To borrow or not to borrow from the 401(k) plan to pay off credit card debt, that is the question.  The answer to this question will have to be decided by the individual.  The decision depends upon the amount of debt you’re carrying, the amount in your 401(k), and the type of person you are.
If [...]

A recent study shows that in some areas of the Country, renting is cheaper than owning.  In Florida, especially Southwest Florida, that study speaks volumes.  Cities in Southwest Florida, like Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and Port Charlotte have been hit pretty hard by the devastating real estate market and foreclosures.  Home prices have [...]

If you are thinking of filing for Bankruptcy, one of the items on your checklist to think about is your car.  Should you purchase a new car or used car prior to filing for bankruptcy protection?  What about your spouse’s car? \
As an attorney, the current status of the law would prevent me from counseling [...]

Several months ago, there was a bill before Congress which, if passed into law, would have allowed Bankruptcy Judges to modify first mortgages on homesteads.  However, the bill failed in the Senate.  As of now, the Bankruptcy Code does not allow a debtor to cramdown the mortgage on his first mortgage.  So, many people are [...]

Bankruptcy is not the end of the road.  Bankruptcy is only the beginning.  I’ve been practicing bankruptcy law for many years, and I can honestly say that I have helped thousands of families receive a Fresh Start.
The one thing that I always wonder is:  What will they do with that Fresh Start?  Most Bankruptcy Attorneys [...]

Stephen Baldwin file Chapter 11 Bankruptcy yesterday.  He is just another celebrity who has been brought back to reality.  Although I have yet to see the Petition and Schedules that were filed in the Bankruptcy Court, news reports state that the actor is millions of dollars in debt.  His website does not make a mention [...]

The State of New York is currently debating tougher debt collection guidelines.  Well, it’s about time.  If passed, debt collectors would be facing stricter scrutiny in their industry.  The legislation, if passed, would be called the Consumer Credit Fairness Act.  In the law, consumer debtors are provided with better protections than they ever were before [...]

June 2009 will be a month to be remembered by the debt collectors and debt collection lawfirms.  Consumers are suing Debt Collectors in record volume.  In June, debt collection lawsuits jumped 29.6%.  Webrecon, LLC reported the statistics, and it is obvious that the number of debt collection abuses are sky high.
In June, there were 848 [...]

In this era of corporate bailouts, it makes you wonder how many individual bailouts are happening, and, more importantly, is it the right thing to do?  Three times in the past week, a client has called to request that we close the file because they no longer have to file for bankruptcy.  While I love [...]

Over a year ago, I blogged on the lawsuit between Lifelock and Experian.  Well, Lifelock is still in business and so is Experian.  Both companies are making money, and both companies are still fighting in Court.  Why?  The bottom line is millions of dollars in profits.  Whose profits?  Both companies.
After the lawsuit was filed, both [...]