Submitted by New Jersey Bankruptcy Lawyer, Lee M. Perlman A recent study from finance company Northwestern Mutual shows the average American now has $38,000 in debt, not including mortgages. Buzz60’s Sean Dowling has more. Buzz60 Originally published here by USAToday.com
The Automatic Stay and Passive Conduct
In a recent case a creditor was held liable for willfully violating the automatic stay of a debtor who had recently filed chapter 13 reorganization plan. The peculiar thing about this case is that the creditor violated the automatic stay through inaction rather than committing some type of act that would be a clear violation […]
Reaffirmation Agreements and how they Affect Your Property
In bankruptcy proceedings such as Chapter 7 liquidation, the debtor must often surrender certain property that is subject to a lien. However in such circumstances that property may be of paramount importance to the debtor and their continuing well-being. An example of such property would be the debtor’s automobile. Like most Americans today accomplishing your […]
Life Insurance Proceeds and Your Choice in Federal or State Exemptions
In a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, what generally occurs is that a debtor’s assets are liquidated and the proceeds of the sale go to the repayment of their creditors. However under both Federal Law and State Law a debtor can claim a number of exemptions based on the type of assets that are being liquidated. Under […]
Prior Tax Debt Could Burden a Debtor Post-Discharge
A recent case has left a debtor who has received a discharge pursuant to a Chapter 13 plan saddled with a significant amount of old tax debt. The Bankruptcy Court recently dismissed a debtors complaint and held that their tax debt was unaffected by the bankruptcy because “the lien was not addressed and treated in […]
Over a Million Are Denied Bank Accounts for Past Errors
A version of this article appeared in print on 07/31/2013, on page A1 of the NewYork edition with the headline: Million Denied Bank Accounts For Past Errors. Published originally in the New York Times. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times Tiffany Murrell, who had a $40 overdraft in 2010, was rejected repeatedly for an account. […]
Tips for Lowering Your Medical Bills
It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally you can catch a mistake on a restaurant check or a miscalculated receipt from the grocery store. Hospital bills, however, are another matter: as many as 8 out of 10 bills for health care services contain errors, according to Medical Billing Advocates of America. Since Americans spend nearly $7,000 […]
How to Fix a Credit-Report Error — Before It Bites Back
What you don’t know might hurt you. That is a key conclusion that jumps out from a recent Federal Trade Commission study on errors in credit reports, those all-important records that determine whether we get credit, what interest rates we pay and sometimes whether we get a job. In the FTC study, 262 of the […]
Lessons in Leasing a Car
What I Learned the Hard Way About Leasing a Car By MARC FRONS The Infiniti that the writer leased. The Internet is undoubtedly the great leveler between buyers and sellers. With a few clicks of a mouse or a swipe of your finger, you can comparison shop for items like consumer electronics and patio […]
Financially Strapped? There’s Help
Financially Strapped? There’s Help 80% of Americans on the East Coast identify money as a significant source of stress in their lives, according to the 2011 American Psychological Association, Stress in America Survey. And, while the economy, housing market, and job markets remain significant concerns for many, personal finances remain the most common concern for […]
