News Topic: chapter 7

Although bankruptcy filings by sports teams have been historically rare, a recent smattering of filings have turned into a trend.  The Los Angeles Dodgers have recently joined the Phoenix Coyotes, the Chicago Cubs, the Texas Rangers and several other ... Read full article

Most people don’t realize that filing bankruptcy can stop a garnishment. The conventional thinking is, “Well, they got the judgment in court, so nothing I can do”. Nothing can be further from the truth. Bankruptcy can and will stop the garnishment, even ... Read full article

A bankruptcy discharge is one of the most common reasons for filing for bankruptcy.  A discharge releases you from personal liability for debts that qualify under federal law.  It is a permanent order granted by a bankruptcy court.  Any debts you ... Read full article

Millions of tickets are dolled out every year, not to mention government penalties and fines.  Government tickets and fines are one of the most common forms of debt.  Can these be discharged through a bankruptcy filing?  In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, section ... Read full article

I interviewed a married couple wanted to file joint Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Each spouse had separate credit cards and no joint unsecured debt. They have assets owed jointly free and clear of debt. My first thought was that their joint assets would not be ... Read full article

If I were a law school profession teaching an introductory consumer bankruptcy class I would consider the following question for a final exam: Would You Advise Casey Anthony To File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? Assume That A Civil Jury Would Find Her Liable For ... Read full article

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy may provide a person inundated with debt some relief. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy gives the debtor an opportunity to liquidate certain assets in exchange for a discharge from debts owed. Creditors included in the bankruptcy will be ... Read full article

Many bankruptcy debtor misunderstand what it means to have their name on a family member's bank account.  I usually ask prospective debtors how much cash they have in their bank account. Often the client tells me that they have almost no money in ... 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

Summary: Last Thursday, TWBC, Inc. filed a motion asking the bankruptcy court in San Francisco to convert its chapter 11 bankruptcy case to chapter 7.  The company was formerly known as The Wilkes Bashford Company and operated a chain of high-end luxury ... Read full article

I have posted in the past about the helpful research binder that former Judge Randall J. Newsome of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California  had made available on the Bankruptcy Court's website. Although Judge ... Read full article

Many self-employed debtors file bankruptcy because they have personally guaranteed debt of their failing business. Some of these debtors want to discharge their guarantees of business bank loans or credit cards used for the business, and they want to try ... 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

One of my Chapter 7 bankruptcy clients wants to discharge a judgment in favor of his former wife’s attorney. A family law judge issued a judgment for sanctions against my client  for frivolous litigation during a dispute over enforcement of a property ... Read full article

Bankruptcy trustees seem to be getting tougher on debtors who incur significant credit card debts and large secured debt obligations prior to filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. I am seeing challenges asserted against significant credit card charges within six ... Read full article

I was sitting with a client in my Houston law office the other day, finishing up a Chapter 7 bankruptcy signing appointment with a woman. It’s a lot of paperwork, about 40 pages of financial information about her, and the review and signing of all the ... Read full article