into business for yourself, there's almost always a period of struggle. If your small business is facing financial difficulties, the first thing you need to ask yourself is whether you can realistically make the business a success. Are your problems short-term? Do you just need to get "over the hump" to make the business … [Read more...]
Using a Bankruptcy Filing to Manage Medical Bills
Posted on April 2, 2018
A recent survey by CNBC found that, over the last decade, more people cited unanticipated medical bills than any other cause as the event that triggered a personal bankruptcy filing. It's estimated that a million or more people file for bankruptcy protection in any given year to try to get medical obligations under control. But it that the right … [Read more...]
Knowing When It’s Time to Consider Bankruptcy
Posted on March 23, 2018
In our years in practice, we've helped many people get a fresh start with personal or business bankruptcy filings. We've also had many people come to us after waiting far too long, limiting our ability to minimize the consequences of a bankruptcy filing. We know there can a lot of reasons to put off the decision to file: You may be overly … [Read more...]
The Means Test in a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Proceeding
Posted on August 10, 2017
When you're looking to file for personal bankruptcy protection, there are generally two options—a Chapter 7 liquidation proceeding and a Chapter 13 "Wage Earner’s Plan." For most of the history of American bankruptcy law, there were few limits on which route you could choose. However, in 2005, Congress made sweeping changes to the bankruptcy laws, … [Read more...]
What to Expect During a Bankruptcy Fraud Investigation
Posted on February 12, 2017
The federal bankruptcy courts take the process seriously—while bankruptcy is considered a right conferred by federal statute, the trustee has a number of tools to ferret out fraud and protect the system. Here's what customarily happens when the trustee suspects fraud or misrepresentation. Step One: A Rule 2004 Examination Under Rule 2004 of … [Read more...]
Can a Bankruptcy Filing Help You Avoid Foreclosure?
Posted on December 19, 2016
Have you fallen behind in your mortgage payments? Have you received notice that your lender is seeking to foreclose, or are you worried that could happen any day? You may be considering filing for bankruptcy protection as a way of keeping your home. Here are some guidelines to help you make the right decision. A Bankruptcy Filing Will Only … [Read more...]