ABI Blog Exchange

The ABI Blog Exchange surfaces the best writing from member practitioners who regularly cover consumer bankruptcy practice — chapters 7 and 13, discharge litigation, mortgage servicing, exemptions, and the full range of issues affecting individual debtors and their creditors. Posts are drawn from consumer-focused member blogs and updated as new content is published.

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If You Are Behind On Your Mortgage Payments, Now May Be The Time To Save Your Home.

In the past, if you were behind on your mortgage payments and did not want to keep your home, you had the ability to surrender it without much concern. Everything changed however at the start of 2014. The mortgage debt forgiveness relief act was not extended into 2014. This means that if you surrender your+ Read MoreThe post If You Are Behind On Your Mortgage Payments, Now May Be The Time To Save Your Home. appeared first on David M. Siegel.

DA

Is Filing Personal Bankruptcy Public?

Personal Bankruptcy Is Technically Public The fact is that filing a personal bankruptcy case is public record. However, the fact you filed is not something that is easy to obtain by the general public. There is a public access system known as PACER which contains information regarding bankruptcy filings throughout the country. To gain access to+ Read MoreThe post Is Filing Personal Bankruptcy Public? appeared first on David M. Siegel.

DA

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy – Liquidation

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is known as liquidation bankruptcy. However, in most cases, there is nothing to liquidate. The debtor gets to keep a large portion of personal property while going through the process. The Illinois law that allows the debtor to keep property while filing for bankruptcy is known as exemptions. They apply to homes,+ Read MoreThe post Chapter 7 Bankruptcy – Liquidation appeared first on David M. Siegel.

DA

It Keeps Getting Harder To Obtain Bankruptcy Help

Bankruptcy Help Is Harder To Get When you are struggling financially, you need bankruptcy help. You need to find a bankruptcy attorney that can take you from point A to point B. You want to get out of debt, you want to get a fresh start, you want to get back to a life without+ Read MoreThe post It Keeps Getting Harder To Obtain Bankruptcy Help appeared first on David M. Siegel.

DA

Making Changes To Pass The Bankruptcy Means Test

Bankruptcy Means Test If you’re trying to file a chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must first qualify. One of the qualifications is that you must pass the means test. The means test is a mathematical formula designed to prohibit those from filing a chapter 7 bankruptcy if they have the ability to repay a portion of+ Read MoreThe post Making Changes To Pass The Bankruptcy Means Test appeared first on David M. Siegel.

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Can the Trustee Really Take My Wedding Rings?!

The answer to this is no…and yes. In Arizona, wedding rings are exempt up to $2,000. This means that for both you and your spouse, you can exempt a total of $2,000 of the value of your wedding rings. For most people, this is more than enough to keep their rings safe. But what if, during better economic times, you purchased more expensive jewelry? Technically, the Trustee can have you turn over your jewelry. Does this happen often? No. Could it? It could. The post Can the Trustee Really Take My Wedding Rings?! appeared first on Tucson Bankruptcy Attorney.

DA

Can My Bankruptcy Petition Be Amended After Filing?

Bankruptcy Petition Can Be Amended Your bankruptcy petition can be amended after you file. This is often the case when someone forgets to list a particular creditor. The creditor may not have shown up on the credit report or the debtor simply misplaced a bill from that creditor. In a chapter 13 case, the bankruptcy+ Read MoreThe post Can My Bankruptcy Petition Be Amended After Filing? appeared first on David M. Siegel.

DA

Credit Unions And Your Bankruptcy Case

Credit Unions If you are a member of a credit union and you have debt with that credit union, you need to be aware of certain circumstances as they relate to your bankruptcy case. Credit unions operate under different rules than ordinary banks. When you place money in a credit union account it is known+ Read MoreThe post Credit Unions And Your Bankruptcy Case appeared first on David M. Siegel.

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Filing Bankruptcy Before You Get Married Is Typically Best

Should You File? Let’s talk about a bankruptcy scenario that comes up from time to time. Let’s say you’re someone who is struggling with debt, you’re single, and you finally found someone you want to marry. Your future spouse does not have any debt and he or she has a very good income. The question+ Read MoreThe post Filing Bankruptcy Before You Get Married Is Typically Best appeared first on David M. Siegel.

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Converting Your Bankruptcy Case From Chapter 13 To Chapter 7

When It Makes Sense There are circumstances where it makes perfect sense to convert a chapter 13 to chapter 7. One of the reasons why someone would want to convert their bankruptcy case is due to an inability to make chapter 13 payments. This can happen when someone loses their job, gets a divorce, becomes ill or+ Read MoreThe post Converting Your Bankruptcy Case From Chapter 13 To Chapter 7 appeared first on David M. Siegel.