Are All of Your Creditors Listed on Your Credit Report?
The credit bureaus have gotten pretty good about instantaneously obtaining and promptly reporting your personal financial information. The credit bureaus are big, savvy, and flush with cash. But are all of the creditors you owe listed on your credit report? Maybe not. These are some of the most common types of bills and creditors that […]
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 […]
Bankruptcy in the Bible
Deuteronomy defines bankruptcy in the Bible. But the Bible also frequently mentions lending, fair pay, creditors, interest payments, and money in general. Let’s start out with one of Jesus’ most important messages before we take a look at the Old Testament. The Golden Rule You may know of the so-called Golden Rule from the Sermon on […]
Who Will Find Out If I File for Bankruptcy?
Are you ready to file for bankruptcy but stressed out because you’re not sure who will find out? It can be hard to pinpoint who will figure out or actually find out about your bankruptcy. But there are some basic rules of thumb. Before you file, it’s not uncommon to want to know the answer […]
Use Creative Destruction to Refocus Your Personal Finances
Austrian-born American economist and political scientist Joseph Schumpeter coined the term creative destruction in 1942. “Creative destruction” is the willful reconfiguration of an existing economic system in order to clear the ground for the creation of new wealth. There are obviously many nuances to the economic theory. But you can use the concept of creative destruction […]
Can a Creditor Garnish a Paycheck or Bank Account?
A creditor who has obtained a judgment against you can garnish a paycheck or bank account, or both. The creditor must file garnishment affidavit at your bank, at which point the bank will pay that creditor whatever amount is available in your account, up to the amount of the judgment. A creditor will drain your […]
How to Dispute Errors on Your Credit Report
Federal law allows you to request an investigation of information on your credit report that you feel may be inaccurate. No one can legally remove from a credit report accurate negative information, such as bankruptcy, tax liens, judgments or child support. However, it is perfectly legal to request an investigation of any item on your […]
Should I Stop Paying My Bills?
I often get asked the question, “If I am filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, should I stop paying my bills?” The answer is Yes and No. Continue to Pay the Bills You Will Still Have After Bankruptcy First the No. You must continue to pay certain bills. These include your rent or mortgage, auto loans for any […]
File a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may be aware that bankruptcy involves a complex set of laws and procedures specific to each individual jurisdiction. Filing for bankruptcy may seem daunting at first. If you are considering filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in DC, Maryland or Virginia, read below for the ten steps of a successful Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The steps to […]