I know- you think I am a little crazy saying this right? Well, I am a little crazy but I believe the above statement with all my heart. We start with the premise that everyone wants to pay their bills on time- everyone. There are not a lot of universal statements you can make but I believe this is one of them. But then something happens to us. That something is called life. If you have not yet been humbled by life’s events then you are not living- seriously, you are dead.

There is no secret about this, many Minnesotans suffer from overwhelming debt. It can happen to any of us at anytime for any reason. Life is humbling. When debt falls upon you, you stress out about paying it back and the fact that often you have no way of paying it back.

However, at Kain & Scott, when our guests start to think about whether bankruptcy makes sense for them or not, they don’t always worry about the act of filing or hiring a MN Bankruptcy Attorney, although that is a concern too. What they worry about more than anything, is how a bankruptcy will impact their credit long term.

So you have thought about bankruptcy until you are blue in the face and now it’s time to make a phone call- but to who? Do you know how many lawyers in Minnesota do bankruptcies and claim to do bankruptcies? There are a lot of attorneys in Minnesota who do bankruptcy work. The variation between attorneys and law firms is huge. How can you tell if the firm does bankruptcy as part of many offerings or if it is all they do? How can you tell if they are nice, and easy to work with?

My last two blogs have discussed the “worst case” scenario any bankruptcy debtor encounters: the risk of not being granted a discharge, or if the debtor has already been discharged in a case, the revocation of that discharge. Since the reason to file a bankruptcy case is to receive a discharge of a debtor’s liability for debts, revocation or denial of that discharge is a complete frustration of the purpose of the bankruptcy. When a discharge is denied or revoked, then creditors can continue to collect against debtors as though the bankruptcy had never taken place.

There is a law, in effect in all fifty states of the United States, that allows people who have entered into contracts to borrow money or to receive credit to have their contractual obligations discharged - wiped out - without harsh consequences to the borrower. This is the Bankruptcy law, set out in the U. S. Bankruptcy Code, and at first look it seems to be a very unusual public policy. Don’t we want people to honor their debts? What about the financial well-being of lenders if they run the risk of a government-sanctioned method of allowing people who asked the lender for money with a promise of repayment to break that promise? So where does this policy come from? That’s what we’ll look at in this blog.

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.

For many of us one of the most difficult aspects of ending an overwhelming debt problem is knowing where to begin. If you use an internet search for Minnesota Bankruptcy Lawyers, you will find page after page on the internet of lawyers offering debtors the help that they need. Sometimes these lawyers can provide the traction you need to get your finances back on track, but how can you truly rest assured that you’ve found a good lawyer without taking a complete shot in the dark?

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.

Are you finding it increasingly difficult to keep your head above water with your finances? If so, you’re not alone. Thousands of hardworking people in Minneapolis struggle with overwhelming debt, each and every day. Often times it can feel like you’re alone but don’t let the illusion that everyone around you is managing their money efficiently, fool you.