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.

You already know you need to file bankruptcy, the question is which one. You have summoned the courage and anxiety to deal with the debt problem for good and move on with your life. At Kain & Scott, we are very proud of you! Most of our Duluth, Minnesota guests, once they get past this, wish they would have reached this point much earlier.

I am high anxiety. That is the way my brain is wired. I can’t help it and neither can anyone else with anxiety for that matter. Most of our MN Bankruptcy Attorneys guests who face overwhelming debt are stressed beyond belief and struggle to pay debt for a really long time. And then, one day, you sit and you think- what am I doing?

You have summoned the courage and the anxiety to face your debts. You are proud of yourself for facing your fear and challenging yourself to let go long enough to go through the bankruptcy process and get rid of your debt. And you did it! I can’t tell you how proud you should be of yourself for shedding your debt and moving on with your life.

Many people have misconceptions about bankruptcy and what it is designed for. Let’s shed some light on two aspects of bankruptcy. First, how bankruptcy protects us from malicious credit and debt collection harassment. Second, what a powerful financial tool bankruptcy can be to help you get your life back.

Bankruptcy is a subject most people want to avoid - people want to avoid the stress of having to deal with unmanageable debt. Bankruptcy is often treated as a taboo subject - only our closest friends and relatives know about our financial affairs, and there's usually an even smaller circle of people who know about our financial struggles.

Bankruptcy is a vital financial tool many that Minnesotans turn to each year for debt restructuring and debt elimination. However, it is not right for everyone’s situation. Because of the complexity surrounding bankruptcy law and the legal process involved, we advise anyone considering bankruptcy to look into the matter with an experienced MN Bankruptcy Lawyer. In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at some of the key things you must consider. It is important to understand that not all debts can be eliminated with bankruptcy. Also, not all individuals will qualify for Chapter 7 or liquidation bankruptcy. So let’s take a look at what bankruptcy can and can’t do in general terms.

At Kain & Scott, our firm helps hundreds of Minnesotans each year recover from many different types of unmanageable financial problems. When you’re drowning in debt, you don’t need to continue to struggle. Look to a professional, kind and helpful MN Bankruptcy Lawyer who understands your needs and is able to help. Each day that we put off resolving our overwhelming debt problems we are impacted negatively in a variety of ways - especially our credit rating, which is an essential financial tool for many of us. When your debts are piling up, you need help now. Here are some tips our staff has put together to aid you along the way and get you the help you need fast!

There is a stigma surrounding the topic of bankruptcy that makes it a “hush-hush” topic for many people. More often than not, clients come to the Bankruptcy Lawyers at Kain & Scott after trying their hardest to avoid filing bankruptcy. It isn’t like the court is going to stamp the word “BANKRUPTCY” on your forehead, but for many it can feel that way. The hardest part in filing bankruptcy is often accepting that bankruptcy may be the best solution to your overwhelming debt. What people should realize, is that bankruptcy doesn’t have a look, a lifestyle, a gender, an income, or a one-size-fits-all story. Bankruptcy is a single solution to an infinite number of problems for a diverse range of people.

Thinking about whether or not to file Chapter 7 Bankruptcy often takes our guests some time to think about. They, of course, want to deliberate and let it sink in and make sure it makes the most sense for themselves and their family.

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.

If there is one aspect that scares most people about a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy it is the prospect of losing assets when you file bankruptcy. Is it obvious that no one wants to lose assets? Yes, that should be obvious. When you are down and out and can’t pay your bills and you have lost so much already, the last thing you want is to lose even more.

We get this question all the time. Wes, What Is Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? How does it work? Do I lose assets? Can I get rid of all debt? What about taxes? What about student loans? These are all great questions. The saying is knowledge is power. That is what we believe at Kain & Scott as well. The more you know, the more empowered you feel about your own circumstances. When we explain to people that what they think happens is not really what happens you can see our guests lay further back in the chairs and relax.

Every day, the MN Bankruptcy Lawyers at Kain & Scott see people who are in financial distress - the people with whom we meet find themselves in debt situations that are not easily resolved. Of course, the degree of the financial problem varies from client to client, but our clients come to meet with us because they know that their problems can’t be solved easily.

Every year, roughly 10-12,000 Minnesotans file bankruptcy. I think there are twice that number who should file bankruptcy every year but don’t. I am always amazed at how tough Minnesotans really are. By that I mean they put up a good fight for a long time before they turn to bankruptcy. Mind you- I am not at all suggesting they should wait long to file bankruptcy because quite frankly, that is the number one regret we hear from our guests all the time.