Can Tax Debt Help In Bankruptcy?
Overwhelming consumer debt and unpaid tax debt can feel like a one-two punch. To recover from the consumer debt hit, some consumer debtors must pass a means test and prove they are poor enough to qualify for bankruptcy relief. This can be a problem if household income is above median for the state. But, the […]
Credit Card Judgment: Too Late For Bankruptcy?
Credit card companies file lawsuits to show they’re upset and they miss your payment. If they win, they have a judgment against you. It’s not unusual for debt collectors to say bankruptcy doesn’t “work” then. They’re wrong! Bankruptcy filings stop collection of debt in its tracks. That’s why debt collectors lie about it. (You probably […]
What is the Difference Between Conventional and a Prepackaged Chapter 11 Bankruptcy?
Conventional bankruptcy: This is usually when a business files bankruptcy in a response to a crisis. However, when a business files bankruptcy without at least some prior negotiation with creditors, no one can really be sure how a case will turn out. For example, many businesses have bank loans, and those banks have blanket liens […]
Does Surrendering Your Home In Bankruptcy Mean It’s Not Yours?
You walk into bankruptcy to get rid of your mortgage. You walk out still owning real estate. How’s that happen? It’s almost a joke – when does surrender not mean surrender? It’s not a funny joke, but one nonetheless. Here’s the tip: when you surrender property in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you’re doing nothing more than […]
Can 23andMe Survive Its Financial Crisis?
Do you remember when 23andMe was the golden child of genetic testing? Millions swabbed their cheeks, eager to uncover ancestry secrets or health risks—until the hype faded, lawsuits piled up, and the company’s stock plummeted. Now, bankruptcy looms. If you’re a shareholder, you might be staring at your portfolio like it’s a pile of unopened […]
Does Chapter 13 Mean Paying All Creditors Back? It Could Be Zero to Unsecured Claims!
A 13 bankruptcy repayment plan does not necessarily mean that you must repay your debts in full. Don’t be scared off by a chapter 13 bankruptcy payment plan. It does not mean you have to pay everyone back in full with interest. After all, if you could afford to pay everyone back, you would not […]
Should You Buy a Car Prior to Filing Chapter 13?
You may want to consider buying a car prior to filing your Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. Filing bankruptcy isn’t a matter of going to your bankruptcy lawyer’s office, plunking your money down, and signing a few documents. It involves planning. First, there’s the obvious need to determine what chapter you should file under-typically 7 or […]
Can I Discharge Payday Loans in My Bankruptcy?
Payday loans can be dangerous forms of credit. Interest rates are astronomically high (according to an FDIC advisory, between 300 and 1000 percent when calculated annually), a significant number of payday loan customers take out multiple loans per year, and it’s difficult to determine a legitimate company from a fly-by-night business front. Many customers get […]
What exactly is bankruptcy? Will it wipe out all my debts?
Bankruptcy is a federal court process designed to help consumers and businesses eliminate their debts or repay them under the protection of the bankruptcy court. Bankruptcies can generally be described as “liquidation” (Chapter 7) or “reorganization” (Chapters 13). Under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you ask the bankruptcy court to wipe out (discharge) the debts you […]
Can I Discharge Tax on Late Filed Returns?
Bankruptcy can discharge income tax if certain conditions are met. One required condition is that returns must have been filed. Since tax law requires filing by a specific date, if not filed by that date any tax that is due will be exempt from discharge. The new language was added by congress in the Bankruptcy […]