A trustee in bankruptcy is a person who is appointed by the United States Department of Justice to administer the bankruptcy estate. This means different things depending on whether the debtor files bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the trustee presides over the 341 meeting of creditors, during which the schedules […]
BANKRUPTCY: YOUR CREDIT REPORT AFTER DISCHARGE
You filed bankruptcy. You filled out all the paperwork and met with your attorney. You attended a meeting with a trustee and eventually received a discharge. Now what? Well, the good news is that you are debt-free with the exception of any non-dischargable debts you may have and debts you did not wish to discharge. […]
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. […]