Washington D.C. Area Chapter 7 Means Test Numbers Increase Across the Board
Effective November 1, 2018 new Chapter 7 means test numbers take effect. Year-over-year means test numbers for household incomes in the D.C. area increased between 3 percent and 21 percent across the board. When the means test numbers increase, more people qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. What is the Chapter 7 means test? Chapter 7 […]
How Long Does Bankruptcy Take?
How long does bankruptcy take? That depends on whether you file a Chapter 7, Chapter 13, or Chapter 11. Chapter 7 bankruptcy How long your Chapter 7 bankruptcy will take depends upon whether you have assets to distribute. Most Chapter 7 cases are completed quite quickly. But if you have unexempt assets, your Chapter 7 […]
6 Reasons Why the IRS May Keep Your Tax Refund
On Friday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent a gentle reminder to the nearly 40 million taxpayers who have yet to file their tax returns: do it now. Many people consider their tax refunds to be a sort of annual bonus. Here are the top 6 reasons why the IRS may keep your tax refund. […]
Student Loans: The Only Type of Risk-Free Lending
The only type of risk-free lending in the United States is student lending. Student loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy and can even survive your death. No other type of lender in America is afforded the same protections as student loan lenders. Student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy Lots of different types of debts […]
Protect Your Tax Refund in Bankruptcy
If you are due a tax refund and file bankruptcy, you must take proactive steps to protect it. Asset protection is a big part of what bankruptcy lawyers do. If you want to protect your tax refund in bankruptcy, talk to an experienced bankruptcy lawyer. An income tax refund received after a bankruptcy is filed […]
Don’t Send Good Money After Bad
Don’t send good money after bad. Have you heard the phrase? It means spending even more money on an investment with the hope of recouping your original investment. Most of our clients feel their credit card purchases to be investments. From clothing and food and appliances to rental cars and educational expenses, most people use plastic […]
Protecting Assets in Bankruptcy: Property Exemptions and Bankruptcy Planning
Protecting assets in bankruptcy requires a combination of foresight and expertise. Chapter 13 bankruptcy generally allows you to keep all your property. But in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your nonexempt assets may be “liquidated,” or seized and sold. If you do not protect your assets in Chapter 7, the trustee will convert them to cash and […]
Use Your Tax Refund to File Bankruptcy
Attorneys fees used toward bankruptcy are exempt from distribution. In most cases, your entire tax refund can be protected in bankruptcy. But if you are considering filing for bankruptcy, you should also consider how much it will cost to file. If you are ready to start rebuilding your credit and need a fresh start, you […]
Student Loans and the Means Test in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
The Chapter 7 “means test” determines whether your income qualifies you for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Otherwise known as the Chapter 7 Statement of Your Current Monthly Income, the means test prevents debtors with higher-than-median income from filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The interaction of student loans and the means test often requires careful consideration to […]