Category Archives: Practical tips

What if you file for bankruptcy, and discover assets you didn’t even knew you had?

By doug | Published: April 24, 2012

Have you ever spent the weekend cleaning out the garage? If so, you probably end up amazed at the amount of stuff you have accumulated over the years. There’s a good chance that you have more assets than you realize that aren’t cluttering up the garage, too. And if you are going to file for […]

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Should you go into bankruptcy to cram down your car loan?

By doug | Published: April 2, 2012

Think about this scenario for a minute: Things haven’t been going well lately, and debts are pressing on you. Bankruptcy may be an option, not your first choice to be sure, but its out there, and the bills collectors have been closing in fast. You have an older car you bought a few years ago […]

Also posted in Chapter 13, Secured loans | Comments closed

Should you file for bankruptcy while you are unemployed?

By doug | Published: March 22, 2012

If you have lost your job and are collecting unemployment, is this a good time to file a bankruptcy case to eliminate the debts? A long time ago when I was starting as a lawyer, it was unusual to see unemployed folks filing cases. It costs some money to file, of course, and that money […]

Also posted in Means Test | Comments closed

Electronic filing and the bankruptcy courts: you better know what you’re doing!

By doug | Published: March 14, 2012

Since 2003, the bankruptcy courts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire have required cases to be filed over the internet using the court’s own “Case Management / Electronic Case Filing” system. CM/ECF, as its known, was adopted a little earlier in some other states, and a bit later in others. Nowadays, it is in use coast-to-coast […]

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Selling a house while you are in bankruptcy

By doug | Published: March 13, 2012

What happens if you file a bankruptcy case, and then afterwards suddenly find the perfect buyer (i.e. one who can get financing and will actually go through with the purchase) for your home? A lot will depend on what chapter your case is filed under. If its a Chapter 7, like the majority of cases, […]

Also posted in Real estate, The Bankruptcy Code | Comments closed

Gimme shelter: finding a place to live after filing a bankruptcy case

By doug | Published: March 12, 2012

The advantages of filing for bankruptcy — a clean slate, no more annoying debt collectors or court appearances — would be worthless if bankruptcy meant you ended up sleeping in a gutter. Fortunately, that sort of ending is virtually unheard of. There are so many people filing recently in the Merrimack Valley that any stigma […]

Also posted in Real estate | Comments closed

Massachusetts debt collection has its limits

By doug | Published: March 8, 2012

Did you know that in Massachusetts, debt collectors are not allowed to make unlimited phone calls in order to collect on a past due bill? Under regulations put out by the Massachusetts Division of Banks, third party debt collection firms can only call you two times in a seven day period on your home phone. […]

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More cheap bankruptcy courses — take the “second course” for $11

By doug | Published: March 2, 2012

Consumers filing bankruptcy cases need to take two courses before they can get a discharge. Lately the price of these courses, which are given by various “non-profit” firms has been dropping; so long as the quality of customer service stays the same (or at least is tolerable), the consumer debtor benefits. A little while ago […]

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The age of the $5 bankruptcy credit counseling course is here

By doug | Published: February 27, 2012

If you are looking to file a bankruptcy case, it won’t be long before you find out that you must complete an approved credit counseling session before you file. Completing the session will result in a certificate being issued that must be attached to your bankruptcy filing. Married couples can attend a single session and […]

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Tied down by liens? What the bankruptcy code can do about it

By doug | Published: February 16, 2012

Tied down by liens on your property? If your financial situation has deteriorated to the point where you would consider filing a bankruptcy case, take heart. In some cases, the liens can be eliminated as part of the case. But there are rules and limits to this. The first method of getting rid of liens […]

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