4 Reasons You Should Never Be Ashamed to File for Bankruptcy
As Philadelphia bankruptcy lawyers we are often confronted with clients who are concerned about filing. Some of those concerns are tangible, physical worries, like whether they’ll be able to keep the house or whether they will ever be able to get credit again.Others are far more emotional. And one of the most prominent emotions, the […]
How to Deal with Collection Calls
It starts happening almost as soon as you start getting behind on your bills. Some, or all, of those bills get sent on to third-party collection agencies. When that happens, the calls start, sometimes multiple times a day. If you make the mistake of answering the phone you’ll be badgered, shamed, and cajoled into paying […]
Can I Include Medical Debt in a Bankruptcy?
If you’re like 2 million other Americans, you may struggle with medical debts, even if you have insurance. Medical care costs are skyrocketing, insurance covers less than it ever did, and premiums are through the roof if you’re lucky enough to have it all. Some people struggle to pay for routine doctor’s visits. If the […]
Can I Buy a Car After Bankruptcy?
While Philadelphia is blessed with a pretty good Walk Score at 79, most of our bankruptcy clients find they both need and want to have a car. And while some people walk out of bankruptcy declaring they will never sign on to get another car payment ever again, preferring to get a cheap used car […]
Why Bankruptcy Increases Your Credit Score
Afraid your credit score will never recover if you choose to file bankruptcy? You’re not alone. As Philadelphia bankruptcy attorneys, we hear this fear a lot. The amount of misinformation out there doesn’t help. But believe it or not, you don’t have anything to be afraid of. Bankruptcy actually improves most people’s credit score. Here’s why. If […]
When Should Chapter 13 Be Used as a Stalling Tactic?
In a previous post we discussed how some clients file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy as a legal stalling tactic, one that gives them some time to maneuver into a better position. As you can imagine, this isn’t a strategy one embarks on lightly. It can, however, be an appropriate strategy when one is using a […]
4 Bankruptcy Pitfalls to Avoid
Bankruptcy doesn’t have to be terrifying. Done right it almost starts to seem a little banal. Your lawyer will tell you to take a step or sign a document. You’ll do it. The process will continue until you get your discharge. However, there are ways to add mountains of additional and unnecessary stress to the […]
What If You Can’t Make Your Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Payments?
If you think you’re going to have trouble making your Chapter 13 bankruptcy payments, you’re not alone. While precise figures are difficult to obtain, it’s well known that many debtors do have trouble completing Chapter 13 plans. However, if you’re in this situation you shouldn’t be afraid. Nothing terrible is going to happen to you. […]
Why You’ll Definitely Get Credit Card Offers After Bankruptcy
Afraid you won’t get any credit card offers after bankruptcy? Believe, at best, you’ll be stuck with a small, secured credit card? As Philadelphia bankruptcy lawyers we hear this fear every day. Fortunately, there’s good news. Typically, credit card offers come pouring in directly after your discharge. There are several reasons. First, your credit score […]
Modifying Your Home Loan While in Bankruptcy
Many clients who are trying to save their homes try loan modification before they try bankruptcy. It’s not a bad idea. The problem is, many banks turn loan modification into a frustrating, slow-moving, labyrinthine process. Often, the process does not move fast enough to protect a homeowner from foreclosure on its own. Back payments and […]
Does an Automatic Stay Stop Credit Reporting in New Jersey?
As bankruptcy lawyers practicing in New Jersey we encounter a lot of confusion from our clients about what creditors can and can’t do after the case gets filed. For example, many of our clients are surprised to find their creditors continuing to report delinquent accounts to Experian, TransUnion and Equifax even after they file. After […]
What You Need to Know About Obtaining Assets After Filing Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
As Philadelphia bankruptcy attorneys we occasionally run into clients who have a hard time collecting claims from personal injury suits or workman’s comp claims after filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. We’ve even seen clients who have trouble holding on to inheritances, life insurance claims or other windfalls because they don’t handle these windfalls correctly in […]
Should You Borrow from Your 401K to Avoid Bankruptcy?
As Philadelphia divorce lawyers some of the people we admire the most are the ones who will really do just about anything to try to meet their obligations. We often hear from people who are contemplating taking out a loan on their 401K to pay off their debts. Much as we admire these individuals, we […]
What You Need to Know About Being Sued for Debts in Philadelphia
One of the biggest threats creditors have at their disposal is their legal right to sue debtors over unpaid bills. As Philadelphia bankruptcy lawyers we’ve seen this event become the proverbial straw that breaks a debtor’s back more times than we can count. Picking up the phone to call a bankruptcy lawyer is a good […]
Bankruptcy Tips for Tax Time
It’s that time of year again. W2s and other forms are rolling in, one by one, through the mail. Whether you’re anticipating a sweet refund or are in danger of adding more liability to your IRS debt, it’s important to take tax time into account when you start thinking about filing for bankruptcy. As Philadelphia […]