Articles Posted in Bankruptcy

Filling a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy petition can be complex, but the attorneys at Savage Villoch Law, PLLC are equipped to ease the burden and guide you through the process with care.

As we’ve previously covered in our chapter 7 bankruptcy blog series, determining chapter 7 eligibility can be complicated in itself, as can properly balancing the benefits and drawbacks unique to your circumstances.  Advice from trusted, experienced legal counsel can help you smoothly navigate these obstacles and ensure you get the relief you deserve as quickly as possible.

Once you have made these crucial pre-filing decisions, Savage Villoch Law can also assist you through the process of filing your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy petition. This petition will be filed in your local bankruptcy court and consists of several Official Bankruptcy Forms which detail information such as your current assets and liabilities, a record of your current income and expenditures, a statement of your financial affairs, and any open contracts or unexpired leases.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy can ease some of your financial burdens if you’ve fallen behind on monthly bills, but how do you know if you are eligible to file in the first place?

At a high level, to be eligible under chapter 7 you must be able to show that you do not have the means to pay your monthly expenses and debts given your current income.

Any individual with an income below their state’s median for their household size is automatically eligible to file under chapter 7. However, you may still be eligible even if your income falls above the median, you will just need to pass the chapter 7 means test first.

If you are dealing with debt that has become unmanageable despite your best efforts at repayment, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be an avenue to consider. Although Chapter 7 bankruptcy comes with its own set of drawbacks to keep in mind, it also has the potential to help you begin rebuilding toward a healthier financial future.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is often referred to as “liquidation bankruptcy” because it allows individuals to completely discharge some portions of their debt, but only after certain assets have been liquidated. It is both the fastest and most common type of bankruptcy, and often allows debt to be discharged within three to five months of filing. However, before filing, there are some important factors to consider.

First, you should consider your current financial situation to determine eligibility.  When filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a variety of financial documents will be disclosed, including schedules of assets, liabilities, income, and expenditures, transcripts of tax returns, and a list of all owned property, among other information. As with any form of bankruptcy, individuals must also undergo credit counseling and provide a record of completion before filing.[1]

Could this be the beginning of the end of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as we know it?

This month The Trump administration, through acting CFPB Director Mick Mulvaney, announced sizeable restrictions to CFPB’s enforcement and day-to-day oversight of the financial industry’s fair lending practices. The move comes shortly after Mulvaney was installed as Acting Director following the departure of Richard Cordray.

Speculation of the CFPB’s impending dismantlement under the Trump Administration has been swirling since the election and this is just one of the latest in a series of moves pertaining to the CFPB that lends some credence to that speculation.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

Is 2008 far enough in our rear-view that we’ve already forgotten the same mistakes that brought the financial industry-and U.S. economy-to the brink of collapse? Evidently, it is for banks and policymakers.

You have probably been hearing a lot of talk about impending “reviews” of current financial regulation measures; the very regulations put in place immediately following the aftermath of the 2008 collapse; the very measures that are meant to ensure that kind of thing doesn’t happen anymore. However, these calls for review signal a clear intention for some of a desire for wide-scale financial deregulation.

Amid the fallout of 2008, when the nation’s banking giants toppled and our economy was sent reeling, Federal legislators and regulators decided that changes were needed. Most of these changes took shape as the Dodd-Frank Act, which provide the framework for much of our current banking regulation and oversight.

You’re probably familiar with Dodd-Frank, at least in part. It’s been a near constant topic of discussion on both Wall Street and Capitol Hill since it took effect. And this conversation has only increased during the Trump Administration.

However, did you know that part of Dodd-Frank requires banks to submit a financial doomsday plan outlining how they will dissolve in the event of a catastrophic collapse?

Retirees and pensioners will now have a voice at the negotiating table during Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy, according to a Reuters report. This month, the U.S. Trustee overseeing the filing procedure announced the appointment of a retiree committee.

While retiree committees are usually appointed in municipal bankruptcy filings, it is typically preceded with a formal ruling from the bankruptcy court. However, due to the extreme nature of Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy, the Trustee is acting without a judge’s ruling.

Puerto Rico’s Bankruptcy Overview

Risk-taking is a natural part of making financial investments

These should be calculated risks, though; risks based on performance projections of whatever is being invested in.

Though financial investments should not include those unforeseen or unaccounted for risks like fraud, investors are constantly facing it.

investment and bankruptcy lawyers serving tampaFor most of those who are faced with bankruptcy,  some find it particularly challenging to make an informed decision about the right attorney to hire. However, even when faced with the dire pressure of a financial crisis, it is important to make a cool and collected decision when choosing a lawyer.

Avoid Bankruptcy Mills

Some legal practices have become known as “bankruptcy mills,” as they focus on churning and burning as many cases as possible instead of fulfilling the specific needs of individual clients. Although it can be hard to identify this without being a bankruptcy lawyer yourself, reading reviews and interviewing several different lawyers can substantially reduce the possibility of this occurring.

investment and bankruptcy lawyers serving tampaBankruptcy protection gives debtors a fresh start. But before filing, it is important to know the common mistakes people make during the process.

Not Being Truthful 

The means test is the first step to filing bankruptcy. It consists of several financial questions that will determine if you can pay your creditors. If you don’t mention all of your income or assets, your case could be dismissed. A bankruptcy lawyer can help you make sure everything is presented correctly.

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