Category Archives: Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

How Much Equity Is Too Much For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

Most clients who call seeking chapter 7 bankruptcy relief do not have significant equity in their real estate. In fact, most clients who call today have no equity in their real estate. Since the real estate market plummeted several years ago, most clients are in a situation where they owe more on the property than […]

Secured Creditors In Bankruptcy

There are secured creditors that must be treated a certain way in a bankruptcy case.  The transcription below touches the surface on what a secured creditor is and what types of decisions have to be made with regard to those secured creditors. Jesse Barrientes: You said there were secured and unsecured creditors.  So then unsecured creditor […]

How Often Can You File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

There are specific time restrictions on when you can file certain bankruptcy cases.  For Chapter 7, you can only receive a discharge of certain debts every eight years.  There are also complex rules for filing Chapter 13 subsequently to a Chapter 7.  In the video below, we talk about Chapter 7 in particular and how […]

Is My Life Insurance Policy Protected IF I File Bankruptcy?

Protecting Life Insurance When filing a chapter 7 bankruptcy, you are allowed to protect a certain amount of personal property. One of those items of personal property is life insurance. Life insurance is treated two different ways when filing bankruptcy. The first involves term life insurance. Term life insurance provides for a death benefit. What […]

Bankruptcy Filing & Your Utility Services Such As ComEd

Chicago clients are concerned about utility bills and how a bankruptcy filing affects their services. They are happy to know that they can get service to continue to or have it turned back on if it was disconnected. The video below talks about ComEd in particular, but it applies to gas service and telephone service […]

What Debts Are Eliminated With Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

The typical debts that are eliminated with Chapter 7 bankruptcy include credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and more.  The transcription and video below explain what is eliminated in greater detail. Jesse Barrientes:   What debts are typically eliminated with the Chapter 7? David Siegel: Well, a Chapter 7 is going to eliminate typical unsecured debt such […]

Filing Bankruptcy And The Creation Of The Automatic Stay

The automatic stay in the most powerful tool when filing bankruptcy. The automatic stay provides a shield of protection against most collection efforts. In the video below, we discuss just how powerful the stay is when filing a bankruptcy case. David Siegel: Let’s talk about what’s created the minute a bankruptcy case under Chapter 7 […]

Your Monthly Income Is A Factor In Qualifying For A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

There are income qualifications for filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  If you are over the median for your state then you are subject to a means test.  If it is determined that you have the ability to pay back at least 25% over the next three to five years, then you will not qualify for Chapter […]