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.

Over the past month, I’ve written about the History of Bankruptcy - from its ancient, biblical origins, through the ancient world and in Europe during the Renaissance period. I’ve paid particular attention to the history of bankruptcy in the United States. I’ve written about the inclusion of bankruptcy in the Constitution as the exclusive legislative prerogative of Congress, and looked at the attempts Congress made to pass a national bankruptcy law in 1800, 1841 and 1867 - all attempts at having an orderly system of bankruptcy in the United States, all eventually politically unpopular and all, eventually, repealed.

It’s not easy researching which MN Bankruptcy Law Firm to use for your bankruptcy case. There are so many where do you start? It seems overwhelming and so many claim to do bankruptcy work. Do I just throw a dart and hope the one I pick is the right one for me? Hell to the no! Spend some time researching law firms. When you do, you will find the right one for you.

Let me tell you the story of a former client of mine. She lived in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. I will call her Eve Padonk. Eve was an office worker at a local high school. She is a very nice person with a story to tell.

We are all somewhat familiar with bankruptcy. We know it can be used to eliminate or reduce the majority of unsecured debts. But there are many ways beyond the obvious benefits that many of us don’t know about. Lets taking a closer look at some of the lesser-known benefits to filing bankruptcy and how a MN Bankruptcy Lawyer can help you with your overwhelming debt problems by taking a more proactive approach.

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.

At Kain & Scott, we get this question a lot. Do I qualify for Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy? Financial problems come in different sizes and varieties. Generally speaking if you are looking at a bankruptcy website, then bankruptcy is something you should consider. Why do I say this? Because you are obviously struggling with some debt or you would not be searching for solutions right?

I know how to dance, but I don’t think I have ever learned how to 2 step- have you? Forget dancing for now, if you are up to your eyeballs in debt, you want simple solutions. No bullshit, no big talk, give it to me straight....how can I get my life back? At Kain & Scott our Eagan MN Bankruptcy Lawyers understand that. Dealing with overwhelming debt is crushing on your mental and physical spirit. Most of our guests have been dealing with overwhelming debt for years. If you live in Eagan and you are saddled with overwhelming debt, there is hope because we have developed a process of getting your life back that is comforting to our guests. Our promise to our guests is timeless.

Minnesota is truly unique in many ways! We are at the forefront of technology in many industries including science and medicine yet still rich in agriculture across many small rural communities.  In simpler times our communities were comprised of essential service providers and civil offices. Then we grew, prospered and began to expand. With that came opportunity and competition.

When I feel down and out, I want someone on my side, going to bat for me, picking up the slack for me, because in the moment, I feel weak, and low energy. When you suffer from overwhelming debt, the last thing you need is an Eagan MN Bankruptcy Lawyer that is stuffy, mean, and makes you do most of the work. Have you ever talked to someone and you know they are speaking to you in a condescending tone? I don’t like it- at all!

The world is noisy isn’t it? I think it is. It seems like so much of life is fleeting and superficial. I am not trying to drowned you in despair- at all. Heck, I think the quiet moments in life, those moments when you lean back and reflect on life’s events are the real crown jewels. At 47 years of age, I can tell you that the one thing I have learned about life is how humbling it really all is.

Last week, I wrote about the Bankruptcy Act of 1898 - the first “permanent” bankruptcy law in the United States. The 1898 law came about as Congress’s reaction to the financial panic of 1893. There had not been a national bankruptcy law since 1873 when the 1867 law, like the two previous attempts at federal bankruptcy law, was repealed. The abuses of the previous bankruptcy laws had hardened political opposition to a federal bankruptcy system. However, by 1898, creditors were experiencing extreme difficulty in collecting even a portion of debts owed to them in some states, due to those states’s debtor-creditor laws.

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”.