MY MORTGAGE MORATORIUM IS ENDING. WHAT NOW?
As mortgage moratoriums begin to expire, many homeowners find themselves with a sudden and unexpected crisis. Once the loan moratorium ends, all the payments that were suspended during the moratorium are now due and payable. Some homeowners may have already taken steps to address the missed payments, either through a loan modification with the lender, […]
Five Easy Ways to Weather Financial Pitfalls
The most common misconception of an individual who files for bankruptcy is that they were reckless or irresponsible in the management of their credit. While there are many debtors who visit bankruptcy court because of overextension and mismanagement, they do not represent the majority of bankruptcy filers. No matter how well somebody plans for their […]
What Can I Expect When my Mortgage Forbearance Ends?
In March of 2020, the World Health Organization declared that Covid – 19 had officially become an international pandemic. Life as we knew it, both personally and economically, changed. While the extent of the financial effects varied, almost all consumers experienced some type of economic change. Based on the lessons learned during the “Great Recession” […]
IT’S TIME TO REVISIT THE DISCHARGE OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT IN BANKRUPTCY
As President Biden begun his presidency, one of the primary issues that he promised to address is the staggering amount of student loan debt, and what relief can be provided to the borrowers. Student loan debt is at an all-time high compared to other debt, such as mortgage debt and credit card debt. Covid-sponsored deferments […]
The Covid-19 Pandemic and its effect on Leiden & Leiden
As the anniversary of the Covid pandemic’s arrival in the United States approaches, our firm and its staff met to discuss the effects that it has had on our practice. Specifically, we discussed how office business was conducted, and the changes in the manner of our practice due to government restrictions and conscientious health safety […]
ASSETS THAT MANY PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE THAT YOU CAN PROTECT IN A BANKRUPTCY CASE
When a bankruptcy petition is filed, the debtor is required to identify and disclose all of their assets. This includes physical assets such as real estate, automobiles, and personal property. However, it also includes many intangible assets such as retirement plans, IRAs, claims for money or damages, insurance policies, and many other non—physical assets. One […]
CONSIDERING BANKRUPTCY AND RECEIVING AN INCOME TAX REFUND? SUGGESTIONS FOR POTENTIAL BANKRUPTCY FILERS
As the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to ripple across our economy, more and more consumers will face the prospect of a bankruptcy filing. While the long-awaited vaccine gives hope for many consumers, it also means that many lenders and creditors will resume their normal collection activity, including foreclosures, repossessions and garnishments. As […]
THE PERSONAL COSTS OF COVID-19
Covid-19 and its effects on our national, regional and local economies are both well – documented and ongoing. Businesses both large and small have suffered financial distress due to limitations on how their operations were conducted, and decreased income due to consumer fears. Many of those businesses never recovered, and a portion of those sought […]
Covid Update – Why Consumer Bankruptcy Filings Have Decreased Since March 2020
Decrease in Bankruptcy Filings In the five months since “Covid” and the “Coronavirus” have become household words, the American economy experienced more turbulence than at any time since the Great Recession. Business bankruptcies for small, medium, and even multinational corporations have spiked considerably since March 2020. Many of these businesses, especially in the retail industry, […]
Dealing with the Post Mortgage Moratorium Shock
In response to the coronavirus threat, many local and state governments enacted restrictions which prevented some businesses/industries from operating entirely, while other businesses could still operate at a reduced workload. Realizing that many homeowners would have little or no income with which to make their mortgage payments, many mortgage lenders offered their borrowers a moratorium […]