Chapter 13

The first quarter of this year brought some troubling news regarding consumer credit. The credit card industry saw an increase in the charge-off rate. That reflects the percentage of debt that companies don’t expect to collect. While that rate (3.82%)…

The decision to file for bankruptcy should never be made lightly. However, it should be made based on accurate information and not on widespread myths and misconceptions. One of the primary reasons that people hesitate to file for bankruptcy is…

The decision to file for bankruptcy should not be made lightly. If will have a significant impact on your credit for up to 10 years. It’s always a good idea to look for other ways to whittle down your debt,…

Americans are carrying more debt than ever before. That’s the word from the Federal Reserve, which said that as of the end of last year, consumer debt totaled over $4 trillion. That’s not even counting mortgages. Credit card debt was…

People who are diagnosed with cancer have access to more and better treatments than ever. However, those treatments come at a steep cost. So do medications like Gleevac, which is used to treat leukemia. This means that while cancer patients…

During the recent federal government shutdown — the longest in history — Americans saw and heard seemingly endless heartbreaking stories of people whose lives were thrown into chaos because they missed one paycheck and then a second. Even though the…

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get your debt under control, a bankruptcy judge in New York’s Northern District has some valuable advice. She notes that while sometimes the events that lead to bankruptcy are outside people’s…

Bankruptcy is a big step — and not one that anyone should take without careful consideration. So when should you begin considering it? If you are having difficulty making the required payments on your loans, credit cards and other debts…

The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates four times this year and nine times in the past three years. The latest rate hike of a quarter percentage point was just announced. While that’s good news for people who have interest-earning…

Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be a crucial first step out of overwhelming financial difficulties. Chapter 13 allows people to reorganize their debts and develop a three-to-five year repayment plan. Some debts can be discharged completely in Chapter 13 bankruptcy. However, some cannot…