Archive for July, 2007

What does my Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Discharge mean? »

The discharge is the goal of the bankruptcy process.  The court issues it after the deadline for a creditor or the bankruptcy trustee to file a complaint expires.  It basically means you are free from personal liability on all the debts incurred before you filed your bankruptcy petition.
It does NOT mean you can keep your [...]

Popularity: 7% [?]

Top Ten Personal Finance Mistakes - Part 2 »

The second most common mistake is not changing your lifestyle to match your finances. Once you have set your personal financial goals, now you have to figure out what changes to make to your lifestyle to achieve those goals. Does this mean a change in jobs or careers? Or does it mean [...]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Credit Card Fees Prompt Hearings, Proposed Legislation Around The Nation »

Card card issuers are constantly on the lookout for new ways to pump up their profits. They raise rates, charge new (and hidden) fees and punish card holders with unjust policies. In response, the Federal Reserve Board has proposed rules requiring issuers to disclose clearer information about rates and fees and 45 days’ (instead of [...]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Pocket Picking the Mortgage Investor »

So just who pays a servicer to service a home mortgage loan? Generally, the servicer earns a flat rate per each mortgage account in its portfolio. The servicer sends the borrower a monthly statement. Upon payment, the servicer applies funds to the account and forwards money to the investor. If payment [...]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Can a Creditor Force Me Into Arbitration During Bankruptcy? »

Creditors love arbitration. Arbitration is the place where consumer rights go to die. But once you file bankruptcy, your creditor-debtor issues go to the judge to decide, normally. Can the creditor force you to arbitrate a claim you have against them, rather than have the bankruptcy judge rule on it? The [...]

Popularity: 6% [?]

Top Ten Personal Finance Mistakes - Part 1 »

Rule #1, Have a personal financial goal and a plan to achieve it. The pressures of bills and getting the income to pay them typically cause you to lose sight of your personal financial goals.
The second thing I ask a new client is, “If I could wave a magic wand to make it happen, [...]

Popularity: 5% [?]

What Is Circular 230 And Why Do I See It On Emails And Letters? »

The Internal Revenue Service regulates what lawyers (including bankruptcy lawyers) and Certified Public Accountants can tell their clients, at least when they are giving advice about certain tax matters. Lawyers and CPAs and Enrolled Agents are allowed to represent taxpayers in their dealings with the IRS. A government publication, Circular 230, lists the [...]

Popularity: 8% [?]

Why Did The Trustee Notify My Ex-Wife About My Bankruptcy? »

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 enhanced certain rights and procedures for the benefit of domestic support obligation [DSO] creditors. Section 101(14A) broadly defines DSO to include debts in the nature of alimony, maintenance or support. Section 523(a)(5) makes DSO debt non-dischargeable.
Along with these changes, 522(c)(1) included a clarification [...]

Popularity: 5% [?]

Bankruptcy Trustee Meeting Directions for Springfield, MA »

Whether Chapter 7 or 13, your meeting will be at the TD Banknorth Center in Room 515 (fifth floor), 1441 Main Street, Springfield. If you are coming from Hampshire or Franklin County, get off at Exit 7 on Interstate 91 South. Turn left at the first traffic light. You will pass under [...]

Popularity: 5% [?]

The Collection Agency Says They’re Going To Garnish My Wages, Take My Car And Force Me To Sell My House To Pay My Debts: Can They Do That? »

Collection agencies often use incredible scare tactics to get consumers to pay debts. They threaten to garnish wages, put liens on houses, take vehicles, and clean out your bank account.
What they don’t tell you is that in order to do any of these things, they have to get a judgment from a court of law [...]

Popularity: 9% [?]