When it comes to bankruptcy proceedings, most people don’t ever set foot in a courtroom, and have very little, if any, contact with a judge. Typically, when you file for bankruptcy, you have to fill out detailed paperwork, meet with a bankruptcy attorney, and make a one-time appearance at a ‘341 hearing’, otherwise known as […]
When an employer, lender, or landlord reviews applications for new hires, bank loans, or housing, more often than not they will conduct a thorough background check. Background checks are generally used to verify your identity, but they also reveal other vital information about your past, including criminal history, work history, education, past evictions or foreclosures, […]
While Chapter 7 bankruptcy will allow filers to erase qualifying debt, nondischargeable debts can’t be eliminated by filing for bankruptcy. Qualifying debts include past-due credit card balances, unpaid medical bills, and personal loans, amongst others. The U.S. bankruptcy code won’t forgive debts like student loans, income tax debt, or legal fines. Those are considered nondischargeable […]
With the economy arguably in a slump and unemployment at an all-time high, Americans are having to make adjustments to their financial plan to see them through these uncertain times. CNBC reports that over 40% of Americans are unable to afford an unexpected event or emergency that exceeds $1,000. Those statistics should make everyone take […]
If you’ve been considering bankruptcy, but the coronavirus pandemic has delayed your decision, here are some steps you can take now. The #QuarantineLife is first starting to end as U.S. businesses begin to open up. States are lifting COVID-19 restrictions at different paces. Even if you haven’t gotten out of quarantine yet, your state is […]
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, economists were warning of a possible recession in 2020. Trade issues with China, economic declines in other regions, flat global industrial production, and increasing personal debt are just some factors that have been stressing the U.S. economy. The longest economic expansion in history appears to have ended, with 10 million […]
If the coronavirus pandemic and the current state of the economy have switched your focus from debt consolidation to bankruptcy, you are not alone. John Rao of the National Consumer Law Center said people don’t typically file right away during a crisis; he said: “There is no question that given the effect of this pandemic, […]
If you’ve fallen on hard financial times, bankruptcy can help set you on the right course. You can receive a discharge of debts with Chapter 7 bankruptcy or discharge some debt and create a repayment plan with Chapter 13 bankruptcy. However, there are many considerations and steps to navigate. These bankruptcy basics are intended to […]
The Senate passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) on March 25, 2020. Enacted on March 27, the legislation placed short-term restrictions on lenders and servicers of federally backed loans. It enforces mandatory forbearance obligations, moratoriums on foreclosures, and revises credit reporting obligations to help individuals and businesses facing financial hardship […]
Various federal, state, and local agencies have offered financial relief during the COVID-19 global pandemic. For example, New York announced it would cease collection of state-owned medical and student debt for 30 days.1 In California, there’s now a 90-day grace period for mortgage payments and a moratorium on initiating foreclosure sales or evictions.2 But for […]
