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If I am having problems paying my bills, what is the first thing that I should do?
The first thing that you should do when you’re having trouble paying your bills is set up a free consultation with a bankruptcy attorney to see what debt relief options are available to you. Financial struggles are stressful and can rip families apart. You might be uncertain as to whether you can be evicted from your home or lose your car or have your wages garnished. You might not know how quickly your creditors could move on accomplishing these things. For example, could you be evicted a week from now or will it takes months?
When you’re unable to pay your bills as they become due, a bankruptcy attorney can help you prioritize what debts are the most important, like state and federal taxes, rent payments, mortgage and car payments, and utility payments. The attorney can also help you understand if your financial struggles are temporary or long term. If the situation is temporary, you could do certain things to hold off your creditors while getting back on your feet so that you can start paying them again.
If the financial struggle is a long-term problem or your home or car is in jeopardy of repossession, then bankruptcy could be the answer for you. A bankruptcy attorney could also explain how these things affect your credit score. Either way, you will feel immediately relief with a free initial consultation from an experienced bankruptcy attorney. Schedule a free consultation TODAY with Savage, Combs & Villoch, PLLC. Our telephone number is 813-200-0013. We do bankruptcies in Central Florida and we’re ready to help today! Please visit our website to learn more about bankruptcy and refer a friend or family member too.
What is bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy is a federal law that allows people and businesses (even cities and municipalities) to manage or eliminate debt. Bankruptcy is available to most everyone, and you do not even need to be insolvent to file. Bankruptcy is important because it imposes an immediate “automatic stay” on all creditors, and these creditors must stop all collection efforts. If the creditors continue to call, send letters, file lawsuits, etc., those creditors are in violation of bankruptcy law and could be fined or required to pay sanctions. This automatic stay gives the bankruptcy filer (or debtor) a breathing spell.
There are different chapters of bankruptcy depending on your needs or factual situation. There are Chapters 7, 9, 11, 12, and 13. The most common chapters for everyday consumers are Chapters 7 and 13.
Chapter 7 provides a discharge of certain debts if the debtor agrees to give up all of his or her non-exempt property to a trustee for sale for the benefit of the debtor’s creditors. Most people will find that there are very little to no assets available for creditors after the exemptions. For example, in Florida, a person’s home can be exempt, retirement accounts can be exempt, up to $1,000 of a person’s vehicle can be exempt, property held jointly with a non-debtor spouse can be exempt, etc.
Why is divorce often cited as a reason for bankruptcy?
By Alfred Villoch, III, with Savage, Combs & Villoch, PLLC
Divorce is often the catalyst for bankruptcy. After divorce, finances are stretched. There are new budgetary constraints. One partner might lose health insurance or the insurance might become more costly for the ex-spouse. Alimony and child support become additional expenses to pay. Some start having to pay new expenses such as child care, and others will find their expenses increased because no longer are they splitting bills and living expenses with their former partner.
A particular trigger for bankruptcy is the former marital home and the mortgage. When a married couple owns a house, typically one spouse keeps possession and the other spouse will agree to make or help out with the mortgage payments. Unless the couple refinances the mortgage, both partners will remain legally responsible for the mortgage debt. The problem arises when, for whatever reason, the mortgage goes unpaid and falls into default. This drags the co-obligor – who doesn’t even live in the home – into a foreclosure lawsuit and starts to severely damage that person’s credit score. One spouse can file for bankruptcy, leaving the other spouse adrift and fully responsible for the mortgage.
5 things that a bankruptcy trustee wants you to produce before your 341 meeting.
By Alfred Villoch, III, with Savage, Combs & Villoch, PLLC
In a previous blog post, I explained the purpose of a 341 meeting of creditors. A trustee holds a 341 meeting in every bankruptcy case. You can access that blog post HERE. Before a 341 meeting, a bankruptcy trustee usually requests certain documents to verify the information provided in the bankruptcy petition and schedules. Without the production of this information, a trustee may reschedule or adjourn the meeting until the documents are provided. Below are 5 things that a bankruptcy often requests to review at least one week before the 341 meeting.
1. Tax returns for the last two years.
Proposed Amended and New Local Rules for Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida, for 2015
By Alfred Villoch, III, Esquire, with Savage, Combs & Villoch, PLLC
The judges of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida are considering new rules and proposed amendments to the Local Rules. The proposals are available HERE for public comment beginning on March 9, 2015. The public comment period ends on April 24, 2015. When promulgated by the judges, the amended and new Local Rules will become effective on July 1, 2015.
