Declaring bankruptcy doesn’t immediately discharge your debts. In fact, bankruptcy court can take months or, in some cases, even a year or more to fully go through your finances and discharge debt. In the meantime, you still have bills piling up. However, the good news is that some of these bills fall under an automatic... read more
Many people have family heirlooms that they have inherited from their parents or grandparents. Some of these items may have been in your family for generations and hold significant sentimental value, if not actual monetary value. Even those that aren’t as old, such as a piece of jewelry your grandmother owned, may be considered valuable... read more
If you’re thinking about filing for bankruptcy, there are a number of things you should not do in the coming months. Making these mistakes can make your bankruptcy case more complicated, even if you do them without any malicious intent. Don’t Give Away Property or Large Amounts of Money The bankruptcy court doesn’t just look... read more
If you declare bankruptcy, will that affect your tax return in any way? The answer is yes, it will have an impact on your taxes. The type of bankruptcy you file for will determine what happens with your taxes, especially if you receive a refund. You Must File Taxes While in the Bankruptcy Process First,... read more
One common question people have is whether or not the executor of an estate can disregard your Will and do whatever they want with the assets. Fortunately, there are some safeguards in place to prevent this. However, it’s important to understand the legal responsibilities of an executor and how they apply to an estate. They... read more
If you’ve decided to file bankruptcy, you’ve likely already looked over your options. For individuals, the most common options are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. There are differences between these two options, including how debt is handled. Bankruptcy doesn’t simply wipe away all of your debts. If you’re filing for Chapter 7, there are some... read more
You can leave assets to your heirs in two different ways: through a will and through a trust. Both have their pros and cons, and neither is inheritably better than the other. If you’re beginning the estate planning process, it’s important to understand how these two options differ so you can determine which one works... read more
Filing for Chapter 13 can save you financially. However, like with any bankruptcy tool, you do need to make certain you’re using it correctly. There are some disadvantages to Chapter 13, and sometimes, those disadvantages do outweigh the advantages. If you’re considering bankruptcy, here are some of the disadvantages of Chapter 13 bankruptcy you need... read more
There are a number of different types of trust funds you can create to leave assets to your heirs. One of the more limited types of trusts is called a spendthrift trust. This type of trust does not give the beneficiary direct access to any of the money in the trust. Instead, the trust pays... read more
Bankruptcy can be a great tool for handling financial hardship and giving you the fresh start you need. However, most people who file for bankruptcy don’t do so at the right time. This means that while they do benefit from bankruptcy, they don’t get all of its benefits. How do you determine when to file... read more