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Where do I mail my Chapter 13 Plan payment in DC, MD and VA?
Once your Chapter 13 bankruptcy has been filed, you will make your Chapter 13 Plan payments directly to the trustee for several months. Your first Plan payment must be made no later than 30 days from the date that your case is filed. Once your Plan has been confirmed, usually three to five months later,…
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Will Foreclosure Affect My Spouse’s Credit?
When facing foreclosure, wanting to protect your spouse is a natural instinct. Whether your foreclosure will affect your spouse depends upon whether the mortgage loan was a joint debt. Going through a foreclosure is never easy. But a foreclosure is even more stressful when it affects loved ones, especially a spouse. Love makes you ask yourself the question:…
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What Does It Mean When a Debt is Charged Off?
Many people experience a feeling of relief when they see on their credit reports that an old debt has been marked as “Charged Off.” Some think that these debts have been forgiven because a creditor has charged off the debt. But what exactly does it mean when a debt is charged off? You Still Owe…
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Bankruptcy Stops Eviction — Unless There’s an Eviction Order
If you are behind on your rent, bankruptcy may a good option for you. In many situations, Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code (the Automatic Stay) can stop your landlord from continuing eviction proceedings. In fact, bankruptcy stops eviction in almost every case, but not all. If your landlord has obtained a writ of possession,…
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Top 5 Ways to Bounce Back After a Foreclosure
A foreclosure stays on your credit for seven years. But the effects of foreclosure on your credit immediately start to diminish once the foreclosure has been completed. The same isn’t true for people. Losing a home is tough. Here are the Top 5 Ways to Bounce Back After a Foreclosure. 1. Find the Right Place to Live…
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What Happens to Student Loans in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
Student loans remain valid debts after discharge in either Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. However, paying your student loans in Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you some breathing room to pay your other debts. What Is Chapter 13? Chapter 13 bankruptcy is sometimes called the “wage-earner’s bankruptcy.” Many people who do not qualify for Chapter…
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Top 5 Worst Debt Collection Defenses
Good debt collection defenses flow from the specific circumstances of the debt. Bad debt collection defenses merely delay the lawsuit without changing its outcome. And the worst debt collection defenses are irrelevant, waste the court’s time, and possibly add costs and fees to your balance. Here are the Top 5 Worst Debt Collection Defenses. I Can’t Afford to…
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Wiping Out Parking Tickets in Bankruptcy
You can discharge only very old parking tickets in bankruptcy, after they have been sent to a third-party debt collector. Otherwise, parking tickets pass through the Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge because they are debts owed to a “governmental unit.” Parking Tickets in Bankruptcy Unfortunately, in most cases parking tickets cannot be discharged in Chapter 7…
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Student Loans are Holding Back Home Ownership
America’s student-loan debt grows by $2,726 every second. Total student loan debt in the United States has topped $1.3 trillion, second only to mortgage debt. Nearly one-third (30%) of Americans know someone who has delayed the purchase of a home because of student loan debt. And more than half of those expect that delay to last longer…
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D.C. Small Claims Increase is a Big Win for Creditors
Effective immediately, the jurisdictional limit of D.C.’s Small Claims Court has increased from $5,000 to $10,000. By contrast, Virginia’s small claims (General District Court) limit is $25,000, and Maryland’s small claims (District Court) limit is $30,000. The D.C. small claims increase took effect pursuant to the District of Columbia Judicial Financial Transparency Act of 2016. Make no…
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