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

Clients have many questions during the initial appointment with a bankruptcy attorney.  The most common concerns are losing property, and rebuilding credit after the bankruptcy case is over.  Occasionally someone will ask a straight-forward question: “Will filing a bankruptcy ruin my life?”  This powerful and important question deserves a straight-forward answer:

No!

The bankruptcy laws are widely misunderstood by the average American.  The purpose of bankruptcy is to put overwhelming financial difficulties behind and give an honest person a fresh start.  Many Americans have taken advantage of a fresh start to improve their lives and have made tremendous contributions to our society.  Perhaps the best way to illustrate the power of bankruptcy’s fresh start is to look at some famous examples:

Actor Burt Reynolds filed for bankruptcy in 1996 after his divorce from Loni Anderson. He listed more than $10 million in debt, and his dinner theater in Jupiter, Florida, was foreclosed on and his ranch was sold.  Never one to quit, Reynolds continues to act in movies and television.  Burt Reynolds was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1997 film Boogie Nights and won a Golden Globe Award for the movie.

Named as one of Time Magazine's "100: The Most Important People of the Century," business titan Henry Ford didn't always have the Midas touch.  By 1901 Ford had unsuccessfully managed his first automobile company into bankruptcy.  Two years later he founded Ford Motor Company.

Walt Disney may have had vision, but he needed a second chance to make the Happiest Place on Earth a reality.  After his first film company failed, Disney filed bankruptcy in 1923.  Five years later Disney introduced the world to Mickey Mouse and the Disney empire was born.

In 1875 a young businessman saw his horseradish company go bankrupt.  Undeterred, the young man formed a new company in Pittsburgh, PA with his brother and cousin making ketchup.  That company was a success for H.J. Heinz and in 2007 the H.J. Heinz Company had over $10 billion in revenue.

Other famous people who have used the bankruptcy laws to help them recover from financial difficulty include: singer Willie Nelson, talk show host Larry King, actress Kim Basinger, and even billionaire Donald Trump!

Don’t let financial difficulty stand in the way of your dreams!  Bankruptcy will not ruin your life; it is a tool to help you build a better future for yourself and your family.

Many people hesitate to hire a bankruptcy attorney is because they think that it will be very expensive. In actuality, the fees involved are not high and can save you thousands in the long run.

Many attorneys are very flexible in helping you get started in your bankruptcy. The cost of attorney fees varies widely depending on the issue surrounding your personal bankruptcy case. Some individuals have a basic Chapter 7 case while others have a complex Chapter 13 case that includes a home loan and IRS debts.

What needs to be considered carefully is that when you have a skilled, experienced bankruptcy attorney representing you in your bankruptcy you can save money on issues such as:

·         Discharge of debts

·         Exemptions for second mortgages

·         Assistance in stopping creditors take collection action against your assets

Additionally, it is crucial that the bankruptcy forms are filled out appropriately so that the bankruptcy trustee will not object to your proposed payment plan or debts to be discharged in your petition.

For more information on how to get started with your bankruptcy petition and for a free bankruptcy consultation contact law firm, Fears | Nachawati, by calling toll free 1.866.705.7584 or by e-mailing info@fnlawfirm.com. 

For updated information on filing fees visit http://www.txnb.uscourts.gov/Clerks-Office/Filing-Fees.

You will be able to get a student loan after you file for bankruptcy, but you will have to wait until your bankruptcy is discharged. Depending on whether you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, it can be 6 months-5 years. For obvious reasons, a bankruptcy trustee will probably not allow you to take on new debt while your bankruptcy is pending.
The length of time you must wait also depends on the type of student loan you plan to apply for. In the case of government funded student loans, your credit history (including bankruptcy) is irrelevant. It may be more challenging you have to get private students loans, but not impossible by any means.

The ability to get student loans in the future should never be an impediment to your decision to file for bankruptcy. While an education is always best in the long run, you should carefully consider your current financial situation and what is in your best interest. When you file for bankruptcy you are erasing debts and able to start off fresh.

Contact bankruptcy law firm, Fears | Nachawati, toll free at 1.866.705.7584 or via e-mail at info@fnlawfirm.com to discuss your options for filing bankruptcy.

Currently mortgage modification is a very hot topic. It is being seen as an alternative to foreclosure or bankruptcy. Briefly, a loan modification is a process by which the bank modifies the terms of a borrower’s mortgage to lower the monthly payment. The bank can change a person’s interest rate, reduce the principal balance of the overall amount owed and extend the amount of time a person has to pay off the loan (up to 40-50 years). These are some of the ways in which the lender reduces a borrower’s monthly payment to an amount in which they can afford as opposed to foreclosing. Sounds simple enough but as many people find out, dealing with a mortgage servicer takes much time and patience. Most of the time, you will have a hard time reaching them or they will not return your call.

Without legal representation you are basically at the mercy of the mortgage holder. If you are having trouble with your mortgage, an attorney skilled in loan modifications can help:

• Lower your interest rate to a payment you can afford
• Stop foreclosure
• Obtain a principal forbearance
• Change the terms of an option ARM mortgage

If you are a resident of Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington, Garland, Rowlett, Mesquite and Plano contact bankruptcy law firm, Fears | Nachawati, toll free at 1.866.705.7584 or info@fnlawfirm.com for more information on home loan modifications.

