How do you feel about discharging student loan debt in bankruptcy? The American Bar Institute (ABI) Consumer Bankruptcy Committee conducted a poll on what changes would attendees like to make to student loan discharges that I found interesting: 10% Recommended no changes – leave it as it is 22% …
Articles Posted in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Highlights of the New Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Bill Under Review
Today the American Bar Institute (ABI) Consumer Bankruptcy Committee presented an excellent webinar about the new bankruptcy bill pending in the House. Basically, the House would eliminate the existing Chapter 7 and 13, and replace them with a new Chapter 10 under the Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2020. While…
What if you can’t Catch up on Bills that Piled up During COVID-19?
As the owner of a small bankruptcy law practice in Tampa, Florida, we were often thought of as the epicenter of the great recession and foreclosure crisis back in 2008-2012. One thing that always made a big impression on me, was the number of people who genuinely believed and tried…
Are You Facing a Social Security Overpayment – Bankruptcy is Likely a Good Option.
The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) assesses overpayments in any instance where it thinks it may have overpaid benefits. This most commonly occurs when a recipient doesn’t timely report a change in circumstances, such as income. In many cases, the overpayment may be caused by the SSA itself, when it fails…
New Bankruptcy Relief for Student Loans and Homeowners Being Discussed in Congress.
I’m usually reluctant to talk much about pending bills recently introduced because so much can happen before a bill becomes a law. Remember that cartoon with the little bill walking from place to place? Wow, that dates me a bit. But odds are something along these lines will get passed…
COVID Relief for Private Student Loan Borrowers is Elusive: But Read to the Bottom – You won’t be Sorry!.
This week I received an email from a borrower who believed that she didn’t have to make her private student loan payments due to COVID and the CARES Act. Not true. While many private lenders have indeed voluntarily agreed to forbearance of two to six months per a recent Wall…
For our attorney followers: we’re setting up the TBBBA fall line up now!
The TBBBA is entering the Zoom age for the Consumer Lunches starting at Noon August 4 and continuing the first Tuesday of every month. The Zoom coordinates will be sent later in a TBBBA email blast. It’s bring your own lunch – but no commute! CLE credit. First up is:…
Local Insight Provided about the CARES Act on May 20 next week!
Webinar: Why you should care about the CARES Act May 20, 2020 at Noon The Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association will be hosting a FREE Webinar via Zoom on May 20, 2020 from 12:00 to 1:30pm. Why you should care about the CARES Act and its impact on Student…
How to Correct Your Credit Reports When Your Mortgage Payments are Not Reported Post Bankruptcy Discharge
It can be risky to reaffirm a mortgage in a bankruptcy, particularly when the property is underwater (worth less than what is owed), or you may need to move and sell quickly. A reaffirmation agreement puts you back on the hook to pay for the full amount of the mortgage,…
The Ugly Truth About Debt Relief Companies
I just found an eye opening video by Gary Fraley, a certified bankruptcy attorney in California, on why debt relief companies should be avoided! Watch the video – it’s short, to the point, and there’s a cool saddle in the back ground — looks like a former Texas transplant to…