There are two typical types of financial setbacks that lead to bankruptcy for most people: a huge surprise, and a slow and steady increase in debt. If you are on the surprise side of things, as many of us are from time to time, it is important to follow ... Read full article
The creditors’ meeting, otherwise known as 341 meeting, is a procedural step in every Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. In a typical 341 meeting, the debtor will be asked questions under oath by the bankruptcy trustee with respect to his or her ... Read full article
At a recent meeting of our Chapter 13 Committee meeting, a group of Bay Area bankruptcy attorneys who meet monthly to discuss recent developments in consumer bankruptcy law, a lively discussion erupted among a group of 40-50 local practitioners over Bay ... Read full article
Most Chapter 13 cases are not successfully completed and discharged. This means that there are many individuals who file for Chapter 13 and find themselves unable or unwilling to continue. Can these filers convert to Chapter 7? Should they? If you are ... Read full article
What steps need to be taken when you file for bankruptcy? How will the thing pan out? To avoid the fear of the unknown, here is a general run-down of the basic steps of filing for bankruptcy and receiving a discharge. Before you file your petition, you ... Read full article
In the current home foreclosure crisis, it seems some banks have become trigger happy. It has become a bit of a recent anomaly why banks have suddenly and mistakenly gone after some homeowners with whom they have no claim. Recently, Bank of America ... Read full article
When considering a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, one of the first questions that every debtor wants to know is how much their monthly Chapter 13 Plan payment will be. As with most legal questions, the answer is that it depends. One of the ways to determine how ... Read full article
A straw buyer is a fake buyer set up to defraud the mortgage company. If an individual cannot qualify for a loan for a particular home, due to bad credit or some other reason, it may seem like a solution to ask a relative or friend to purchase the home ... Read full article
According to the state bar, 40-50% of Arizona bankruptcy filings occur without an attorney (“pro se” in legalese). Most individuals who file for bankruptcy are at rock bottom, and do not believe they can afford an attorney, or that it will be necessary to ... Read full article
As reports surface that wealthy socialite Patricia Kluge has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, many have wondered: how can you file for bankruptcy when you are a billionaire? When United State bankruptcy laws were drafted, the focus was ... Read full article
Often, people wait too long to file bankruptcy. Considering bankruptcy to be a last resort is probably a wise thing to do, and there are often many things an individual can do to prevent bankruptcy. However, waiting too long can mean that bankruptcy ... Read full article
It is no secret than many Americans are one tragedy away from financial hardship in the form of accidents, the loss of a job, a divorce, or an unexpected illness. More than half of all bankruptcies are reportedly the result of overwhelming medical ... Read full article
Written by Craig D. ... Read full article
An article today first appearing in the New York Times suggests that congressional aides are exploring the possibility of legislation that would allow states to file for bankruptcy protection. You can read a summary of the article here. The bankruptcy ... Read full article
