Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
How social media can complicate a bankruptcy filing
Pictures posted on social media have the potential to cause problems in a bankruptcy filing. A photo of a person with expensive property may imply that the individual owns that property, raising the question of whether that property was properly disclosed to the bankruptcy court in the filings requiring detailed inventory of assets. This issue…
Read MorePart 2: The choice between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy
We recently began a discussion of the choice most consumers who file for bankruptcy relief have between Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy and Chapter 13 reorganization. Despite some economic improvement across the country, many individuals and families still struggle to stay solvent financially through no fault of their own and may wonder whether bankruptcy should be…
Read MorePart 1: Choosing between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies
For many people, the past 10 to 20 years may have been financially challenging. Many people were impacted by the recession. For example, many experienced job loss, flat wages, loss of home, increased health insurance premiums or high deductibles, mounting medical bills, unsustainable student loan payments, high credit-card debt and more. Any New Mexican struggling…
Read MoreLegal counsel can help determine how to handle medical debt
It is common knowledge that many people are shouldering staggeringly heavy medical debt, especially as premiums and deductibles get higher and higher. We have posted blogs about medical debt and bankruptcy in the past, but unfortunately individuals and families continue to face financial strain because of high health care bills. No matter how careful a…
Read MoreChapter 7 bankruptcy does not mean loss of all of your property
In a Chapter 7 or liquidation bankruptcy, the debtor who files for relief in U.S. Bankruptcy Court is allowed to keep so-called exempt property. Some people misunderstand that if they file for bankruptcy they will lose everything. Bankruptcy law allows people to keep certain kinds of property considered basic and necessary to living. This makes…
Read MoreNew Mexico bankruptcy filings: Nuts and Bolts
Many people do not know much about how to file for bankruptcy relief. Bankruptcy matters are governed by federal bankruptcy law and are heard in federal bankruptcy court. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the District of New Mexico is located in Albuquerque, where most hearings are held. Some matters are also heard by judges in…
Read MoreBankruptcy may not be as bad for your credit as you think
Some New Mexicans may shy away from bankruptcy because they believe it will be devastating for their credit. While a Chapter 7 consumer bankruptcy remains on your credit report for 10 years, many lenders are still willing to extend credit to a recently bankrupt borrower. Because you cannot receive another Chapter 7 discharge again for…
Read MoreTo thwart debt-relief scams, contact a proven bankruptcy attorney
It is likely that some — perhaps many — of our readers across New Mexico have been on the receiving end of scam-oriented pitches promising to help them with financial challenges relating to credit card debt, student loans, medical outlays, mortgage exactions and other matters. It is a sad and often confirmed reality that fraudulent…
Read MoreHeavy debt load weighing you down? You’re far from alone.
If you’re a New Mexico resident struggling with debt that seems to be spiraling out of control, you might think that your situation is uncommon. It’s not. In fact, people from all walks of life in New Mexico — and many millions of Americans across the United States — are frustrated and worried by debt-related…
Read MoreSome bankruptcy realities not widely perceived or appreciated
People often hear that filing for bankruptcy will shoot holes in their credit and materially straitjacket their economic freedom in the future. Fortunately, this isn’t true. At the very outset, a good indicator that it is not is bankruptcy’s prominent mention in the U.S. Constitution and its long-recognized status as a legal tool that has…
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