Blog
Recent Blog Posts
Should I File My Bankruptcy Case ASAP or Wait?
If you’re struggling financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and considering bankruptcy, you may be wondering whether you should file soon or wait to file. The answer is that whether to file sooner or later depends on your circumstances, but regardless, if you are worried about your debts and ability to pay them, […]
Andrew Talks with Neil Howe about COVID-19 and How Bankruptcy Could Help
Earlier this month I had an opportunity to talk with Neil Howe of the Business Innovators Radio Network about the financial fallout of COVID-19 and some options for folks affected by layoffs and business closures, including chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy. If you’re wondering whether bankruptcy may help you through this crisis, or about how […]
Can I Keep My COVID-19 Stimulus Payment if I File Bankruptcy
If you live on Earth and have not been in a coma recently, you’ve probably been overwhelmed by bad news related to the coronavirus and the brutal economic fallout caused by weeks of business shutdowns. But there is some good news contained in the CARES Act, passed by congress and signed into law by President […]
Can I Borrow Money Before I File Bankruptcy?
Sometimes folks considering filing bankruptcy are in an incredibly tight financial spot, and ask me if they can continue borrowing money before they file for bankruptcy relief. The short answer is “not usually, no”, but it gets a bit more complicated than that, depending on the person’s needs, the type of debt they seek to […]
Do I Have to File My Tax Returns Before I File Bankruptcy?
After working with folks going through financial struggles for nearly 10 years, I’ve come to learn that when people start falling behind on their bills, or when they go through a terrible illness, job loss, or other mentally trying experience, they are often struggling to keep up life’s other requirements. That includes filing taxes. I […]
What Happens After I File a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Plan, Part 2
I talked a little about the chapter 13 bankruptcy process, from filing your case to getting your repayment plan approved – or “confirmed” – by the bankruptcy court. This part of your chapter 13 case is very important, and sometimes it’s the most…
What Happens After I File a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Plan, Part 1
Preparing a well-filed bankruptcy usually takes a lot of work for both the Debtor and their attorney. But if you file for chapter 7 relief, most of the work is generally done once the complete case is filed and the meeting of creditors is scheduled. This is not necessarily the case though when you file […]
What Are My Options if a Creditor Harrasses Me to Pay a Debt after I File Bankruptcy?
Sure, people rarely want to file for bankruptcy relief, but if you’re drowning in debt, bankruptcy can be a wonderful solution to your financial struggles. One of the greatest aspects of bankruptcy protection is the “automatic stay” which kicks in the minute you file a bankruptcy case. It’s called an automatic stay because it’s a […]
Will I Lose My Tax Refund if I File for Bankruptcy?
With 2018 upon us, we’re within just a few weeks of being able to file our 2017 tax returns – which may mean a big tax refund! For many of my bankruptcy clients, tax refund season is an important time of year. It might mean purchasing that new vehicle they desperately need, or putting new […]
The Bankruptcy Process: From your Initial Consultation to Case Filing
Our blog post last week focused on the emergency bankruptcy filing – typically any case filed less than a week after first meeting to discuss your financial situation. Since you should generally only consider an emergency bankruptcy filing as a response to an urgent problem (usually a home foreclosure, car repossession or wage garnishment), you’ll […]