Bankruptcy counseling: why is it required and what does it do?
You may have heard that when the federal bankruptcy law was amended a few years ago, Congress put in a few new hoops to jump through. To a degree, this is true. There is now, for example, a requirement that someone filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 attend a bankruptcy counseling session. […]
Supreme Court to hear Chapter 7 bankruptcy case
The U.S. Supreme Court doesn’t hear bankruptcy cases very often. But this year the Court does have a bankruptcy case on its docket. The case is called Bullock v. BankChampaign, N.A. The case is important because of the questions it addresses about what debts can be discharged in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Texas and all […]
Rebuilding credit after bankruptcy and divorce
Facing both bankruptcy and divorce is a challenging double whammy. But sometimes it’s necessary to dig deep down and keep going, knowing there’s a new life waiting on the other side. It’s certainly not uncommon to have problems with both money and your marriage. After all, money problems are often a major stressor in a […]
Tax debt in Texas: bankruptcy options
Debt is much on the minds of all Americans – Texans included. It isn’t just the national debt, either. Many local governments also have problems with municipal debt. And of course, if you’re reading this post, you may be in need of personal debt relief. If you owe back taxes to the IRS or the […]
Credit card tips and tricks for the holidays
Black Friday, the now-notorious start of the holiday shopping season, is only three days away. For those already struggling with credit card debt, kicking off another spending extravaganza is not exactly a happy occasion. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself in both big and small ways. Legally, keep in mind that […]
Credit Card Debt: Consumer, Beware
Credit card debt is like a slippery slope. You may start down that path, thinking you’ll catch up soon. But life happens – injuries, illnesses, lost or downsized jobs. Suddenly, you find yourself slipping farther down the slope. If you are in this position, bankruptcy can be an effective response. It offers a way to […]
Unpaid medical bills and credit reports
It is a widely known fact that medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy. Even people with insurance are only one catastrophic illness away from bills they cannot really pay – and hence the need for a financial fresh start through a bankruptcy filing. Less well known, however, is the negative effect that unpaid […]
Buying a house after bankruptcy
There are many myths and misconceptions about bankruptcy. Indeed, there are far too many to clear up in just one blog post. But let’s take one such misconception: that by filing bankruptcy, you are compromising your ability to get a mortgage to buy a house in the future. In practice, this is simply not always […]
Credit Card Debt Collection: Concerns About Flawed Paperwork
The credit card industry does it all it can to get people hooked on unsupportable debt. To be sure, the bad economy is often a factor. You may have lost your job or had your hours cut. There may be other financial pressures, too, such as medical bills. So it can be tempting to begin […]
When Educational Debt Becomes a Burden, Not a Stepping Stone
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro gives the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention tonight. It is a high honor to be chosen for this assignment. Everyone from the San Antonio area – regardless of political affiliation – will be sharing the spotlight by extension. The major is still only 37. In his three years […]