Every year, thousands of Americans file for bankruptcy for good reason: bankruptcy can be a useful way to erase your debt and get a fresh start. Despite the benefits of bankruptcy, many Minneapolis residents aren’t sure what steps they need to take to erase their debt or how fast and easy filing for bankruptcy can be with Lifeback Law.

Answering the question, “When should I file for bankruptcy” is a difficult thing to do when you are immersed in the overwhelming stress caused by debt. Worrying about how you will pay your bills and take care of your family, while dealing with aggressive debt collectors and threatening lawsuits, can quickly take its toll. This is precisely when you should meet with an experienced bankruptcy attorney. Doing so before things get out of hand and you are tempted to do something drastic will payoff in the long run.

When I meet with clients who are facing financial difficulty, I tell them that the first thing we have to decide is if they need to do something to resolve their debt issues, other than just using the same debt reduction strategies that they’ve been using up until the time we met. For the vast majority of the people I meet with, the answer to that question is yes - the reason they are in my office is that they don’t see a good financial outcome by maintaining the status quo.

Are you tired of creditors pulling the strings on your finances? Do you wish you could cut the strings from your debt and improve your credit score, but don’t know how? Puppet shows are a universal children’s favorite: the bright lights, colorful scenery, and whimsical puppets delight audiences in Minnesota and beyond.

Last week I wrote about the Requirements to File a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Case. I wrote who (or what) can file chapter 7 case, the means testing requirement involved in chapter 7 cases, and the requirement that a chapter 7 debtor have a credit counseling briefing prior to filing a chapter 7 case. This week, I will look at the question that, while it does not come up often, can be quite important in the few cases where it is an issue: the venue of the bankruptcy case. Then I will write about what a chapter 7 debtor has to do to obtain a discharge.

Here we will discuss what a Summons is and what you can do to protect yourself now that you’ve received one. Receiving a Summons can be terrifying, especially if this is unfamiliar territory.

The clients with whom I meet to discuss filing bankruptcy come in all ages, and genders. Some of my clients are very low-income wage earners; others have fairly high salaries. But my clients have one thing in common: they haven’t had very much good luck financially. For many of these people, filing a bankruptcy case, whether under chapter 7 or chapter 13, is the best option they have to resolve their financial issues. For a small percentage of these people who file bankruptcy cases, the years of bad luck that they experienced prior to filing is changed suddenly when they learn that they will inherit money or property from a deceased loved-one’s estate.

I know, it’s hard to know who to trust in a field full of companies peddling debt solution services and lawyers offering bankruptcies. When you start to research who to hire it is easy to get confused and overwhelmed. However, what if I told you there are about 5 criteria you should always consider when hiring a Bankruptcy Lawyer? It’s true, choosing a bankruptcy lawyer to hire in Minnesota is easy as looking at 5 criteria.

Are you sweating your unpaid debt? Are creditors turning up the heat and you need a fast and easy way to freeze your debt for good? As St Paul’s summer heat reaches its prime and the sweltering temperatures of August set in, there are tips to “beat the heat” everywhere you turn. From dips in the local pool to shaved ice binges, there are countless ways for Minnesota residents to cool off once the heat index rises.

When a Minnesota resident is looking into Bankruptcy, you have a wide variety of choices amongst lawyers and bankruptcy preparer vendors. The spectrum of services provided range dramatically. Remember only Lawyers can dispense legal advice. So calling the paralegal service on a park bench is probably not the best move. They cannot give you ANY legal advice. Why? They are not lawyers. If they do give you legal advice without a law license, they are committing a crime- the unauthorized practice of law.

If you’re under water on a second mortgage, you may be in luck. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy provides two options for solving this issue. Those two options are referred to as lien strip and cramdown. Both options can be advantageous to the property owner who has real estate valued at less than the amount owed on a first mortgage. These options are provided for under the law to promote property ownership while protecting individuals from overwhelming debt. Depending on your situation, one option may be more beneficial than the other. Ultimately, the question comes down to whether or not the property is your homestead.

When you make the decision to file for bankruptcy in Minnesota, you are making the decision to erase your debts and change your life for good. But knowing which type of bankruptcy to file – Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 – can be confusing. Each type has the power to erase your debts and which is right for you is determined by your unique financial situation.

You’ve taken a major step in regaining your financial freedom by filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Congratulations on being well on your way to becoming free from debt!