A quitclaim deed, discharge and a bank walk away. What do these items have in common? For me, nothing, that is until this past week. On Monday different clients came in to my office with the same conundrum. Clients with Discharge and Bank Walk Away Each received a bankruptcy discharge. I allowed neither to reaffirm…
Return a phone call to your client. What a novel concept. I have had two situations over the past few years where frustrated people had chapter 13 lawyers who would not return their calls. One of them posted a testimonial on my home page. Each of these poor people had different lawyers. I refer to…
Eight years between Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases. Many who come to me really don’t pay attention to what was taken away from them by government in bankruptcy reform. Few understand the years required between their old and their new bankruptcy cases. These break into four classes: Eight between filing chapter 7 bankruptcy cases. Six between chapter…
You finally decide to file bankruptcy. I do not expect you to be a lawyer, or to even know the law. There are two things you should never ever do financially, especially in the lead up to bankruptcy. Each basically involves debt consolidation instead of bankruptcy. When should you do them? NEVER! The things you…
Before you see me you need to avoid common mistakes in bankruptcy planning. You need information about bankruptcy. Maybe you need to file. Perhaps you are looking to find the right attorney for a loved one. For whatever reason, you are here with me now. I want to tell you a story. It is about…
Life insurance enjoys special treatment in bankruptcy. To begin, there are two basic types: Term life, and Whole life Term Life Insurance This type of life insurance I what most people have. It is the kind that if your employer will often provide as a benefit. Typically it has a far lower premium than it’s…
Debt Settlement company ads are something that I pay attention to on television. I listen to the noise of these companies because I witness first hand the harm they do to people in desperation. This one was hard to miss because of the messages. They know all the buzzwords to light up anyone in debt….
A judicial lien is a little surprise Ohio law has for you if you lose a lawsuit in Lorain County. Remember those guys who run for State office every four years? They promise you everything and anything to get your vote. Then they deliver to the credit card companies, banks, and pay day lenders who…
Involuntary chapter 7 bankruptcy happens when a creditor files against you in bankruptcy court to force the sale of your non-exempt assets to satisfy a debt. Not just any creditor can file such a proceeding against you: You cannot have more than 12 unsecured creditors. The filing creditor must have a non-contingent, undisputed unsecured claim…
Honesty is the bedrock your bankruptcy case is built upon. At nearly every step of the way you will be asked to attest or to swear to writings or to oral statements. On the third page of the bankruptcy petition you will sign a statement that the information in the petition is true and accurate. …