While many proposed changes are stylistic, some of the proposals will affect daily bankruptcy practice. For instance, one proposed amendment reduces the time during which Electronic Filing Users must retain paper copies bearing original signatures from four years to two years. One new rule requires subpoenas before trial to be filed with the Court in addition to being served on each party to the adversary proceeding or contested matter. Another change involves amendments to lists and schedules. The amendment requires that the Notice of Deadline to File Proof of Claim, if any, be served upon newly added creditors in amended Schedules D, E and F.
Pro Bono? Jose Baez is out the $397,431.78 owed for his representation of Casey Anthony.
By Alfred Villoch, III, with Savage, Combs & Villoch, PLLC
In October 2008, the State of Florida charged Casey Marie Anthony with first-degree murder in the death of her two-year-old child, Caylee Marie Anthony. The matter was highly publicized and dominated the national news for years. From May to June 2011, Casey Anthony stood jury trial and was represented by criminal trial lawyer, Jose Baez, in what Time Magazine called the “Social Media Trial of the Century.” Jose Baez shocked many legal pundits and even most public opinion when he ultimately secured a verdict of “not guilty” for Casey Anthony on her murder charges, along with charges of aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse.
The verdict had a high price, however. Jose Baez billed $397.431.78 in legal fees for his representation. Not only that, but Casey Anthony became financially dogged elsewhere with lawsuits associated with her daughter’s death. For example, she was sued for defamation by a former babysitter, Zenaida Gonzalez, a person whom Casey Anthony initially blamed for the disappearance. Ms. Anthony was also sued for fraud and unjust enrichment by Texas EquuSearch, a company that spent at least $100,000 in searching for Caylee Anthony even though Casey Anthony already knew that Caylee was dead.
What is a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, and how is it different from a Chapter 7 case?
By Alfred Villoch, III, with Savage, Combs & Villoch, PLLC
Only an individual (not businesses) with regular income can seek relief under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 13 allows individuals with regular income to propose a plan to repay all or part of their debts. Under Chapter 13, individuals file a proposed repayment plan to pay installments to their creditors over three to five years. If the individual’s monthly income is less than the applicable state median (see U.S. Trustee website, State Median Family Income by Family Size), the plan will last for only three years unless there is “cause” for additional time needed. If the individual’s current monthly income is more than the median, the proposed plan generally must be for five years. Courts will not allow plan periods of over five years. 11 U.S.C. §1322(d). During the plan period, creditors cannot start or continue collection efforts.
There are certain advantages in Chapter 13 over liquidation in a Chapter 7 case. One of the most significant advantages, Chapter 13 offers individuals an opportunity to save their homes from foreclosure. Individuals can stop foreclosure proceedings and may cure delinquent mortgage payments over time. That said, individuals must still make all monthly mortgage payments on time during the Chapter 13 plan. Another advantage is that Chapter 13 allows individuals to reschedule secured debts (other than a mortgage for their primary residence) and extend them over the life of the chapter 13 plan. Doing this may lower the payments. Chapter 13 also may protect third parties who are liable with the debtor on “consumer debts,” specifically co-signers or guarantors. Last, in Chapter 13, the individual makes plan payments to a Chapter 13 trustee who then distributes payments to creditors. Individuals do not have direct contact with creditors while under Chapter 13.
Can an employer terminate your employment because you filed bankruptcy?
By Alfred Villoch, III, Esquire, with Savage, Combs, & Villoch, PLLC
No. An employer is strictly prohibited from terminating your employment or discriminating against you in any way solely because you filed bankruptcy. Section 525 of the Bankruptcy Code is entitled “Protection against discriminatory treatment.” Subsection (b) specifically states that no private employer may terminate the employment of, or discriminate with respect to employment against, an individual who filed bankruptcy simply because he or she filed bankruptcy.
Similarly, if your employment requires a license or permit, for example, a doctor, nurse, lawyer, or financial adviser, the governmental unit that issues such license or permit cannot deny, revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew such license or permit simply because you filed bankruptcy. 11 U.S.C. § 525(a). By way of further example, a state medical licensing board cannot revoke a doctor’s license to practice medicine simple because the doctor filed bankruptcy.
Intoxicated? Don't drive because bankruptcy won't save you.
By Alfred Villoch, III, with Savage, Combs & Villoch, PLLC
For the honest but unfortunate debtor, bankruptcy will discharge your unsecured debts and give you the fresh start that you need to rebuild your life and strengthen your financial well being. But then there are certain debts that are simply inescapable, even in bankruptcy. One inescapable debt is a debt arising from injuring or killing someone while driving, boating, or flying intoxicated.
Section 523(9) of the United States Bankruptcy Code states that a person cannot discharge debts “for death or personal injury caused by the debtor’s operation of a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft if such operation was unlawful because the debtor was intoxicated from using alcohol, a drug, or another substance.” Before this section, there existed an unconscionable loophole where drunk drivers could evade financial responsibility for the injuries that they caused.