Anyone attempting to stave off bankruptcy is in a holding pattern of avoiding unnecessary expenses. It’s always wise to minimize costs. Before you agree to spending precious and limited funds on an attorney, consider asking the following questions: “Can I do this without an attorney?” The standard first question. The answer follows conventional wisdom: the […]
Having false information on your credit report can wreak havoc on your life. A bad credit rating can be used to raise your interest rates, reject your loan application, or cause a potential employer to deny you a job. Still, erroneous information shows up on credit reports all the time. In a recent study, the […]
There are good reasons for wanting to avoid probate court. It can be time-consuming: anywhere from several months to a few years. It can be expensive: add in lawyer fees and the estate can shrink quickly. It can be complicated: in cases with no will, the probate court uses the state’s laws of intestacy to […]
Consumer protection law refers to the patchwork, sometimes overlapping federal and state statutes that protect consumers from unlawful or abusive business practices. These laws are designed to deter unfair marketing strategies, violations of privacy, harassment, and outright fraud. Multiple federal agencies have their hands in consumer protection. The FDA regulates food and drugs. The FCC […]
Individuals intending to file for bankruptcy should steer clear of these five types of financial transactions: Avoid transferring money or property. Everyone wants to protect what they have, but money or property transfers made before filing for bankruptcy can get you into big trouble. This includes transferring money into another person’s account, removing your name […]
Bankruptcy is a multi-step legal process that plays out over a period of months or years, depending on the type of bankruptcy. A series of administrative filings need to happen in a predetermined order for the successful completion and discharge in a typical consumer bankruptcy case. In that sense, it’s more like a divorce than […]
