Texas Bankruptcy Blog : Texas Bankruptcy Lawyer & Attorney : Fears Nachawati law Firm : Chapter 7, Chapter 13, Consumer Bankrutpcy : Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, San Antonio

Fewer things can throw your world upside down like having your bank account frozen. A bank garnishment or seizure is usually the result of a creditor attempting to collect after a court has issued a judgment against you. The court orders the bank to freeze your account and turn over its proceeds to the judgment creditor. The order is usually timed by the creditor's attorney to take effect just before your paycheck is deposited. Seizing a bank account is generally a creditor's first action because federal and state laws limit the amount that can be garnished directly from an employee’s paycheck. These limitations do not apply to cash money in a bank account.

Once your bank account is frozen, it is important to act quickly. You are entitled to protect some money from garnishment, but you must notify the court, the creditor, and the bank that you are asserting your legal exemption rights. Additionally, if you receive Federal benefits that are directly deposited into your bank account, the federal law will protect an amount equal to two months of these benefits. These benefits include Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income benefits, Veteran’s benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits, and benefits from the Office of Personnel Management. Federal benefits are exempt from garnishment, and the law places the burden on the bank to determine if the funds are protected.

Finally, a bankruptcy filing will immediately stop a garnishment and unfreeze your bank account. A debtor can often force the garnishing creditor to return money seized just prior to a bankruptcy filing. The general rule is that involuntary payments that amount to over $600 seized by a creditor in the 90 days before filing can be recovered.

If you have had your bank account seized, it is important to speak with an experienced bankruptcy attorney immediately and discuss your short term and long term options. Quick action is necessary to unfreeze your account, but it is also important to discuss your long term plan to avoid garnishments in the future. Your attorney can help you decide on a sensible plan to eliminate your debt and progress to a better financial future.

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Purchasing a home is for many the realization of the American Dream. Over the past few decades the Home Owners Association has become the double-edged sword of the American Dream. On the one hand, HOAs are great. They help ensure high property values by making sure that everyone maintains their home and do not create eyesores. On the other hand they can be beasts of burden, with many often wondering if they are worth the added yearly, quarterly or monthly expense. Regardless of their value to you HOAs have become increasingly powerful. So powerful that falling behind on your HOA fees in some cases is tantamount to falling behind on your mortgage or taxes, allowing the HOA to attach a lien to your property and foreclose on your home.

Chapter 13 can help. Firstly, when a debtor files Chapter 13 an HOA is legally prohibited from attempting to collect all included debts. This means that any collection attempts for HOA fees owed prior to the minute the debtor filed must cease. Secondly, Chapter 13 takes an accounting of all debts owed and prioritizes them. Some debts, such as attorneys fees, are considered top priority debts and are placed at the top of the list. Other debts, such as HOA fees, mortgage and credit card debts are placed in a general pot to be worked out in a monthly repayment agreement.

Chapter 13 is helpful because it allows many debtors to renegotiate unfavorable terms and get better interest rates, particularly on credit card debt and in some instances, a mortgage. This not only helps with the amount owed to that particular company, but it also frees up money for the debtor to pay other items. There are a great many benefits to filing Chapter 13. Consult our firm today to see if this may be helpful for you. 

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President Obama has announced a plan that seeks to lessen the burden of paying back student loans. The plan calls for lowering the maximum required payment on student loans from 15 percent of discretionary income annually to 10 percent for eligible borrowers. This plan goes into effect in 2012 and any remaining debt would be forgiven after 20 years. The White House said about 1.6 million borrowers could be affected. The Obama plan also allows borrowers with direct loans from the government to consolidate them at an interest rate of up to a half percentage point less. This could affect 5.8 million borrowers, according to the White House.

Currently the total outstanding student debt is $11 trillion, more than the nation's total credit card debt. Federally guaranteed student loans have made borrowing for college easy, which has had two serious consequences: first, students are graduating with unprecedented debt. 56 percent of bachelor's degree recipients at public schools graduated with debt averaging about $22,000. Second, colleges and universities are continuing to raise tuition. The average in-state tuition and fees at a four-year public college rose an additional $631 this fall, or about 8 percent. In today's tough economy, many graduates are unable to find jobs, consequently the national student loan default rate for the 2009 budget year rose to 8.8 percent.

