Posted on July 06, 2020 in Priority Debts

Before filing bankruptcy, should you pay child/spousal support debt in the meantime? This may depend on whether you file Chapter 7 or 13.

Our last three blog posts have been about what you should and should not do before filing bankruptcy. Three weeks ago we focused on keeping your assets, especially any retirement funds, and collateral, such as home or vehicle. Two weeks we discussed whether to take on more debt, maybe to buy time and not need to file bankruptcy. And last week we looked at whether you should file any unfiled income tax returns, and pay income taxes.

Today the question is whether to pay unpaid child/spousal support before filing bankruptcy. As with all of these issues, there are some general principles worth getting to understand. But everybody’s situation is truly unique. So you really do need the help of an experience bankruptcy lawyer to apply these principles to your personal situation. This blog post can be the first step towards becoming well-informed about your options. It’ll help you ask the right questions so that you can make the best decisions.

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 Posted on July 01, 2020 in Bankruptcy

For many people, the thought of filing for bankruptcy is a scary one. However, for many people, filing for bankruptcy is the best thing they could do for their finances. Filing for bankruptcy allows you to wipe your slate clean and discharge most of your unsecured debts, but it does come with some consequences. Filing for bankruptcy might make your life more difficult in the future, by making it harder to borrow money, lowering your credit score or even affecting your insurance rates. It can be difficult for some people to gauge whether or not bankruptcy is in their best interests, which is where a skilled Texas bankruptcy lawyer can help.

Your Debts Far Exceed Your Income

Think about all of your different types of debt: your mortgage or rent, car payment, all of your different credit cards, and personal loans. How much total debt do you have? Now, think of your income. How much money do you bring in each month? If your monthly debt obligations are much higher than the amount of money you bring in, you may want to consider filing for bankruptcy.

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 Posted on June 29, 2020 in Tax & Income Garnishment

If you’re considering filing bankruptcy, should you first prepare and submit any unfiled income tax returns? Should you prioritize paying them?

Our last two blog posts have been about what you should and should not do before filing bankruptcy. These are important to consider even if you hope to avoid bankruptcy but are sensibly admitting it’s possible.

So two weeks ago we focused on keeping, and not selling or giving up your:

1. assets
2. especially any retirement funds
3. collateral on debts, such as your home, vehicles, or furniture

Last week we discussed whether to take on more debt to buy time and maybe avoid needing to file bankruptcy.

Today we look at whether you should file any unfiled income tax returns, and possibly prioritize paying unpaid income taxes.

The Quick Answer

In general you should:

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 Posted on June 22, 2020 in Bankruptcy

If you’re considering filing bankruptcy, what debts can you incur and which should you avoid? What are the possible consequences?

Two weeks ago we listed 5 crucial things you’d benefit from learning about if you’re thinking about bankruptcy:

1. if bankruptcy is indeed the best option for you
2. how Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 work, and whether one is right for you
3. what actions you should take to position yourself for either a possible or definite filing
4. what you should avoid doing
5. the best timing for your bankruptcy filing

We covered the first 2 of these back then. Then last week we got into # 3 and #4, actions you should take and those to avoid before bankruptcy. We focused on keeping, and not selling or giving up your:

1. assets
2. especially any retirement funds
3. collateral on debts, such as your home, vehicles, or furniture

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 Posted on June 01, 2020 in Student Loans

Student loan debt is something that is becoming an issue in the United States. According to the latest statistics from Forbes, there are currently an estimated 45 million borrows who collectively owe about $1.56 trillion in debt for student loans. Of those, around 11 percent are delinquent on their loans, which means they are 90 days or more late on a payment. For many borrowers, student loan payments are expensive and they are struggling to make ends meet. Many have inquired as to whether or not student loan debt is dischargeable in bankruptcy, but the answer is not quite as simple as a "yes" or "no."

Is it Even Possible?

Many people believe that student loans are ineligible to be included in a bankruptcy and they would be correct -- but only in most situations. It is not impossible to discharge your student loan debt in a bankruptcy case, but it will make your bankruptcy more difficult because you will have to file an adversary proceeding to determine whether or not you are eligible to have your student loans discharged.

