Refund Anticipation Loans or “RAL’s” were originally marketed as “rapid refunds”, with the goal of expediting the receipt of income tax refunds for tax filers. What many filers believed was a refund was actually a loan made directly to the...
Read moreAVOIDING THE POST-HOLIDAY BLUES BY PRUDENT DEBT REPAYMENT
Once the joy and good tidings of the holiday season have subsided, unpleasant reminders begin to appear in the mailbox in the form of higher-than-average credit card bills. Some consumers may be prepared for their credit card statements, while...
Read moreWHAT YOUR BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY WILL NEED TO STOP A GARNISHMENT
Given the declining economy and subsequent rise in consumer debt defaults, creditors have become more aggressive in their collection attempts. This usually leads to legal action, and eventually wage or bank account garnishment. While a...
Read moreLottery Scams – Don’t be a Victim!
When economic times are hard, especially during the holidays, it is easy for some consumers to let down their guard and become victims of lottery or prize scams. A few things to remember if you should be contacted by anyone claiming that you...
Read moreCommon Myths About Bankruptcy
Will you lose your house and retirement savings? When will you be able to borrow money again? Get the facts on these questions and more. Read More
Read moreThe (Welcome) Aftermath of the Credit Card Reform Act of 2010
An oft-debated component of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA) was with respect to the consumer protection from credit card abuses. Unfortunately, many of the recommended protections were left out of the...
Read moreBankrupty Terms for the Layperson
Many people have trouble understanding the terms that lawyers routinely use. But even attorneys in other areas of practice often complain that bankruptcy attorneys seem to have their own arcane language. Because both debtors and their attorneys...
Read moreCommon Causes of Bankruptcy
Prior to the enactment of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act in 2005, both houses of Congress solicited testimony regarding the rise in consumer bankruptcy filings. Consumer advocates, such as Harvard’s Elizabeth Warren...
Read moreIncome Taxes and Bankruptcy
In acknowledgement of the passing of “tax day”, we thought that we would address the treatment of income taxes in bankruptcy.[i] Many consumers seek bankruptcy assistance because of income tax problems. While income taxes are afforded special...
Read moreWHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU EVER COSIGN A LOAN
Our firm routinely meets with prospective clients who have encountered financial trouble after “cosigning” or “guaranteeing” a loan for a family member or friend that went into default. Many times they misunderstood the extent of their liability...
Read moreREBUILDING YOUR CREDIT AFTER A PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY
The importance of good credit in our economy cannot be understated. It is a factor to be considered not only in lending, but also in the acquisition of housing, employment and higher education. The effect of a personal bankruptcy on a...
Read moreCONSUMER RIGHTS UNDER THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT
It is obvious that Bankruptcy and debt collection should go hand-in-hand, as ultimately it will be the attempts at collection upon one or more debts that will inevitably trigger a bankruptcy filing. One of the frequent questions that we hear...
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