Debt Problems

Introduction

Bankruptcy can solve so many different problems. Problems are what you have. Let's see if we can look at each one in some detail:

Stop House Foreclosure

Your house is your most valuable investment. You've put a lot of time, energy, heart and yes, money into it. Facing a foreclosure because you haven't made your mortgage payment for a few months is like washing your dreams go down the drain.

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy can help you stop foreclosure. When the mortgage payments fall behind, you need some breathing space. A plan. A way to catch up, and allow the mortgage company that you have a means to make the past-due mortgage payments, as well as the current ones. There is a way to stop home foreclosures.

Note: time is of the essence. Please don't let another day go by. You have nothing to lose by arranging for the consultation today, but a lot to lose if you put it off another month.

This is a complicated process that requires someone to understand your budget, prepare a payment plan and get it to all of the creditors. Especially the home loan company. However, the key thing to remember is this: once we file bankruptcy, the foreclosure stops. You get your breathing room. And then the repayment begins.

Don't lose out on your dream. You've worked hard to get the house. Let us help you stop foreclosure by contacting us now.

Wage Garnishment

There is no greater panic than finding out that your paycheck has been hit. Just like that, 25% (or in some cases, up to 50%) of your take home pay can be taken from you, sent to a creditor. If you thought you had a difficult time living paycheck to paycheck before, now you are about to find out how lean times are.

however, the good news is that a bankruptcy can stop a wage garnishment. However, you don't have time to waste. We need to have a consultation, figure out what kind of bankruptcy you can do, and then get all the paperwork taken care of.

If you wait too long and the garnishment begins, you will be in a terrible "catch-22": You can't afford the bankruptcy until the garnishment is stopped, but no bankruptcy lawyer will file bankruptcy for you until you can pay them. But you can't pay them until they file bankruptcy first, to stop the garnishment. And so on.

So, if you have a summons, and see the writing on the wall, contact us now and get started on our flexible payment plan. That way we can be paid before the garnishment hits your paycheck, and you're stuck either paying it or changing jobs just to put it off... until they find you again.

Is this any way to live?

Car Repossession

A car repo can be devastating.

You wake up one day, and your car is gone. Was it stolen? How can they do this to you?

Once the emotional wound has healed, you will need to deal with the deficiency balance of thousands of dollars you still owe the car company. They are going to sue you for this, and this could turn into a judgment or start garnishing your pay check.

You will be comforted in knowing that in most cases, a bankruptcy can discharge the debt that remains after a car repossession. Whether you should or should not do this, however, is something for which you will want to consult with a bankruptcy attorney.

Contact us today to find out which solution to your debt problems we think is best.

Lawsuits and Summons

There is no ruder surprise than a rap of the knuckles on your door and a process server handing you a summons. You now have 30 days to respond. What do you do? The clock is ticking!

If you do nothing, they can get a default judgment against you. If you answer, you'll have to pay hundreds of dollars. And for what? You probably owe them the money anyway. Is it worth it to answer if you're just putting off the inevitable?

A bankruptcy can stop a lawsuit (and many other collection events) from moving forward. But you need to move quickly. See the Contact page here for more info.

The biggest mistake you can make is to do nothing, frozen like a deer in the headlights. Really, you should contact a bankruptcy attorney and figure out your options.

Judgment

Once the lawsuit for collection of credit card bills has ended, there is a judgment against you. This is reported on your credit report. Worse, the judgment holder can now go after your bank account with a levy, put a lien on your house, and start garnishing your wages.

And this doesn't stop here. The judgment will grow. If it's $5,000 today, it will be $8,000 before you know it. Post-judgment interest will be paid by you, eventually. Same thing with legal fees. You will end up paying for their lawyers to find you and get their own money.

And judgments don't go away if you ignore them. They are valid for a long time. Putting your head in the sand is not going to make the problem disappear. A judgment is a very serious threat, and it's one you need to deal with. Confront it. Let us help you.

