Author Archives: David M. Siegel

When Filing Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Make A Good-Faith Effort To Succeed

I have noticed a rush of Chapter 13 filings lately that never make it past the starting gate. The client gets the relief of the automatic stay, but not for very long. It seems that lately there is a lack of sincerity with regard to Chapter 13 filings. This trend is counterproductive to realizing the […]

Bankruptcy Exemption For Personal Bodily Injury Applies In Illinois

Sometimes a debtor’s rights in bankruptcy get affected by an overly aggressive Trustee.  The Trustee gets a fee and a percentage of any assets administered.  The debtor is seeking to keep any and all of his assets free and clear from the long arm of the Trustee.  This blog today deals with the personal injury […]

Reaffirming On Your Auto Loan Through Chapter 7

The Reaffirmation Agreement Over 90% of the Chapter 7 debtors that I assist with auto loans choose to keep that auto while filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This is done through the signing of a reaffirmation agreement which is prepared and provided by the auto lender. The agreement is rather lengthy and filled with unnecessary […]

Attorney Fee Concept Often Difficult For Clients To Grasp

As these economic times get tougher and tougher for debtors, I am confronted on a weekly and sometimes daily basis regarding their plight. In the most recent case, a debtor was having a difficult time making his rent payment and was concerned about being evicted. He then remembered that he had hired an attorney four […]

When You Can No Longer Afford Your Chapter 13 Plan Payment

Plan Payment Problems A common problem that happens in a chapter 13 bankruptcy case is the inability to continue to make plan payments. This inability to make the plan payment can happen for a variety of reasons. The most common reasons are job loss, illness, injury, divorce, and other catastrophic events. Just recently, a couple […]

Proof Of Income Is Critical To Filing Bankruptcy

Income Whether you are eligible to file under a particular chapter of the bankruptcy code is dependent upon a number of factors. One of the most critical factors is whether or not you qualify based on income. Income is calculated based upon all sources for one part of the bankruptcy petition, yet not necessarily included […]