In order to guarantee repayment of federal loans, Congress made changes to the normal consumer protections. Student loans are not discharged in bankruptcy except under the most extreme circumstances. Your tax refund, and even your paycheck, can be garnished without a court order. The government can also take some federal benefit payments (including Social Security retirement benefits and Social Security disability benefits, but not Supplemental Security Income) as reimbursement for student loans. The government cannot take any amount that would leave you with benefits less than $9,000 per year or $750 per month. And, it cannot take more than 15% of your total benefit.

If you are struggling to pay student loans, speak with an experienced bankruptcy attorney and investigate options to restructure your finances. After discharging unsecured monthly bills like credit cards and medical bills, many debtors are able to make monthly payments under one of the available student loan repayment programs. Take control and use the law to your advantage!
 

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 Automatic payments are a convenient way to pay your bills. An automatic payment is an arrangement for a specific amount of money to go from your bank account to the recipient’s bank account. Automatic payments are useful to pay monthly bills that do not change, like a monthly car or mortgage payment.

A direct debit is an agreement that the recipient can take money out of your account to pay your bill. You might authorize a direct debit for an electricity, phone, or credit card bill. Of course, a direct debit could be authorized for most any bill.

When you file for federal bankruptcy protection, the bankruptcy court automatically issues a temporary injunction called the automatic stay. This court order prohibits all of your creditors from taking any action to collect a debt from you. The automatic stay is very broad and applies to most creditors; even the ones that you want to continue paying.

Because of the automatic stay, creditors will routinely stop any direct debit of your bank account and refuse automatic payments. The purpose of this refusal is to remain in compliance with the court order and avoid further entanglement with the debtor’s bankruptcy case. This can be frustrating to the debtor who wants to pay a monthly mortgage payment or car loan bill.

The answer to this problem is simple: mail your payment to the creditor! Remember, the automatic stay prohibits a creditor from collecting on a debt, not accepting a voluntary payment. It is good practice to maintain good records of all payments made to secured creditors during your bankruptcy. Your check may not be cashed for weeks while your lender forwards the payment to another department now handling your loan (e.g. bankruptcy department). By sending your payment via registered mail, you will have a receipt of timely payment, regardless when the check is cashed.

The bankruptcy process provides quick and powerful relief when you have the help of an experienced guide. An experienced bankruptcy attorney knows how the laws and common practices will affect your case, and can lead you to a fresh start without complications.

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 The U.S. Bankruptcy Courts have increased the fee for filing bankruptcy by $7. Effective November 1, 2011, the filing fee for Chapter 7 will increase from $299 to $306; the Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing fee will increase from $274 to $281; and the Chapter 11 filing fee will increase from $1,039 to $1,046. As part of the judiciary branch of federal government of the United States, this filing fee increase effects each one of the 90 bankruptcy districts across the country.

Filing fees are generally paid to the bankruptcy court at the time the case is filed. The filing fee may be waived under extreme circumstances, and may be paid in installments. A waiver or installment agreement must be approved by the bankruptcy court.

In addition to the basic filing fee increases, the Judicial Conference of the United States increased other fees that may apply to certain bankruptcy cases:

Certification: Formerly $9, now $11;
Exemplification: Formerly $18, now $21;
Audio Recording: Formerly $26, now $30;
Amended Bankruptcy Schedules: Formerly $26, now $30;
Record Search: Formerly $26, now $30;
Adversary Proceeding Fee: Formerly $250, now $293;
Document Filing/Indexing: Formerly $39, now $46;
Record Retrieval Fee: Formerly $45, now $53;
Returned Check Fee: Formerly $45, now $53;
Notice of Appeal Fee: Formerly $250, now $293; and
Lift/Stay Fee: Formerly $150, now $176.

Be sure to consult with your attorney to determine whether any of these additional fees apply to your individual bankruptcy case.

Filing fees are one of four different fees that a debtor must pay during the bankruptcy process. The other fees are: a credit counseling fee, paid before filing bankruptcy and is typically less than $50; attorney fees, which largely depend upon the bankruptcy chapter and the complexity of the case; and a personal financial management fee, paid after filing and is typically less than $50. The credit counseling and personal financial management requirements were instituted by Congress in 2005 as part of widespread changes to the Bankruptcy Code. Prior to the 2005 changes, the Chapter 7 filing fee was $209.

