Consumer Bankruptcy Guide

The Trap of Merchant Cash Advances and Financing

09/22/22

If you have a business, you have no doubt received advertisements for “merchant cash advances,” “merchant loans” or “merchant financing,” whether or not those specific terms are used.  If in doubt, just do a search for those terms and you will get a couple pages of sponsored ads (but be warned the big brother of the internet will flood you with ads after that).  Based on cases I have now, and calls I have received, business has picked up considerably for those

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11th Circuit: FDCPA Requirements Apply Equally To Communications with Debtor’s Lawyer

04/06/16

FDCPA2The Eleventh Circuit recently addressed three issues of first impression in the Circuit regarding the application of the  Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to letters to consumers’ lawyers.  Not surprising

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Georgia Supreme Court: Foreclosure Confirmation Requirements Can be Waived By Borrowers And Guarantors

03/02/16

foreclosure bank ownedDid the Georgia Supreme Court effectively repeal the foreclosure confirmation statute by affirming the rights of lenders to include waivers in their standard loan documents for both borrowers and guarantors?  That appears to be the case.  In PNC

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Student Loan Discharge: Opinion Of Judge Walker of Middle District Of Georgia Illustrative Of "Certainty Of Hopelessness" Required For Discharge

05/23/13

The opinion of Judge Walker in the case of  In re Williams (Williams v. American Education Service, et al,), 2013 Bankr. LEXIS 2050, Adv. Proc. No. 12-5059 (Bankr. M.D. Ga. May 13, 2013) is a good example of the standard that must be met to discharge student loans. Debtor's must not only demonstrate "undue hardship" as required under 11 U.S.C.

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11th Circuit - Debtors Can Strip Wholly Unsecured Second Lien In Chapter 7 Case

06/04/12

In McNeal v. GMAC Mortgage, LLC, et al, No. 11-11352 (11th Cir. May 11, 2012) (click here for .pdf) the issue before the Court was whether a debtor in a Chapter 7 case can strip a second priority, unsecured lien from her residence.  At least in the Eleventh Circuit, a debtor can strip the unsecured second lien.

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