Many people who are in over their heads with credit card debt are basically “Robbing Peter to pay Paul”. For example, many people who are out of work may be taking large cash advances to pay other debts. But in the end the credit card bill with the cash advance shows up and there is not enough money to pay it, so another credit card is used to pay that bill. It’s a merry go round that is very difficult to get off.

Many Dallas residents end up going through their savings account and putting themselves in heavy debt without realizing that they have a perfectly legal option such as filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Some of the advantages of filing for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy:

• You do not have to make payments to creditors
• Creditors can not take action against you (liens on paycheck or bank account)
• Harassing phone calls must stop immediately
• All debts will be discharged

If you are a resident of Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington, Garland, Rowlett, Mesquite and Plano, contact bankruptcy law firm, Fears | Nachawati, toll free at 1.866.705.7584 or info@fnlawfirm.com for more information how Chapter 7 can help you get a fresh start.

On May 22, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act.  This new legislation is intended to reform how

credit card companies deal with its customers. According to the White House,

”Just for starters, it bans unfair rate increases, prevents unfair fee traps, requires plain language in plain sight for disclosures, increases accountability all around, and institutes protections for students and young people.”

And while this is definitely a step in the right direction, it does not protect consumers who are in serious credit card debt at this moment. Most people are weighing basic necessities over paying a credit card bill. Even if you once had the recommended 6-month savings in your bank account, we have been in recession far longer than that.

In the meantime, the credit card bills continue to come, with late and over the limit fees for some. As a result, the bill does not get paid and the harassing phone calls and threats from the credit card companies begin to occur. If this is the case, filing for bankruptcy may be a good resolution to your credit card problems. It will help give you a fresh start and stop any collection actions by the credit card companies against your assets or paycheck.

If you are looking for a step in the right direction, contact bankruptcy law firm, Fears | Nachawati, toll free at 1.866.705.7584 or by e-mail at info@fnlawfirm.com 'for a free bankruptcy consultation.

Is your business turning a profit? Does it own any assets? Would you like to keep it running, or would you like to wrap it up? These are a few of the questions you should consider if you own a small business and are debating filing for bankruptcy.

If your goal is to keep the business in operation, you really need to look into a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy to relieve your budget and keep your doors open. If you’re ready to close up shop and want to move on with life, you should look in to filing a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy to give you a fresh start.

To talk with someone about the different options you have as a small business owner, contact Fears | Nachawati for a free consultation by calling toll free 1-866-705-7584 or e-mail info@fnalwfirm.com. 

MSN.com posted an article regarding 12 myths about bankruptcy and how bankruptcy can affect your possessions and credit.  Among some of the myths and misconceptions is that you will loose everything, you will never get credit again and that bankruptcy will improve your credit rating.  Of course these are in fact myths and the article provides explanations for each as well as other common misconceptions.  I believe it is a great article to read if you are debating the pros and cons for filing bankruptcy and need answers to some very common questions. 

The full article can be found here. 

If you believe bankruptcy might be the answer for you and want a fresh start then contact Fears | Nachawati for a free consultation via toll free at 1-866-705-7584 or via e-mail at info@fnlawfirm.com. 

Yes, bankruptcy can help you save your vehicle. When you file for bankruptcy in Fort Worth, you need to list all the property that you possess or is under your name. When you list the vehicle, it cannot be repossessed while the bankruptcy court trustee is reviewing your case. Depending on the type of bankruptcy you file for, Chapter 7 or 13, you may be allowed to keep the vehicle if you agree to make up any past due payments or continue making payments.

Other options include evaluating the equity in the vehicle and how much is owed on the vehicle. The bankruptcy trustee will not take the car if it has no equity. In the unusual case that there is equity, you may have other options as well. If you still owe money on the car, you can reaffirm the debt. Some jurisdictions don’t require that you reaffirm the debt but only that you continue to make the payments as agreed in the original contract.

A consultation with a Fort Worth bankruptcy attorney can help answer specific questions based on your circumstances.For a free bankruptcy consultation to learn more about protecting your vehicle and other assets through bankruptcy, contact a Tarrant County bankruptcy lawyer at Fears | Nachawati Law Firm by calling toll free at (866) 705-7584 or via e-mail at info@fnlawfirm.com. 

It is estimated that the average American has over $8,000 in credit card debt. It starts with one small purchase and before you know it you are using one card to pay another card off. If this sounds familiar, then filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be a great way for you to get out from under the mountain of credit card bills. When you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy practically all your credit card debts will disappear.

Additionally, all collection efforts from the credit card companies and other debts will stop. What this means is that no creditor can makes calls or take any type of action to collect on any past due bills. It also means that any liens on your bank account or wages will be lifted. To find out which debts can be waived under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it’s important for you to get in touch with an experienced Fort Worth/Tarrant area bankruptcy attorney to find out how you can start living a debt free life.

If you are feeling the stress of too many credit card bills and not enough money to pay them, then bankruptcy may be an option for you.  For a free bankruptcy consultation contact Fears | Nachawati Law Firm, (866) 705-7584.