Credit Card Collection

Credit card collectors have a job, and they do it well. Their goal is to make you feel miserable. No sleep. Calls at all hours of the day and night. Calling you at work. Making you feel like a worthless piece of garbage.

You avoid your phone. You hate getting your mail. Your friends and family wonder why you don't answer anymore. They fear something is seriously wrong. Your credit card debt is affecting your relationships.

Put an end to this. As soon as you hire us to represent you, the creditors will be notified they they now have to deal with us. They don't want that. They know they are going to get nothing from calling us. In fact, because of our reputation, they know that it's "game over" and their debt is about to be eliminated.

Your creditor harassment will stop as soon as we file your case... sooner if you make progress on our flexible payment plan.

Don't let your kids hear the mean phone messages on the answering machine. Don't keep living this way. When was the last time you got 8 hours of sleep? Is it going to get better anytime soon?

Take action. Peace of mind has a dollar amount. How much is it worth to you? Call us now.

Debt Solutions

There are a lot of misconceptions about what a bankruptcy can discharge and erase, as far as debts go. The type of debt makes a difference. Of course, there are exceptions to each rule, and you will want to check with a bankruptcy lawyer to find out if your unique circumstance fits in the exception. Having said that, here we go.

Student Loans

Student loans, as a rule, are not dischargeable in a bankruptcy. This is true for federally guaranteed loans, and those being serviced by Sallie Mae.

Yes, there is an exception for "undue hardship," but think about it: every person who files bankruptcy is having a hardship. Something very unusual or unique must be demonstrated to qualify for a discharge for student loan debt, and certain case law has to be satisfied.

Many government debts do not get avoided in a bankruptcy. To find out if your particular circumstances fit, you'll want to contact a professional.

Credit Card Debt

Of course, credit card debt and the stack of credit card bills are the main reason people get in over their head and seek a solution to their debt problem. As a rule, credit card debts can be discharged in a bankruptcy.

Recent spending on credit cards or incurring a lot of debt quickly, and especially the recent use of those so-called convenience checks can create a lot of suspicion and cause your debts to not be discharged.

The amount of debt you have is also a factor. However, with some exceptions, revolving credit debt can be discharged in a bancruptcy. This is a very effective way to eliminate debt.

Medical Debt

Debt that is related to medical bills is a problem many Americans face. The question comes up: Is it something that Chapter 7 bankruptcy or a Chapter 13 bankruptcy can help take care of?

The answer is, with some exceptions, yes. Debts that were incurred as a result of a hospital stay or an emergency room visit (even the very expensive ambulance ride there to Antelope Valley Hospital or Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital) can probably be discharged in a bankruptcy.

To be certain, you will want to arrange a consultation with an expert in the field of bankruptcy law. Only a bankruptcy attorney can give you advice about whether you should seek a BK, debt consolidation or some other bankruptcy alternative.

Utility Bills

It will probably not surprise you that most utility bills for electric, water and cable can be discharged. You know the situation: your roommate back in Ohio when you left before the lease expired and they were supposed to take care of things took the money you gave them for the final utilities and used it instead for poker money. Or the landlord says you owe more than the security deposit, and is coming after you for an extra few months of backrent.

Regardless, a bankruptcy will almost certainly take care of things. But because all cases are different, you will want to arrange for a financial consultation to determine if this is the solution that is best for you, and if this is the right time. Timing, as they say, is everything.

IRS and Tax Debt

The Internal Revenue Service and Franchise Tax Board are very persistent when it comes to backtaxes. If you owe the IRS or the State of California, you probably heard that taxes are not dischargeable in a bankruptcy. Generally, that is true.

While not all IRS problems have a neat and tidy solution like an offer in compromise, you'll be surprised that sometimes a bankruptcy solve your IRS problem.

We have successfully discharged many hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax debt. Many of our clients have walked away from their IRS debts without paying a penny. Not all tax debts are created equally.

There are some requirements to determine whether your taxes will be wiped away in a bankruptcy or whether they still need to be repaid. At a consultation, we will be happy to examine your unique tax burden, and see if we can offer a solution that allows you to avoid the IRS collections, once and for all.