Articles Posted in Bankruptcy

Living in a state of debt has become the accepted way of life for many. Although bankruptcy has become far more common than it was decades ago, it still intimidates many Americans who are in a situation where filing may be best. You should consider filing bankruptcy when what you owe exceeds what you can…

Because you’re not making enough money to live on. Or because your expenses just are out of control. Because life should be more than nonstop work and worry. You may be ready for bankruptcy. Because you have no assets to speak of. Or because you’re at risk of missing out on basic life necessities. Because…

Older Americans are increasingly filing for bankruptcy due to soaring healthcare costs and reductions in social services. According to a recent report, since 1991, the rate of senior citizens filing for bankruptcy protection have increased twofold for Americans 65-74 years old and threefold for those 75 and over. These increases are astonishing and represent a…

Austerity measures in Greece have set off violent riots and nationwide strikes over the last decade. In 2010, Greece suffered a sovereign debt crisis, sometimes called the Greek Depression. A member of the European Union, Greece requested a bailout, which the EU granted, but only with a caveat: Greece would have to implement a number…

Several recent posts have received nationwide attention, and we welcome the positive response. My office has fielded calls from hundreds of people all over the country interested in issues I’ve written about here. Unfortunately, if you live outside the metropolitan Washington, D.C. region, our office is unable to provide any information or advice beyond what’s…

When the Great Recession officially ended in June 2009, the total outstanding amount of student loan debt in the U.S. was $675 billion. Today, total U.S. student loan debt has more than doubled to $1.465 trillion. If allowed to do so, not every student will declare bankruptcy to discharge student loans. But for those who…

Secured debt in bankruptcy is treated differently than unsecured debt. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, loans securing property may exempt that property from liquidation. Chapter 13 bankruptcy, on the other hand, allows you to repay over time any defaulted amounts on secured loans. Often the most important question revolves around whether to retain or surrender…

If your mortgage lender commences foreclosure proceedings, educate yourself about the process so you can chart the best way forward for you. You have options — but do your best to avoid the most common foreclosure mistakes. Believing that once the foreclosure process starts, you will lose the property. Not so fast. Your lender must…

Sometimes an employee doesn’t even know that a creditor is seeking to garnish until they see a change in their paycheck. At that point, you should seek advice of legal counsel. So how much of my paycheck can a creditor garnish? The garnishment process Before a creditor can garnish your wages, that creditor must obtain…

As of 2024, total student loan debt in the U.S. has reached $1.75 trillion in total student loan debt, including federal and private loans. The average student borrower graduates with about $29,000 in student loans on average. The number of college students taking out loans has tripled in just the last decade. Yet most students…