25 Nov 2010

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Statistics

November 08, 2010 October Filings Hold Steady   2007          2008         2009         %         2010        % Jan 55,200 70,300 89,000 27% 102,600 15% Feb 58,800 79,500 102,000 28% 117,800 15% March 73,100 90,400 131,000 45% 159,200 22% April 67,800 93,200 128,700 38% 146,200 14% May 69,900 89,700 120,400 34% 133,500 11% June 67,300 […]

25 Nov 2010

Thankful for Bankruptcy Laws

Hey folks.  I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish anyone who might be reading this blog a Happy Thanksgiving.   In two days it will be Black Friday, yes, the most popular day to run up credit cards of the year.    I will actully be working in my office on Black Friday meeting new […]

17 Nov 2010

Foreclosures in Maryland

Maryland’s courts adopted a rule to make it easier for homeowners in foreclosure proceedings to challenge lenders’ documents that they believe are fraudulent. The rule, approved by the Court of Appeals of Maryland today, can shift from homeowners to lenders the burden of proving documents are legitimate. Hundreds of inaccurate or fraudulent affidavits have turned […]

17 Nov 2010

bankruptcy statistics for october, 2010

National Bankruptcy Research Center October 2010 Bankruptcy Filings Report The raw numbers suggest that bankruptcy filings in October rose slightly from the previous month (to 132,000 from 130,000). But that trivial increase suggests a substantial break in the upward trend of bankruptcy filings we have observed since passage of the bankruptcy reform statute in 2005. […]

02 Nov 2010

Chapter 7 Median Income Effective Today

New Median Family Income Numbers For Bankruptcy Effective November 1, 2010 The new median family income numbers used for determining whether a debtor can file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy went into effect today, November 1, 2010. The numbers are provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. The means test was one of the major changes that […]

14 Oct 2010

Credit Counseling – Not So Bad After All

New Study Suggests Credit Counseling is Beneficial for Bankruptcy Filers We’ve all heard clients complain about the pre-filing credit counseling requirement and ask why they have to jump through this hoop when they know they’re going to end up filing for bankruptcy anyway.  In many cases, we may be inclined to agree:  a client facing foreclosure […]

14 Oct 2010

Medical Bills Leading Cause of Bankruptcy

  A report set to be published in the American Journal of Medicine in August, but already online, shows that more than 60 percent of personal bankruptcies filed in 2007 could be attributed to medical bills. The study also says that over 75 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy because of medical bills had […]

14 Oct 2010

Foreclosures in Maryland

Revelations that attorneys at two Maryland firms had other people sign their names to foreclosure documents brought a rebuke Wednesday from the O’Malley administration, which called the practice a “potential example of further mishandling and mistreatment of Maryland homeowners.” Also on Wednesday, several borrowers’ lawyers said they have filed a class-action suit against one of […]

03 Oct 2010

Things Not To Do When Considering Bankruptcy

At the Maryland Bankruptcy Center, our lawyers are always trying to educate ourselves so that we can pass on important information to our Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 client’s.  I saw this article on a great consumer bankruptcy website and I thought I would pass it on.  Check it out.  And if you have any […]

03 Oct 2010

July bankruptcy filings

August Bankruptcy Filings Down 8% From July But Still On Record Pace Historically, August bankruptcy filings are usually less than July. This July we saw an 8% drop in consumer bankruptcy filings across the nation. This statistic does not mean that we are in a recovery, and please don’t assume anything than it is just […]