Despite the fee increase, bankruptcy remains an effective means to permanently rid yourself of burdensome debt. Many people are able to discharge all of their debts through bankruptcy. Others discharge unsecured debts, like medical bills and credit cards, while keeping their homes and vehicles. If you need debt relief, discuss your situation with an experienced attorney and learn how the federal bankruptcy laws can help.

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Even in today’s specialized legal world, there are still some “general practice” attorneys who work in many different areas of the law. A general practice attorney may represent clients in family law like divorces with little or no property, minor criminal issues, small land disputes, small probate estates, low dollar personal injury cases, and the like. While a general practice attorney can successfully represent clients in many legal matters, some areas of the law require a more specialized knowledge.

From the outside, a bankruptcy case seems like a simple process. You attend a couple education classes, there are standardized forms that are filled out, you pay a filing fee, and finally go to a meeting with the bankruptcy trustee. Simple, right? In some cases it is that easy, but don’t let bankruptcy’s streamlined process fool you.

Bankruptcy is a mixture of state and federal statutes, case law, procedural rules, and court and creditor customs. General practice attorneys are just not as familiar with these various rules and practices. An experienced bankruptcy attorney is also able to identify problem areas, like preferential payments to creditors or equity issues, which could have serious consequences to your bankruptcy case. Even the timing when a bankruptcy is filed can have consequences to your case. For instance, bankruptcy debtors lose their tax refund checks each year because they filed either too early or too late.

Hiring an experienced bankruptcy attorney ensures that your case will be filed correctly; that any potential trouble areas in your case will be identified and discussed before your case is filed; that you will be informed of how your case is progressing; and that you will be represented in all communications with creditors and the bankruptcy trustee. Hiring an experienced bankruptcy attorney gives you peace of mind knowing that your case is being handled correctly and competently.

Hiring experienced counsel to represent you has one more benefit – reputation. The local bankruptcy trustee and judge are familiar with your bankruptcy attorney. They have confidence that your petition and schedules are drafted correctly and that the attorney is representing the client ethically and competently. That confidence is not present with the general practice attorney. The trustee and judge are skeptical that the paperwork is correct and wonder what has been “overlooked.” Consequently, the case is scrutinized more than average.

If you are looking for an attorney to represent you in your bankruptcy case, hire someone who has devoted his or her practice to bankruptcy law. Your property and future financial success is too important to risk. Hire an experienced bankruptcy attorney and ensure that your fresh start is not a false start.
 

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Many American families rely on two incomes to pay the monthly bills and set a little aside as savings. When one income is unexpectedly reduced or eliminated, the family is thrust immediately into a crisis mode. Often there is not enough money to pay all of the family bills, so touch choices must be made.

The first thing to do is to be realistic and not overreact. It is important to use savings wisely during this time and to safeguard retirement. Spending these funds to maintain your lifestyle is not good financial management, and will have long-term consequences. In most cases a substantial amount of cash and all of your retirement funds can be protected if you need to file bankruptcy. Likewise, most assets are protected during bankruptcy, so it is not necessary to sell assets to pay creditors.

Second, prioritize your spending. This may mean eliminating or reducing certain “luxuries” like premium tv channels or inflated cell phone plans. Creditors must be prioritized also. For instance, it may be more important to pay the car payment instead of a medical bill. If you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, your secured creditors receive a higher priority than unsecured creditors. That means your home mortgage and car payment are paid before credit cards and medical bills. You keep the house and car while unsecured creditors receive little or nothing.

Third, understand the consequences of late payment and default. There may not be enough money to pay all of your creditors, so what happens if you don’t pay a bill? In some cases filing bankruptcy will actually help your credit over the long haul. Bankruptcy stops all creditor action, including negative reporting to the credit bureau. By filing bankruptcy you can avoid additional negative reports like late payments, default, charge-offs, repossession or foreclosure.

