Category Archives: Bankruptcy
Does Bankruptcy Get Rid of Liens?
There are three basic types of liens and bankruptcy treats each type differently. Consensual lien. When buying a home or car you consent to the lender putting a lien on the property, which serves as collateral for payment default. This is a consensual lien. Statutory lien. A statutory lien is one created under statutes, such […]
Avoid These Pitfalls When Filing for Bankruptcy
When you are in financial trouble, do not wait until the last minute to seek legal help. Some careful planning and working with a skilled bankruptcy lawyer can help you avoid certain pitfalls related to bankruptcy. Working ahead, at least several months before filing is often to your advantage. Here are common errors that can […]
How Does Residency Relate to Your Bankruptcy?
Some states have lists of assets that are exempt when filing bankruptcy and debtors can choose whether to use the federal list of exempt assets or the state’s. Not all states allow you to choose, but Pennsylvania is an either/or state that allows you to decide whether to use the state or federal government’s exemptions. […]
Can Parties Sue Each Other in a Bankruptcy Case?
Most bankruptcies face few challenges. Your bankruptcy lawyer files the petition on your behalf and you meet with the trustee. The creditors’ meeting is frequently a formality and no creditors may even attend. All goes well with no blips on the radar screen, so to speak. However, some bankruptcies are complicated and do not move […]
How Does the Process Work When Claiming a Bankruptcy Exemption?
An exemption is a piece of property that you can hold back during a bankruptcy. Exemptions range from cars to work tools and states have their own list of possible exemptions. When filing bankruptcy, your bankruptcy lawyer ensures that your Schedule C lists all the bankruptcy exemptions that you want to claim. Exemptions not listed […]
Forgive Us Our Debts, As We Forgive Our Debtors
The idea of forgiving debts is not a new one. It arose centuries ago during biblical times. Despite the social stigma often associated with filing bankruptcy, the United States, which was founded as a Judeo-Christian nation, draws on a rich religious heritage of showing compassion for debtors. During the time of Moses, the Israelites were […]
Which Works Best for You — HAMP or HEMAP?
Various choices are available for loan modifications and determining the best option for you can be confusing. You may have heard of HAMP, a federal loan modification program. HEMAP is the loan modification program that the Pennsylvania state government offers homeowners. Your mortgage foreclosure defense specialist is probably the best judge of which program would […]
Harrisburg’s City Debt on Hold for Bankruptcy Ban
Times have been tough for everyone since the financial crisis nearly five years ago, and inescapable debt has become a fact of life for many people, businesses and even municipalities. Pennsylvania’s capital city of Harrisburg is currently under the specter of bankruptcy. The governor plans to sign a bill extending a bankruptcy filing ban, currently […]
Debt after Death
When Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012, rumors swirled about the late singer. One of those rumors was that Ms. Houston was broke when she passed away, having run through all the money she earned in the 80s and early 90s. This begs an interesting question. What happens to your debt in death? Does […]
Credit Cards and Bankruptcy
With credit cards as easy to get as ever and disruptions to income, such as job loss or serious medical disability, occurring to people every day, it’s no wonder that credit cards make up a large portion of discharged debt in bankruptcy. Here are a few things to note when considering bankruptcy as an option […]
