Among the eligibility requirements to file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, the Means Test is used to determine whether or not a debtor has the resources available to satisfy their financial obligations. When a debtor fails to satisfy the requirements of the Means Test, they have the option of filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead. However, there are exceptions to the Means Test which provide certain debtors the option of filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy despite having too high of income. If the majority of your debts are non-consumer debts, you are a disabled veteran, or you are a military Reservists/Guardsmen, you may qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy regardless of your income.

At Kain & Scott our MN Bankruptcy Lawyers process is all about you. We want to help you in two amazing ways: get rid of your debt and help you repair your credit after bankruptcy. Our process is entirely focused on treating you the way you deserve to be treated.

The Automatic Stay in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is an invisible wall that keeps your creditors from collecting against you during the pendency of the bankruptcy. In rare circumstances, creditors are able to navigate the automatic stay and still act on the debts that you owe. Most of the time, creditors cease collection action once a debtor has filed bankruptcy. In this blog, we address what the automatic stay, what the automatic stay isn’t, and the benefits debtors receive once their bankruptcy has been filed.

If you’re considering filing bankruptcy and live in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, you’ve come to the right place. The decision to file bankruptcy is life-changing. You want to make sure you have as much information at your fingertips when contemplating the pros and cons of filing bankruptcy.

Struggling with overwhelming debt? If the answer is yes, you know the impact debt can have on your health. Debt is often accompanied with stress, anger, denial, and depression. Debt can also be accompanied by relief. In order to feel the relief associated with debt you have to take the necessary steps to overcome the underlying problem. One of the most effective ways of doing so it to file bankruptcy. Bankruptcy can provide relief by eliminating overwhelming debt in a matter of a few short months.

Are you one of the 44.2 million Americans with student loan debt? If so, you completely understand the enormous strain student loan debt causes to your financial well-being. For individuals between the ages of 20-30, the average monthly student loan payment is $351. $351 over the course of 12 months comes out to $4,212.

Overwhelming debt causes stress, relationship issues, and sleepless nights. Bankruptcy can help resolve all of this. Let’s face it, nobody wants to file bankruptcy, but instead of focusing on the negative, let’s focus on how we go about solving the problem in front of you. Whether you have been struggling with overwhelming debt for five years or five months, bankruptcy may be a great option to help you get your life back.

1. What is Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is also known as the “fresh start” bankruptcy. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy provides debtors (an individual who files bankruptcy) with the opportunity to escape liability on certain types of secured and unsecured debts. Upon successfully receiving a discharge, debtors are no longer liable for money owed on most debts.

Operating as a Sole Proprietor can be exciting and stressful at the same time. One of the biggest reasons it can be stressful is because you are personally liable for what happens. Unlike having an LLC, corporation, or partnership, you are personally on the hook for anything that happens. When debts become due, creditors can come after you directly to collect.

No matter which of our eight Law Firms you decide to visit, we guarantee you receive the most professional and polite treatment around. As we have said for many years: we don’t judge you, we help you get your life back. This is much more than a tagline. We truly believe in helping you get your life back. Let’s unpack what exactly “we help you get your life back” means.

Now that you’ve decided to file bankruptcy, there are a few things you want to make sure you stop doing. You need to stop using credit cards, stop paying off certain debts, and stop transferring property. This is not an exhaustive list, of course, but when in doubt, discuss any concerns you have with your MN Bankruptcy Attorney.

Honesty between you and your attorney is paramount when disclosing information about your estate. As Dr. Kent M. Keith says in his book Anyway: Paradoxical Commandments for Christians, “Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyways”.

If you’re reading this blog, it’s likely you were kind enough to co-sign on a debt with someone, but that certain someone fell behind on payments. Since they fell behind on their payments, it’s likely the creditor is trying to collect the debt from you. If you’re experiencing this, don’t worry. We can certainly help you.

If you’re grappling with your finances and trying to stay afloat, it’s quite possible you have fallen behind on your utility bills. Well, if you have, you’re certainly not alone. When you’re living paycheck to paycheck, it’s tough deciding which bills you pay and which ones you don’t. Often times you take turns paying your debts. If you’ve fallen behind on utilities, don’t worry. When you file for bankruptcy we can make sure you’re protected from the past due amounts that are owed. After the bankruptcy, there may be a few things you have to do to keep your services, but we’ll talk about that too. The main thing I want you to know is, it’s all going to be ok. No matter what you’re faced with, we can help you manage the obstacles in front of you. Take a look at the scenario below and then read about how the MN Bankruptcy Attorneys at Kain & Scott helped Tony with his situation.

First, let me tell you a little bit about Nickie. In one word – Wow! She is an extremely impressive, hardworking, mother. She works three jobs and has a teenage daughter at home. Can you imagine having to work three jobs, raise a teenager by yourself, and still pay off your debts?! Yikes! Despite Nickie’s tenacity, she fell victim to overwhelming debt. She made every effort to pay off her debts, but finally reached “the point”. If you reach “the point” when it comes to your debt, you’ll know exactly what I’m referring to. Nickie started receiving court summons in the mail that eventually turned into judgments. As she knows, the next step is wage/bank garnishment. Once that happens, the creditors will start taking up to 25% of her paychecks. Our MN Bankruptcy Attorneys simply could not let this happen.

Recently, a man Mike approached our experienced MN Bankruptcy Attorneys at Kain & Scott with concerns about his paychecks being garnished. No fault of his own, Mike fell severely behind on medical bills after having surgery about a year ago. Because of the type of surgery, Mike has been unable to work a full 40 hour week since. Before the surgery Mike was an experienced electrician making very good money. Unfortunately, his surgery has prevented him from performing his trade as he once did. Since the surgery, Mike has only been able to earn about 30% of what he once did.