Many people who have a difficult time paying their bills have discovered that bankruptcy is an invaluable option. When financial indebtedness involves student loans, however, many people are deterred because they have heard that student loans are not capable of being discharged in bankruptcy. While it is true that there are steep requirements for discharging… [Continue Reading]
Understanding Michigan’s Homestead Exemption
One of the most common myths about bankruptcy is that you are required to give away all of your belongings. In reality, there are certain exemptions and items that you are allowed to keep during bankruptcy. For example, Michigan has a distinct group of items that a person is allowed to keep while navigating the… [Continue Reading]
Why You Should Not Wait to File for Bankruptcy
Because filing for bankruptcy is often seen as an acknowledgement of financial failure, many people resist initiating the bankruptcy process. In reality, waiting to file bankruptcy often makes it more difficult for a person to recover from the bankruptcy process. The following will review some of the reasons why you should not delay in speaking… [Continue Reading]
Are Married Couples Required to File Bankruptcy Together in Michigan?
While most couples do file bankruptcy together, there are some circumstances in which married couples might decide to file bankruptcy separately. In rare cases, such as newlyweds, for example, one spouse might file bankruptcy alone, which helps to preserve the non-filing spouse’s credit standing. However, certain aspects of the marriage will still be examined, so… [Continue Reading]
Garnishment Explained
A person who is drowning in debt may make the mistake of ignoring his or her creditors. A common misconception is that ignoring a debt will make it go away or help it become more manageable. In reality, pretending a debt does not exist only makes creditors more aggressive, and when it becomes clear that… [Continue Reading]
Why Would My Chapter 13 Payment Increase?
Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows a debtor to benefit from protection against aggressive forms of debt collection such as foreclosure, repossession, and wage garnishment, while requiring him or her to repay a portion of his or her debt. The repayment amount is based on the financial assets available to the debtor along with the amount of… [Continue Reading]
What Does it Mean When Your Debt is Sent to Collections?
If a debt goes unpaid for a long period of time, it can be sent to collections. This usually means that the debt owed is written off by the original creditor and sold to a collection agency. At the time the original creditor sells the debt, the debtor’s credit is negatively affected because the unpaid… [Continue Reading]
The Cost of Bankruptcy Fraud
A person may decide to file for bankruptcy for various reasons, such as overwhelming debt, as a way to restructure a business, or because of unemployment. Federal bankruptcy laws provide different options for debt discharge depending on the goal of the person filing. In return, the law requires the person to provide accurate information on… [Continue Reading]
Receivership and the Possibility of Bankruptcy
When a business is in financial trouble and owes a lot of money to its creditors, bankruptcy may be one option to restructure the business and get ahead of the debt. However, before the business can file for bankruptcy, creditors may initiate a lawsuit to put the business into receivership in order to get their… [Continue Reading]
Buying a Home After Foreclosure
Although it is sometimes difficult to do so, it is possible for a person who has been through foreclosure to buy a house after the foreclosure is behind him or her. A person who wants to buy a home after foreclosure should consider the reasons that led to the foreclosure before, whether it was from… [Continue Reading]
