Get free answers to your legal questions from lawyers in your area.
Sorry for all the abbreviations above. I tried to get in the essentials as I am not sure if you see this part. I am in LA. & have a 403b worth apx 1OK. I have a loan against it for 1/2 value (5K). I am filing chap7 pro se. It IS a protected asset, but I am not sure about the loan AGAINST it.... View More
answered on Nov 7, 2019
Your retirement loan isn't a debt that you would list in the bankruptcy, because it's money you owe yourself. The consequence of not paying it is that it can be treated as a taxable retirement disbursement.
answered on Oct 18, 2019
I presume this is a continuation of a question about a car accident settlement. The answer is the same - you need to amend your petitions and schedules and inform the trustee about the claim. The situation is somewhat better if you haven't settled yet, because the trustee still has a chance to... View More
Will the bankruptcy affect my settlement?
answered on Oct 18, 2019
If the car accident took place before the bankruptcy, your claim became part of the bankruptcy estate and it technically wasn't yours to settle. If you have a bankruptcy attorney, you should bring this up with him or her. If you don't, you should definitely get one right away because... View More
Hello, i was wondering if I could file chapter 7 in the state of Georgia as an independent or single person family household income separate from my family. I am 27, living at home, I do pay for all my own bills and make under the medium household income in the State of GA, which is around 40k and... View More
answered on Oct 17, 2019
There are multiple interpretations of what constitutes a "household" for means testing purposes. Some judges will simply count how many people are living in the domicile, others will just look at your dependants, while others will try and figure out who's part of your "financial... View More
answered on Sep 26, 2019
You'll need to talk to your attorney (or get one if you don't already have one. In many jurisdictions, but not necessarily MI, the first step would be to bifurcate (split in two) your chapter 13 case. Then you and your wife have separate cases. At that point, your attorney can seek to... View More
answered on Sep 10, 2019
Depends on what type of service. If it's a utility, like Xcel, they can require a deposit. If it's a cable provider or a gym, they don't have to let you open a new account. If I were representing the creditor, I'd probably advise against bringing up the old debt in the... View More
I need step by step instructions to file it and can it be done online
answered on Sep 6, 2019
It sounds like you may need a Chapter 13, which you really shouldn't file without the assistance of an attorney because there are too many moving parts. Consult this site for information about finding "legal services providers in your area who may be able to assist you with your legal... View More
I did not know about a medical bill until today. My chapter 7 bankruptcy was discharged about 5 years ago. I listed all known bills when I filed. Do I have to pay the bill?
answered on Aug 30, 2019
In some states, debts can be discharged even if they're not listed. I would check with a bankruptcy attorney in Utah to find out whether that's the case there. That said, simply sending a copy of your discharge order to creditors tends to make many of them back off, even if they weren't listed.
answered on Aug 26, 2019
This is going to come down to the judge in your case. Some judges don't believe that they have the authority to approve a reaffirmation after your debts have been discharged. Ask your lawyer to find out whether this is the case before you spend the money to reopen (there's a court fee).
Amount owed is "allegedly" about $40,000. No written contract and no agreement on how to pay the funds back was ever discussed.
answered on Aug 20, 2019
The bankruptcy trustee steps into the shoes of the Debtor. This means the trustee can sue you for the money. Whether or not he or she does so will depend on whether the Debtor discloses the claim, which he or she must, and whether the trustee thinks he or she could prevail in a suit against you.
answered on Aug 20, 2019
I believe that this question stems from an earlier one about whether you should move money from your bank account to an IRA prior to filing bankruptcy. There is no question that funds held in an IRA are subject to both federal and state exemptions. My point was that the act of converting a... View More
I am considering bankruptcy next year and have money in the bank , should I move the money to an IRA account prior to filing ? I did speak with an attorney and was told IRA's are exempt.
answered on Aug 20, 2019
No, you shouldn't make any moves like this without first consulting a local bankruptcy attorney. Pre-bankruptcy asset planning is tricky and shouldn't be done without a full understanding of the risks. Certain activities including moving money around can be avoided by the trustee and put... View More
answered on Aug 15, 2019
In bankruptcy, you get to retain any assets which are covered by state and federal exemptions. The key to determining whether your home will be safe in bankruptcy is determining how much equity you have in your home (the home's value less any mortgages, liens, etc.) and how much equity your... View More
I’m having health issues that may cause me to have to quit my job and start disability. This would make it impossible for me to pay my chapter 13 plan and afford to live. Would I be eligible for some type of hardship discharge even though it’s only been 3 years since my chapter 7 discharge if I... View More
answered on Jul 29, 2019
The relevant dates are the filing dates of your two cases. If your 13 was filled it least 4 years after your 7 was filed, you might be able to get a hardship discharge in the current case. If your 13 was filed within 4 years of the Ch. 7 filing, you won't get a discharge in this case.... View More
I am not a joint card holder. My name is no where on the account. They just helped me out when I was having money issues and I agreed to pay a monthly amount until the balance was paid off. Now, there is no balance and they keep taking my money even though they no longer owe the amount.
answered on Jul 25, 2019
I'm sorry, your question it's a little vague so this might not be what you're asking. If you're a joint account holder on the card, your liability isn't discharged by your co-debtor's bankruptcy. This means that they can come after you if you stop paying.
answered on Jul 18, 2019
I suspect that they want the credit card paid because it's showing an outstanding balance. Your father may want to consider figuring out which credit report is still showing the outstanding balance and file a dispute so the card shows as discharged in bankruptcy. Once the balance is resolved,... View More
that could potentially affect my credit. Both parents died in 2017 with NO wills. They both have massive amounts of medical debt and there is a mortgage on the home. I'd prefer not to move from the home and am named as an heir by the mortgage company (and named resident) and am contemplating... View More
answered on Jul 16, 2019
I strongly suggest you speak with an experienced probate lawyer in your area. While you can pay the mortgage and get it caught up to avoid the foreclosure, the bigger issue is the question of how you get this home in your name. You'll have to administer your parents' estates to make this... View More
I filed chapter 7 in 2008
My lawyer was supposed to remove my car off of it. I refinanced car right after bankruptcy. In 2011 I got beside on payments. Then the bank comes back and said I filed bankruptcy on it so I gave it back to them. A few months ago the sent me a letter saying they... View More
answered on Jul 8, 2019
Please correct me if I've misunderstood, but in your question you indicated that you filed bankruptcy in 2008, but then refinanced the car in 2011. If the refinance took place after the bankruptcy, that's new debt which isn't included in the 2008 case. As such the creditors are... View More
i am 36 yr old woman went to carlot alone & got talked into getting a car thats worth 10,000 for 18,000. i havent had the car 7mo dont wont to buy do i need to file bankruptcy or am i stuck or what?
answered on Jul 8, 2019
A bankruptcy can be a useful tool in this situation. You could discharge the debt in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and surrender the car. Alternatively, you might be able to get a redemption loan to pay off the vehicle through the bankruptcy for its fair market value. Talk to a local bankruptcy attorney... View More
I am still legally married. We have lived separately for well over 4 years. I would like to file bankruptcy. I've been told that in order to do so that we both would have to file. He doesn't want to. I need an idea of where to start. Should I start the divorce first or is there a way to... View More
answered on Jul 3, 2019
There's no reason your spouse needs to file bankruptcy with you. Even if you were living together, you could file bankruptcy without him.
As to the question of whether you should file the bankruptcy before or after the divorce, opinions vary and you'll want to talk to a local... View More
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.