Pro Se Bankruptcy Filings Increase in the Southern District of Georgia
Since the beginning of 2018, our firm has noticed a significant increase in the number of pro se bankruptcy cases. Unfortunately, many of these cases are dismissed within the first 60 days for failure to adhere to the filing requirements imposed by the bankruptcy code. This would include failure to obtain pre-bankruptcy credit counseling, as […]
Leiden & Leiden Celebrates its 45th Anniversary!
On March 19, 2018, the law firm of Leiden and Leiden will celebrate its 45th anniversary. Terry Leiden opened the law firm at its present location at 330 Telfair St. in Augusta on March 19, 1973. It was an ambitious endeavor by Terry Leiden, as he was a transplant from Cleveland, Ohio, and did not […]
The Price to be Paid for Obtaining Your “Free” Credit Score
Ads abound on television and the Internet offering to provide consumers with their free credit score. These ads lead consumers to believe that the failure to monitor their credit score is negligent, and could result in the denial of credit in the future. However, these ads omit the fact that the credit score that they […]
Pre-filing indications that your Chapter 13 case will not be successful
The Southern District of Georgia, which includes Richmond, Columbia and Burke County among others, usually ranks near the top of the other federal districts in the percentage of Chapter 13 cases which are filed. There are certain circumstances in which a consumer seeking bankruptcy relief will be required to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case, either […]
How to Lose an Asset in Bankruptcy Court Without Even Trying
While the primary goal of filing bankruptcy is to provide relief from debts, an equally important objective is the protection of all of a debtor’s assets. The Bankruptcy Code does allow for exemptions, which enable an honest debtor to protect assets from seizure and sale by a bankruptcy trustee. These exemptions vary from state to […]
Finance & Credit Trends to Avoid in 2018
At the beginning of the most recent century, both lenders and borrowers had developed many bad habits from a toxic combination of unrealistic optimism and immediate gratification. These bad habits led to a dramatic increase in bankruptcy for both individuals and corporations alike. In the years that followed, consumer lending became less available, and with […]
TIS THE SEASON TO BE WARY OF OUTSTANDING JUDGMENTS
Consumers are routinely recommended to check their credit, and not just to evaluate their scores. The information that is listed on your credit report will be the first resource used by a potential lender in evaluating a consumer’s credit. In reviewing their credit reports, some consumers may realize that a judgment has been asserted against […]
Managing Credit Card Debt After the Holidays: How to Prevent a Bad Situation from Getting Worse
As the holidays approach, household credit card use will increase dramatically as consumers rely on credit for retail purchases, goods, and travel. The good tidings of December do not necessarily have to evolve into the bad tidings of January and February as the bills begin to roll in. But assuming for purposes of this article […]
WRDW News Report: Protecting Yourself From Credit Card Fraud
WRDW News 12/WAGT-NBC Augusta recently sat down with our attorney Zane Leiden to get his expert opinion on the growing epidemic of credit card fraud. With the holidays approaching, the amount of online shopping activity is increasing — and with it, the risk of security breaches and stolen credit card data. What measures should you […]
CREDIT CARD DEBT, BANK REVENUE, RISES TO RECORD HIGHS
According to a New York Times article dated October 20, 2017, four top American banks – Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase and Citigroup – made more than $4 billion in income from their credit card divisions between July and September 2017. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily good news, as the Federal Reserve reports that […]