Whether to file bankruptcy after a job loss depends on a number of circumstances. The best advice is to consult an experienced bankruptcy attorney and discuss your financial options. Bankruptcy can help you reorganize your finances when there is not enough money to pay all creditors. Your attorney can help you prioritize your spending and protect your assets.
 

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September foreclosure filings fell 38% from one year ago, according to information released by RealtyTrac.com. This may seem like good news, but there is reason to believe that the foreclosure rate may soon increase.

First, the foreclosure process came under attack during the past year prompting many banks to slow or temporarily stop foreclosure proceedings. Banks and mortgage servicers have taken corrective actions over the past twelve months, and there is no evidence that previous sloppy practices are continuing. On the contrary, there is evidence that banks are being more cautious in dealing with foreclosures. The time the average foreclosure takes has increased to 336 days, up 18 days from the previous quarter.

Second, while the number of foreclosures is down for the year, the number of September foreclosure filings increased 6% from August. “This marginal increase in overall foreclosure activity was fueled by a 14% jump in new default notices, indicating that lenders are cautiously throwing more wood into the foreclosure fireplace after spending months spent trying to clear the chimney of sloppily filed foreclosures,” says RealtyTrac Chief Executive James Saccacio.
“While foreclosure activity in September and the third quarter continued to register well below levels from a year ago, there is evidence that this temporary downward trend is about to change direction, with foreclosure activity slowly beginning to ramp back up," Saccacio said in a statement.
If you find yourself unable to pay your mortgage and facing foreclosure, get professional help. An experienced bankruptcy attorney can provide you with options to catch up payments over three to five years, modify your existing mortgage, strip away an entirely unsecured junior lien, or even walk away from your house and the debt on your own terms.

Once a bankruptcy case is filed, the federal law stops all collection action – even foreclosure! Bankruptcy gives you a “breathing spell” to organize your finances and propose a plan to restructure your debt. In many cases debtors are able to save their homes while discharging thousands of dollars in unsecured debts, including credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills.

Don’t be another statistic! Get the information you need to make a sound financial decision regarding your home. Call an experienced attorney today and learn how the federal bankruptcy laws can help you!
 

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 The ancient world has many stories of the firebird, or phoenix. The phoenix is mythical bird of great beauty that lives a very long time. At the end of its life the phoenix builds a nest and then self-combusts, burning until it and the nest are reduced to ashes. Then, from the ashes arises a new, young phoenix, ready for a fresh start.

Bankruptcy can reduce your overwhelming debts to ashes and give you a new, fresh start.

Bankruptcy is a legal process that is presided over by a federal bankruptcy court judge. When you file a bankruptcy case all collection activity must cease while you restructure your finances. Any debt that you cannot afford to pay is legally discharged and that creditor can no longer collect from you. Bankruptcy is one of the most powerful legal protections available and can provide you with a bright new financial future.

Some people worry that by filing bankruptcy they have destroyed their future. No true! In fact, bankruptcy destroys the debt that is holding you back. In 1934 the U.S. Supreme Court made it clear that bankruptcy “gives to the honest but unfortunate debtor…a new opportunity in life and a clear field for future effort, unhampered by the pressure and discouragement of preexisting debt.”

So, what can you do with a new opportunity in life? Many debtors report that bankruptcy is the best decision they ever made. These “phoenixes” have legally eliminated or restructured their financial obligations and emerge from bankruptcy armed with a second chance. They are wiser, more experienced and determined to not repeat past mistakes. They go on to purchase homes and cars, obtain loans and credit cards, and responsibly manage their financial affairs.

Are you ready to be a bankruptcy phoenix? If so, consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney and discuss how the federal bankruptcy laws can help you. Your attorney can show you the path to a fresh start and a new opportunity in life.

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 The holiday season is fast approaching, so it is important to start making wise financial decisions if you are considering bankruptcy. Below are three areas that individuals can create problems just before filing bankruptcy. By avoiding these activities during the holidays, you can avoid trouble and make all your seasons bright!

First, avoid overspending. Financial problems can create mental and emotional stress which is only heightened during the holidays. For some this stress can become overwhelming and cause depression. Thoughts like, “Well, I’m going down anyway, so what does it matter?” can lead to an impulsive spending spree that makes matters worse in the long run. That spending spree may mean that you don’t have money to pay the electric bill or buy gas to get to work. Instead of overspending, give the gift of time with family and friends enjoying low-cost activities, or pamper yourself with a good book or rent a video to reduce stress.

