I am often asked, “Can I transfer my car or my house to my relatives before I file bankruptcy?” The answer is very simple, NO. It is a lot worse when clients come into my office and they have already transferred an asset (often because of bad advice.) I often have to tell people you [...]
September 2009
Is your financial situation desperate? The Bankruptcy Code may be available to provide you with the “fresh start” you need. We see people in our offices everyday-good, hard-working people-who have fallen on tough times for one reason or another. Maybe a job loss or an illness has reduced your income. Or, you have been through [...]
Jacksonville foreclosure defense attorney Chip Parker explains the frustration of balancing the desire to practice pro bono with the reality of running a law firm.
When Congress passed bankruptcy “reform” in 2005, it included provisions requiring consumer bankruptcy lawyers to call themselves “Debt Relief Agencies,” restricting the information we could provide our clients, and adding all sorts of disclosures and disclaimers that did little more than generate lots and lots of paper. These provisions were challenged as unconstitutional by a [...]
A good bankruptcy lawyer will take time to help you figure out your monthly household budget. In other words, how much money hits your kitchen table every month and how is it spent? It is all about income and expenses. Calculating income is the easier part. For some clients, it is very predictable because they [...]
“My wages are being garnished!” “I have a foreclosure scheduled for tomorrow!” “They’re going to come and repossess my car tonight!” As a bankruptcy attorney, I have heard all these, and more, as reasons why a potential client’s case needs to be filed TODAY. While bankruptcy attorneys may be able to file a bankruptcy case [...]
