Marriage can offer many financial benefits, including tax advantages, two incomes, and someone to share expenses. Unfortunately, getting married can cost you a great deal if you need to file bankruptcy. Getting married can make a person ineligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and increase their payments in Chapter 13 bankruptcy. I’m going to use an […]
Beware the Creditor Offering to Settle Your Debt!
I talk to people everyday that tell me that a creditor has offered to settle their debt for less than what they owe. unfortunately these creditors rarely tell the whole truth about how much settling their debt will actually cost. When a creditor cancels a portion of a debt, they report the amount of the […]
CAN I KEEP A CREDIT CARD WHILE IN CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY?
I probably answer over a hundred questions for my clients each week. Unfortunately, my answers are often long, complicated or the oh-so-helpful “it depends.” Luckily, once in a while, I get a question like the one in the title of this article, and I get to give a simple, easy to understand answer. “No.” I […]
Can I Keep My Car If I Am In Bankruptcy Proceedings?
If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, you likely have certain assets that you want to keep during and after the proceedings are completed. Most states allow bankruptcy exemptions. Exemptions are those assets that are allowed under state and/or federal law to be withheld from the bankruptcy estate, and therefore are untouchable by the creditors. […]
CAN I PAY TITHING TO MY CHURCH WHILE IN BANKRUPTCY?
Sections 707(b)(2) and 1325(b) of The Bankruptcy Code provide that debtors in bankruptcy may list tithing and other charitable contributions as a deduction when determining eligibility to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy and when calculating a Chapter 13 plan payment. Not all charitable contributions can be treated as a valid deduction. Charitable contributions must be paid […]