Second, avoid using credit. Credit card spending immediately before bankruptcy is often not dischargeable, especially if the charges are for non-essential items. Likewise, cash advances from credit cards are often non-dischargeable. Use of any credit just before filing bankruptcy will be scrutinized by the creditor and possibly the bankruptcy trustee. Credit from credit card use, cash advances, payday loans, or any other source may land you in trouble, including criminal trouble, if you are insolvent when you take the loan and have no intention to repay the debt.

Finally, be careful about giving gifts to friends and family members. The holiday season is a time for giving, and normally being generous would be encouraged. Unfortunately, transfers of cash or property to friends or family can create problems in a subsequent bankruptcy case. Some common examples of high dollar property transfers that may cause a red flag include: transfer of title to a vehicle; gifts of jewelry, guns, or household items; and repaying personal loans to friends or family. Once the property is transferred, you can no longer protect it with bankruptcy exemptions, and the bankruptcy trustee may compel the turnover of the property for the benefit of your creditors.

Surviving the holiday season while preparing to file bankruptcy is stressful, but some find it strangely liberating. Once you decide to file, you may experience a sense of relief, knowing that your case is being handled by an experienced bankruptcy attorney and you are now on your way to solving your debt problems. The best advice is to seek the counsel of your attorney before making any transfer of property, using credit, or making any significant financial decision. This holiday season take the focus off of your debt, and put it on the people that you care about, including yourself!

 Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has announced that her office is preparing to file lawsuits against big banks that engaged in unlawful foreclosures. Massachusetts is the latest state to proceed with litigation, despite on-going negotiations between big banks and state and federal representatives to resolve allegations of unlawful foreclosure practices.
 

Banks are accused of cutting corners and unlawfully rushing through foreclosure paperwork. Federal and state officials recently met with representatives of several large U.S. banks to discuss an agreement that would resolve class action lawsuits in the federal courts and provide relief to struggling homeowners across the country. Discussions with some of the nation’s largest mortgage servicing agencies, including Bank of America Corp, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and Ally Financial, have been taking place for over one year. States are becoming impatient.

“I have lost confidence that the banks will bring to the table an agreement that properly holds them accountable for wrongful foreclosures,” Coakley said in a statement. She also said that her office has “begun preparing for litigation.” The announcement from Massachusetts comes on the heels of California’s withdrawal from negotiations, stating that the deal under discussion would not provide enough relief to homeowners.

If you are facing a foreclosure situation, it is important to discuss your rights and explore your options with an experienced attorney. The foreclosure process is a mixture of state laws and contract rights, and understanding the situation is your first step in resolving it to your benefit.

The federal bankruptcy law can be used to stop a foreclosure and give you an opportunity to repay a mortgage arrearage over three to five years, strip off an unsecured junior mortgage debt, or just simply give you time to walk away from your home. Filing bankruptcy will stop the foreclosure immediately and put you under the protection of the federal law.

Get help today by calling an experienced bankruptcy attorney. Bankruptcy can help you reclaim control over your debt situation and build a better financial future.

 The Washington Post recently reported that a Southern California debt collection firm has been shut down by the Federal Trade Commission for violating debtor harassment laws. What makes this story especially newsworthy is the outrageous accusations against the collection company, including threats against a family pet and digging up a corpse!

The FTC halted operations and froze the assets of a debt collection business that operated under a variety of names. The company’s owners are charged with violating the Federal Trade Commission Act and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The FTC alleges that a collector for the company unlawfully threatened a woman who owed money on her daughter’s funeral bill. She was told that they were going to dig up the body and hang her from a tree if she didn’t pay. She was also told that they would take her dog and eat it.

