How Long Does A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Take in Thousand Oaks?

Asset Protection, Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Procedure, Pre-Bankruptcy Planning
How Long Does A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Take in Thousand Oaks?

My clients often ask: how long does a Chapter 7 bankruptcy take? The short answer: it depends. It depends on how quickly the client organizes their information and documents; it depends on whether it makes sense to postpone filing to protect some assets that would be otherwise taken; and it depends on the Bankruptcy Trustee. I rarely have a bankruptcy take less than 4 months or longer than 8 months. The average is 5-6 months. Read more »

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Basics

Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Procedure
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Basics

For individuals (rather than businesses), there are two types of bankruptcy. Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows debtors to wipe out most existing debt, but there are strict income thresholds to qualify. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a debt repayment agreement for higher-income people, that may or may not result in some of their debt being discharged at the end of the five year repayment plan.  This blog overviews the basics of Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy. Read more>>

How Can Interest Accrue on Closed Credit Cards?

Bankruptcy, Debt
How Can Interest Accrue on Closed Credit Cards?

I have many bankruptcy/debt management clients whose credit cards have been closed, and they’re listed as closed on their credit report, but interest and late penalties keep getting tacked onto the balances due month after month. Huh? How is that even possible? I know it seems counterintuitive – that the credit card account is listed as “closed” but its outstanding balance keeps increasing. But it’s not. Read more>>

The Turnip Defense As A Substitute for Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy
The Turnip Defense As A Substitute for Bankruptcy

A common strategy for dealing with unmanageable debt is to file bankruptcy. Yet some people don’t have enough money to file bankruptcy. I don’t mean that they can’t afford to pay me (although that happens too), but that their life and financial situations combine in a way that bankruptcy makes no sense. But the turnip defense does. Read more>>