April 2009

If Chrysler Can File Bankruptcy, Why Can’t I?

by Peter Orville, Binghamton Bankruptcy Lawyer

You can.  And maybe you should. “No one should be confused about what a bankruptcy process means… [It] is not a sign of weakness…”  This is what President Barack Obama said today in discussing the fact that Chrysler is declaring bankruptcy.  Obama said that Chrysler’s bankruptcy was “…one more step on a clearly chartered path to [...]

Do You Pay Your Credit Card Bills Late?

by Peter Orville, Binghamton Bankruptcy Lawyer

If you pay your credit card bills late, you are in good company.  Almost 58 million Americans admit they don’t pay their bills on time.  That is almost 26 percent of all adult Americans. The 2009 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey was released in Washington, DC on Tuesday by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC).  The [...]

Business credit cards and the individual bankruptcy case

by Cathy Moran, California Bankruptcy Lawyer

Small corporations may have their names on the shareholder’s credit card, but likely are not actually liable for the charges made on the card.  Clients come with lists of “personal” credit cards and “business cards” for their corporation or LLC.  In looking at bankruptcy options, we need to know which debts are those of the [...]

Can A Bankruptcy Trustee Search Your Home?

by L. Jed Berliner, Springfield, MA Bankruptcy Attorney

“I can’t file bankruptcy.  I heard that a trustee will come into my home and take what he wants.”  Is there anything more frightening than this sentence?  It isn’t true, of course, but the fear is real. Yes, there is a remote one-in-a-bazillion chance that a trustee can get an order allowing seizure of unprotected [...]

Ten Reasons to Delay Filing Bankruptcy! Reason No. 6.1: The Means Test

by Kevin Gipson, New Orleans Bankruptcy Attorney

When determining when to file for a bankruptcy, an issue to consider is whether a delay in filing can place the debtor within the current monthly income guidelines for his state. Under the changes to the bankruptcy code that resulted from the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA), a debtor who wants [...]

My Bankruptcy Attorney Doesn’t Return My Phone Calls. Why?

by Karen Oakes, Southern Oregon Bankruptcy Attorney

The most frequent complaint made about attorneys is the lack of communication or not returning phone calls requesting information.   Attorneys generally know this.  So, why wouldn’t an attorney return phone calls on a timely basis?