Federal laws protect consumers from these types of outrageous threats. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, is one federal law that protects against abusive collection practices by third party collectors. Third party collectors include collection agencies and collection attorneys. The FDCPA does not apply to business debts or to original creditors. The FDCPA prohibits certain abusive practices including:

* Telephone calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. (your time);
* Requesting payment beyond what is actually owed;
* Using abusive, profane or obscene language;
* Threatening legal action which is not permitted by law (e.g. criminal action);
* Telephone calls at work after being instructed that your employer prohibits phone calls
from debt collectors;
* Contacting you directly after being instructed that you are represented by an attorney

Hiring a bankruptcy attorney provides immediate relief from creditor harassment under the FDCPA, and all collection action must cease the instant you file a bankruptcy case. This protection lasts the duration of your bankruptcy and is replaced with the bankruptcy discharge at the end of your case. A creditor who violates these bankruptcy prohibitions can face a contempt of court charge in the federal bankruptcy court.

Don’t let creditor harassment overwhelm your life. Take charge by consulting an experienced bankruptcy attorney about your debt and learn how the federal and state laws can protect your property, your income, and your peace of mind.

 In 2005, Congress changed the Bankruptcy Code and added a means test to prevent wealthy debtors from filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. The means test is a calculation designed to identify debtors who can afford to pay some of their unsecured debts (for instance, credit card debt) and encourage repayment of these debts through a Chapter 13 repayment plan.

The test is composed of two parts: first, the debtor’s household income is compared to his state’s median income for a household of the same size. If the debtor’s income is less than his state’s median income, there is no other testing required. The debtor may file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case or a Chapter 13 case that may last between three to five years of repayment.

On the other hand, if the debtor’s household income is more than his state’s median income, the debtor is required to supply more information to complete the means test. The debtor must list expenses and financial obligations to determine whether there is money to repay unsecured creditors. In the end if there is enough money to pay a significant portion of the debtor’s unsecured debt, the debtor is ineligible to file a Chapter 7 case and a Chapter 13 case must last five years. Means test information and the current median income figures for each state can be obtained from the U.S. Trustee’s website.

Most bankruptcy debtors are below their state’s median income level for their household size. Many others are able to qualify for Chapter 7 after a skilled bankruptcy attorney has examined income information and made legal and allowed adjustments to the means test calculations. A skilled bankruptcy attorney can discuss options and strategies for qualifying for Chapter 7 bankruptcy under the means test, including timing aspects, income issues, and household number.

The means test is quite complex. Anyone considering bankruptcy with a significant income should consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney. You attorney can guide you through the means test to reach the best possible result.

 A Chapter 13 bankruptcy case is primarily used to repay all or some of a person’s debts. It is also known as a debt adjustment case, or a “wage earner's plan.” Chapter 13 can stop a foreclosure or repossession and allow the individual time to make payments over three to five years, often even over the objection of a creditor.

If you are behind on a mortgage or car loan and is unable to catch up, Chapter 13 bankruptcy will give you time to restructure your debts and sometimes change the interest rates on your loans. Some upside-down vehicle loans can be “crammed down,” meaning the obligation is reduced to the value of the vehicle, and then paid over three to five years. Second or third mortgage debts can also be stripped off, if the amount of the first mortgage is equal to or more than the value of the home.

Chapter 13 differentiates between three types of debts: first, priority debts, including most taxes and child support, must be paid in full. Second, secured debts, debts secured by collateral, must be paid with interest over the life of the plan, or surrendered back to the creditor. Finally, unsecured debts, like credit cards and medical bills, are paid in accordance with your financial ability. This may be as much as 100% or as little as 0%.

The main feature of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the repayment plan, which must be approved by the bankruptcy court. A Chapter 13 plan will propose a monthly payment to pay all or some creditors over three to five years. Once the bankruptcy court approves a Chapter 13 plan (called “confirmed” in bankruptcy lingo), the court will direct you to pay the bankruptcy trustee, who keeps a percentage as a fee and pays out the rest to the creditors in accordance with the plan.

There are monetary limits to the amount of unsecured and secured debts you can have in a Chapter 13, currently set at $360,475 in unsecured debts and $1,081,400 in secured debts. Debtor’s who exceed these limits are not eligible for Chapter 13 relief and should consider a Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy.

If you have a home or auto debt that you cannot afford, speak to an experienced bankruptcy attorney before a foreclosure or repossession. Your attorney can discuss your bankruptcy options and can give you the tools to decide whether it is feasible to keep your property, restructure your debts, or simply “walk away” and discharge your financial obligations.