Articles Posted in Chapter 7

New Chapter 7 Means Test Numbers Take Effect
Brian V. Lee

New Chapter 7 means test numbers take effect November 1, 2017. The means test numbers purport to state the median income per family size based on jurisdiction. To file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must qualify under the Chapter 7 bankruptcy means test. In most cases, your income must be less than or equal to the…

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Protecting Assets in Bankruptcy: Property Exemptions and Planning
Brian V. Lee

Protecting assets in bankruptcy requires a combination of foresight and expertise. Chapter 13 bankruptcy generally allows you to keep all your property. But in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your nonexempt assets may be “liquidated,” or seized and sold. If you do not protect your assets in Chapter 7, the trustee will convert them to cash and…

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Lee Legal Can Diagnose Your Financial Condition
Brian V. Lee

If you have a medical problem, seek advice from a doctor. If you have an architectural problem, seek advice from an engineer. But if you have a financial problem, you should seek the advice of an attorney. Lee Legal can diagnose your financial condition. Every client receives a free consultation. Debt Collection. If you have…

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When You Should Not File for Bankruptcy
Brian V. Lee

Only bankruptcy will solve certain financial problems. Bankruptcy remains the first and best choice for many common cash-flow and debt issues. Avoiding bankruptcy when it is the smart course of action often does nothing more than make for more difficult outcomes. But there are certain circumstances under which you should NOT file for bankruptcy. If…

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Use Your Tax Refund to File Bankruptcy
Brian V. Lee

Attorneys fees used toward bankruptcy are exempt from distribution. In most cases, your entire tax refund can be protected in bankruptcy. But if you are considering filing for bankruptcy, you should also consider how much it will cost to file. If you are ready to start rebuilding your credit and need a fresh start, you…

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Student Loans and the Means Test in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Brian V. Lee

The Chapter 7 “means test” determines whether your income qualifies you for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Otherwise known as the Chapter 7 Statement of Your Current Monthly Income, the means test prevents debtors with higher-than-median income from filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The interaction of student loans and the means test often requires careful consideration to…

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Top 4 Tax Problems in Bankruptcy
Brian V. Lee

The top 4 tax problems in bankruptcy are not particularly easy to avoid. For those facing money problems, taxes are often an afterthought. After all, paying taxes means less money in your paycheck. But the tax problems that most frequently occur in bankruptcy are actually violations of intuitive rules. Tax Problems in Bankruptcy: Chapter 7…

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Wiping Out Parking Tickets in Bankruptcy
Brian V. Lee

You can discharge only very old parking tickets in bankruptcy, after they have been sent to a third-party debt collector. Otherwise, parking tickets pass through the Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge because they are debts owed to a “governmental unit.” Parking Tickets in Bankruptcy Unfortunately, in most cases parking tickets cannot be discharged in Chapter 7…

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The Debt Snowball and the Debt Avalanche
Brian V. Lee

I periodically review debt management books to see if there are any new methods that might be useful to my clients. I just finished the book Dear Debt: A Story About Breaking Up with Debt by Melanie Lockert. The book contains a few useful pieces of advice. But the most interesting section deals with the two…

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D.C. Means Test Unjustly Denies Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Protection
Brian V. Lee

New Chapter 7 bankruptcy means test numbers take effect today for Chapter 7 cases filed on or after November 1, 2016. The D.C. means test numbers are obviously miscalculated and unfairly exclude bankruptcy debtors in the District of Columbia. Since October 17, 2005, the Department of Justice has promulgated median incomes for Chapter 7 debtors. To qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you…

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They Called. They're Glad They Did.

Brian Lee from Lee Legal was an amazing attorney to work with. He took his time, reviewed my documents and we discussed my situation thoroughly. He explained the process and my options as well as gave his recommendation. Not only did he assist, but he ensured that I knew this...

Sharrie S.
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Brian handled a legal matter for me and he was fantastic. He kept me informed of all updates and resolved all issues that were presented. I highly recommend Brian to all seeking legal advice and services.

Barry C.
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I was very nervous and scared about going through this process. But Brian was very knowledgeable and helped me through it. I was notified about any and all updates to my case and he was very responsive when I had questions regarding any concerns I had. Although a bit nerve...

Regina L.
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I've had the pleasure of working alongside Brian V. Lee for several years, and I can say without hesitation that he is one of the most knowledgeable bankruptcy attorneys in the DMV area. Brian's command of Chapter 7, 11, and 13 practice is exceptional, and his clients in the DC...

Michael F.
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I wanted to share my sincere appreciation for Brian and the support he provided during a very difficult time for my grandmother. We were not wealthy, but Brian treated us with genuine kindness and respect, making sure we felt comfortable throughout the entire process. He took the...

Jessica R.
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Still several years from Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness and saddled with significant student loan payments in proportion to my income, I came to Lee Legal to explore the bankruptcy path. Through his counsel, Brian took the fear out of the process and helped me to...

Justin G.
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Brian provided me with a very detailed analysis about my potential case after our first consultation. He promptly responded to all my complex questions, especially navigating student loans and some tax discussions. He is very professional and experienced at what he does, I would...

Eliane R.
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I had the opportunity to work with Brian at a time when I was challenged by a professional setback and forced with the challenge of making some very difficult legal decisions. Additionally, I worked with him again as I was dealing with some financial issues pertaining to my...

Daniel W.
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Brian has the amazing talent of taking complicated legal matters and distilling them down to seamless, frictionless resolutions. He is a phenomenal problem solver and a trusted advisor.

Fran B.
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I came to Mr. Lee in a panic when I was experiencing health problems and the walls seemed to be closing in on me. Initially, I interviewed four attorneys seeking assistance with my situation. He was one of the most thorough and thoughtful people I’ve ever met. His kindness and...

S. Y.
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Brian is both warm and professional. He helped me navigate a financial issue that I had not been looking forward to working on and he made the entire experience non-stressful, receiving a lot of anxiety I had around the matter. He is straight forward and a fantastic problem...

Martha B.
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Brian is an amazing lawyer. He was referred to me by a friend who was also pleased with his work. I found him to be affordable, efficient, understanding, and easy to talk to. He really cares for his clients and is very committed to doing his best. He is very knowledgeable and...

Arman A.
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This is your last stop in your searches for an attorney. After numerous research and interview with many lawyers, I decided to hire attorney Brian Lee. He is extremely knowledgeable, personable, attentive and diligent. He went above and beyond to file my ch 7 bankruptcy and get a...

Zhanna H.
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