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 Posted on June 01, 2020 in Foreclosure

If you receive forbearance on your mortgage payments under the CARES Act, when do you have to catch up on those missed payments?

Last week we presented the new law allowing forbearance—skipping payments—on federally backed mortgages during the pandemic. Basically, if you’ve been financially affected by the pandemic you can request and receive a 6-month forbearance on payments. This can be extended another 6 months if the declared emergency continues at that point.

The obvious question this raises is when do these missed payments need to be paid. This is the topic of today’s blog post.

Major Confusion about Timing of Repayment

The CARES Act provided what is essentially a right to forbearance on federally backed mortgages. But CARES doesn’t say a word about the terms for payment of those payments missed during the period of forbearance.

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 Posted on May 29, 2020 in Chapter 13

Being unable to meet your monthly debt obligations can be a serious source of stress. Many people in this situation turn to bankruptcy as a possible solution. For some people who have a steady income, a Chapter 13 repayment plan may be the best option. Often referred to as the “wage earner’s plan,” this type of bankruptcy allows individuals to repay all or a portion of their debts over a period of three or five years. Each month, a single payment is made to the bankruptcy trustee, who then distributes the appropriate amount to each creditor.

Chapter 13 bankruptcies are popular with individuals who have secured debt attached to certain items that they want to keep, like a house or a car. This is because a Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows individuals to distribute any past due payments into the repayment plan so they can get caught up. While the draw of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is present, most peoples’ first question is, “How much will my payments be?”

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 Posted on May 25, 2020 in Foreclosure

Mortgage delinquencies skyrocketed in April. One big reason: the pandemic CARES Act provided for extraordinary mortgage payment forbearance.

Epic Increase in Mortgage Delinquencies

The number of home mortgages that became delinquent in April was largest one-month increase in U.S. history. 1.6 million mortgages current in March were not paid in April, according to Black Knight, a mortgage data provider.

For some perspective, the percentage of all mortgages that became delinquent nearly doubled in that one month—from 3.39% to 6.45%. This percentage increase was also the largest in history. It broke the last record monthly percentage increase set in 2008, during the Great Recession. The April increase was nearly 3 times the monthly increase back then. This is in spite of the reality that the Great Recession was an epic mortgage crisis.

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 Posted on May 11, 2020 in Chapter 13

The coronavirus CARES Act temporarily allows ongoing Chapter 13 plans to be amended or "modified" to last a total of 7 years (instead of 5).

Last month we described the changes to bankruptcy law made by the coronavirus CARES Act enacted on March 27, 2020. One of those changes is the ability to extend the length of ongoing Chapter 13 payment plans. Until now these previously-approved plans could last from a usual minimum of 3 years to a maximum of 5 years. That maximum has now been extended to 7 years.

Longer Plans Can Be Very Helpful

Overall, longer Chapter 13 payment plans give you more flexibility. And greater flexibility is one of the main advantages of the Chapter 13 bankruptcy option.

Usually you want to finish your bankruptcy case as soon as possible to get on with life. But often having more time within Chapter 13 can be a huge benefit.

You choose Chapter 13 over Chapter 7 "straight bankruptcy" to meet a specific goal (or two). You’re saving your home from foreclosure, or cramming down a vehicle loan, or paying nondischargeable income taxes. You’re keeping an asset you’d otherwise lose, catching up on child or spousal support, or saving a sole proprietorship business.

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 Posted on April 30, 2020 in Automatic Stay

For most people, filing for bankruptcy is a last resort. It can be easy to dig yourself into a pit of debt that you are unable to climb out of. Once the bills start becoming due, it can feel like an ocean wave washing over you, with you struggling to stay above water. Not paying your bills can cause creditors to resort to collections actions, such as wage garnishment and repossession. Once you file for bankruptcy, however, all of those collections actions must stop. This is what is known as the automatic stay.

Understanding the Automatic Stay

The automatic stay is a provision in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code that temporarily halts collections attempts from all creditors. The automatic stay goes into effect immediately after you file for bankruptcy and prevents any and all creditors from contacting you about debts you may have with them. The automatic stay does not last forever. As soon as your bankruptcy case is finished, the automatic stay is lifted.

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