29 Dec 2011

Married and Filing for Bankruptcy

If you are married and filing for bankruptcy, it is important to think about how it will affect your spouse. When a person is married, then both that person and their spouse are basically co-signers on any credit cards and bank accounts held jointly. So, if your spouse files for bankruptcy, then you are both […]

05 Dec 2011

Tax Refund and Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

As 2011 draws to an end, many people will be thinking about filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Maryland in 2012.  One very common question, almost always asked at the beginning of the year, is:   IF I FILE CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY IN MARYLAND, WILL I STLIL BE ABLE TO KEEP MY TAX REFUND?   The answer is………….yes, […]

26 Nov 2011

Does My Spouse Have To File Bankruptcy With Me?

No, your spouse does not have to file bankruptcy with you. There is no law stating that both people in a marriage must file bankruptcy. A married person can file a single bankruptcy. If a married person does decide to file without their spouse, some information from the non-filing spouse would be needed. The non-filing […]

26 Nov 2011

Utility Bills and Bankruptcy

Two Rules for Utilities and Bankruptcy When people are current with their utility bills, utilities rarely become an issue in bankruptcy.  That is because Section 11 U.S.C. § 366(a), prohibits utility companies from discriminating against people based solely on bankruptcy filing. However, often being current is not the case and people seek to discharge their […]

11 Nov 2011

Ten Things To Do BEFORE FILING BANKRUPTCY

Bankruptcy is very often a time-sensitive process and pre-bankruptcy planning can be critical in protecting assets. Chapter 7, in particular, the trustee’s responsibility is to “look back” at the actions the debtor has taken to insure that there hasn’t been a fraudulent conveyance of assets, a non-allowed preference payment to creditors or other actions that […]

30 Oct 2011

Chapter 7 Maryland Bankruptcy or Chapter 13 Maryland Bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy may provide some relief to a borrower under financial stress and overwhelmed with debt. Typically, there are two types of bankruptcy available to a debtor, Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The requirements and benefits offered by the two types of bankruptcy differ greatly. A Maryland bankruptcy attorneycan explain the differences between the […]

22 Oct 2011

Filing Bankruptcy to Prevent Foreclosure

If you’re facing foreclosure, and you can’t seem to strike a deal with your lender, filing bankruptcy may be able to help. If you fall behind on your mortgage payments, your lender may take steps to foreclose on the property – meaning it may take back your home and sell the property at a public […]

22 Oct 2011

How Long Does a Chapter 7 Maryland Bankruptcy Case Take?

Typically, chapter 7 bankruptcy cases last between three and four months from the date the case is filed. The preparation for a chapter 7 bankruptcy case can be anywhere between one day and many months depending on a number of factors, including attorneys fees, document readiness etc. This post will deal with the chapter 7 […]

22 Oct 2011

Why Filing Bankruptcy is Better Than Debt Credit Counseling

I saw this article today and had to pass it along.  It is very true and I couldn’t have said it better myself. Is Credit Counseling a Step in the Right Direction? Credit counseling most often involves consolidating outstanding debts as much as possible and then developing a negotiated repayment plan for a reduced payment […]

18 Oct 2011

Credit Card Bankruptcy

Credit Card Bankruptcy It’s no secret that the United States economy has been driven by consumer credit card spending. Credit card companies have spent billions of dollars each year aimed at convincing us to buy on credit. More than a billion credit card offers are mailed out each year in the United States each year. […]