When many of us are asked to describe the type of people who we think Contact MN Bankruptcy Lawyers we often begin to apply very negative associations with what we view a bankruptcy debtor to be.  Many people believe those who seek debt relief through bankruptcy are irresponsible with their finances or indigent because of a lack of effort on their part to better their circumstances.  In Minnesota we take great pride in our earning ability, possessions and financial stability yet these things do not define who we are as individuals nor is anyone invulnerable to sudden financial hardship regardless of their prior success, finances or possessions. 

So, you are sitting at home wondering about your debt right? You are wondering how it is that end the end of each paycheck you have no money left. By the time you make minimum payments on your credit cards and other expenses that’s it- money all gone. This is especially true if you have fallen into the pay day loan trap. I have been there myself when I was in college. You sell your soul to get a few bucks today but what you pay back is far more than you borrowed- it makes you physically sick just thinking about it.

I bet most of my readers did not know that there is a government sponsored debt consolidation plan. In fact, when I meet with Minnesotans from all walks of life they are surprised to learn that there really is a government sponsored debt consolidation plan. Not only does it exist, it has been around for decades. Why then do most people not know it exists? In a nutshell, because people do not look any further if it involves the “b” word. I wish the government would not call this debt consolidation plan a chapter 13 bankruptcy. I wish they would instead call it what it is, a government sponsored debt consolidation plan. I first want to walk you through the nuts and bolts of a chapter 13 bankruptcy and how it works and then I want to walk you through a real “live” (as my 4 year old son used to say) example of a chapter 13 bankruptcy at work.

MN Bankruptcy Law is very much rooted in the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code - the laws passed by Congress to regulate bankruptcy in the United States. There really isn’t a “common law” of bankruptcy - that is, there aren’t court decisions that establish substantive law and procedure in bankruptcy cases; rather, court decisions simply interpret the provisions of the bankruptcy code that governs the filing, administration and discharge of cases.

For the last month I have been writing weekly about the challenges and issues that surround closing a business that is no longer profitable. I’ve discussed the decision to close, the steps needed to treat employees and trade creditors correctly and issues regarding business withholding and sales tax and personal income tax. I’ve also written about business owners filing a personal chapter 7 bankruptcy to protect the owners from their personal financial obligations related to the business. Last week I wrote about the rare instances in which a business that operates as an LLC or corporation is well-advised to file its own chapter 7 case. This week I will wrap up this business-centric discussion by looking at the situations in which filing a chapter 13 bankruptcy makes sense for a business owner. But first, let’s take a look at the bankruptcy chapter that specifically protects businesses that file bankruptcy - chapter 11.

Declaring Bankruptcy and wiping out mountains of unmanageable debt can be a great catalyst for financial recovery and stability.  Many financial obligations can be completely discharged under Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy offers easy repayment plans for those who are ineligible for Chapter 7 yet still experiencing financial hardships.

Lets take a closer look at the steps you and your MN Bankruptcy Lawyer will take when you file because there are countless individuals and families who find themselves facing financial hardships unexpectedly and these people are often unsure of their options. The bankruptcy process is federally regulated and put in place for those who find themselves in these difficult financial circumstances. Many people are concerned with the complexities involved in legal matters and are apprehensive because of this that's why it's best to seek the knowledge and experience of a trained legal professional but it is equally important that you understand the undertaking.  

My last three blogs have dealt with the issues, problems and complications of closing a business that is no longer profitable. And I’ve written about using a personal chapter 7 bankruptcy as an option to protect an individual’s income and property from collection when business obligations have been personally guaranteed by a business owner. The focus has been on a personal chapter 7 as the most common option for a situation in which a small business has failed and the business owner now owes obligations to business creditors because the business can no longer honor the obligations. In this blog, I will write about the limited occasions in which an LLC or corporation should file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.

Life is so amazingly humbling. One minute you are feasting on life, good relationships, good money, and all seems like it is clear blue skies ahead. And then suddenly, the sky turns black, and your life seems to be on a never ending bumpy path filled with stressed relationships, debts, and heartache. It can happen fast. It usually does.

For one Minnesota couple the journey was not that rosy from the start. We will keep their names confidential, of course, but it started out shortly after (fictional names) Greg and Lisa’s wedding over 22 years ago.

Many people struggle with their finances and are unsure as to how to seek relief. All circumstances are different and there are a variety of legal remedies designed to aid in your financial recovery. Because of the complexity of these matters it is advised you seek the knowledgeable professional advice of experienced Roseville MN Bankruptcy Lawyers to determine what is right for you. In this blog we will begin to look at some of the key points regarding both types of bankruptcies most commonly used by individuals at Our Roseville Location. Your future needs and goals may play a large factor in determining which type of bankruptcy is right for you and depending on your circumstances.

Many people are concerned about how a bankruptcy will reflect on them and what impact it will have on their life and finances moving forward. Because of the stigma surrounding Bankruptcy, a legal process designed to provide US citizens with a means for financial recovery when needed, many people don’t talk about their financial hardships or their experience going through the Bankruptcy Process. We will be talking Dean in this segment and gaining the insight of an average Minnesotans experience Filing Bankruptcy with a MN Bankruptcy Lawyer and addressing their finances immediately following the discharge of their Bankruptcy. This is intended to shed some light on what can be expected and to debunk some of the common myths and misconceptions so let’s begin.

So, you are a Minnesota lawyer with a clientele from all walks of life. How many times have you heard a client say they have overwhelming debt? The answer is probably a lot right? And how many times has the suggestion to solve the problem been maybe you should consider debt consolidation? The answer agin is probably a lot right?

My last two blogs, Help For Small Business in Financial Trouble & Help For Small Business in Financial Trouble - Part 2, have dealt with the decision as to whether to close a business that is no longer performing financially as the owner hoped. 

Last week in my blog Help For Business In Financial Trouble - Part 1, I wrote about the decision many small business owners face: in light of the financial difficulties the business is facing, should the business close down? The decision is usually very personally painful for a person who has worked long and hard to own and operate a business. The feelings can be compounded when the reasons for business failure have to do with outside market forces more than the business decisions made by the owner. Imagine the hard-working video store owner from 1996 - today it’s very likely that the video store is no longer in business, regardless of whether the owner was a smart, capable businessman.

There are many reasons someone might be considering Bankruptcy and at Kain & Scott our MN Bankruptcy Attorneys believe it is important to understand the causes and ways you can prevent these circumstances from impacting your life moving forward after Bankruptcy. Everyone is offered credit cards and department store cards, America has an extremely lucrative credit industry with several types of financing available for any individual. But not all lenders are invested in their customers. The lines of credit or loan options offered by some lenders are not always intended to aid the consumer but rather provide additional revenue to the lender through hidden fees and adjustable rates that were not disclosed to the customer.

I cannot stress enough that at Kain & Scott our Roseville MN Bankruptcy Lawyers have never had a client come back to and tell us that they regretted Filing Bankruptcy. No one at our firm in Roseville have ever heard that… from anyone. Filing Bankruptcy is an important decision. One that you will probably spend a good amount of time researching and thinking through carefully. However, even so... We've still never heard of anyone regretting their decision and here's why: