Recent Blog Posts
Student Loan Debt and Bankruptcy
Historically, student loans are one of the most common forms of consumer debt that most people believe are not subject to discharge in bankruptcy. We incur thousands of dollars of debt, if not hundreds of thousands, when we are barely old enough to drive. Students attend for-profit schools that fraudulently over-inflate their employment statistics, leaving… Read More »
California and Wage Garnishments: What Are Your Rights?
If you owe certain types of debts to creditors, the government, or certain individuals, you may be subject to a particularly irritating arrangement: garnishment of your wages. The person to whom you owe debt may be able to collect directly from your paycheck before you even get your hands on your money. Wage garnishment is… Read More »
U.S. Secretary of Education Sanctioned for Collecting on Loans of Defrauded Students
Student loan debt is one of the biggest contributors to individual debt in the United States. As of March 2019, student loan borrowers owed a collective $1.6 trillion in federal and private student loan debt. While that number alone is cause for reflection on our educational system, in recent years, much of that debt has… Read More »
When Can I File for Bankruptcy Again?
Bankruptcy is never anyone’s first choice for dealing with financial hardship, although much of the associated stigma is evaporating as more and more Americans turn to bankruptcy as a reasonable and appropriate solution for recovering from money issues. Moreover, the vast majority of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies (over 97 percent) involve individuals struggling… Read More »
FTC Goes After Shady Student Loan Debt Relief Operation
We’ve discussed student loans before. More than 44 million borrowers in the U.S. collectively owe $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. It’s a significant problem for our economy and American consumers struggling with debt. There are appropriate debt relief options for alleviating the burden of student loans, including bankruptcy in proper circumstances. There are also… Read More »
Can I Discharge My Income Tax Debt?
There is a common misconception that federal tax debts are not dischargeable in bankruptcy. Income tax debt can, in fact, be discharged, although discharge is subject to additional rules and restrictions beyond typical debt discharge. Whether your tax debt is dischargeable depends on the circumstances of the debt, the nature of the taxpayer, and the… Read More »
Bankruptcies on the Rise in Southern California
Bankruptcy is never someone’s plan for their future, and never their first option when financial troubles arise. It can be unpleasant to face the economic reality that bankruptcy is the best remaining option. However, bankruptcies are incredibly common and are not the permanent scarlet letter that many fear them to be. Bankruptcy is a useful… Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court to Address When Denial of Creditor’s Motion to Lift Bankruptcy Stay Can Be Appealed
One of the most important and useful parts of filing for bankruptcy is that a bankruptcy automatically stops any collection activity by outstanding creditors. Creditors cannot proceed with lawsuits, evictions, foreclosures, utility disconnections, or other collection activities once notified of a bankruptcy proceeding and the automatic stay. The automatic stay is a welcome relief for… Read More »
How to Use California’s Wildcard Exemption in Bankruptcy
When you file for bankruptcy in California, many of your assets become subject to the bankruptcy. Chapter 7 bankruptcies, in particular, could involve the liquidation of many of your non-exempt assets in order to pay off your creditors. But not all property must be liquidated, and not all of your assets are within the reach of… Read More »
How Long Must Bankruptcy Stay On Your Credit Report in California?
Bankruptcy is an important and viable option for many Americans struggling with debt. Clients often fear that bankruptcy means the end of their financial lives. At some point down the line after recovering financially, you may need a loan for a car or home, or even to rent an apartment with a landlord who checks… Read More »