Are you considering filing for bankruptcy relief? It is possible to do this on your own (without a bankruptcy attorney). You will have to act as your own legal representative – which requires an understanding of the Bankruptcy Code, not to mention court etiquette and filing procedures. Incompletely or improperly filing bankruptcy will cause more headaches and issues than you had to begin with. Once you file a bankruptcy case, you may not be able to undo any mistakes you make while representing yourself.

Dealing with overwhelming debt and coping with the stress associated with a financial crisis creates emotional burdens and causes damage to your financial well-being. However, bankruptcy provides a real solution to a variety of difficult financial situations. For example, a debtor can discharge or “wipe out” unsecured debts through the filing of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case or reorganize debts into a manageable repayment plan through a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. Through the bankruptcy process, debtors learn where things spun out of control and how to handle or prevent debt in the future. In addition, when the bankruptcy case is completed, you are able to begin rebuilding your financial affairs.

Many clients ask what life after bankruptcy will be like and how long it will take to recover from filing a bankruptcy. For most, life after bankruptcy is much less stressful. You will be filled with an overwhelming sense of relief as bill collectors stop calling, creditors stop breathing down your neck and you can finally see hope for your future, free from the burden of debt. You’ll get to feel optimistic about your future again, happy that you can start fresh and begin to recover and rebuild. No matter what emotions are felt after a bankruptcy is complete, there is one common thread that weaves itself through life after bankruptcy -- the ability to learn from past financial mistakes.

Because each person’s financial situation is different, it is difficult to answer these questions without first taking the time to fully understand the circumstances that brought you to this point. Some debtors have the ability to repay some or all of their debts if they are given the opportunity to reorganize their debts into a manageable repayment plan. On the other hand, some debtors do not have any funds available to pay creditors after paying for their basic living expenses. This is the purpose of having different types of bankruptcy, so that debtors may find relief under the bankruptcy code according to their specific financial needs.

If you fear going to the mailbox each day because you dread seeing collection letters, you are not alone. Many Americans are unable to pay their bills and they are facing the same financial stress that you are experiencing. Even with the restrictions imposed on collection agencies through the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, collection agencies still find ways to harass people in an attempt to collect a past due debt. For most people, this becomes an ongoing nightmare as their financial situation worsens and the collection letters not only continue but also become increasingly threatening and ominous.

For anyone familiar with bankruptcy and student loans, you may be wondering how these two topics could have anything in common. First, bankruptcy is designed to relieve you of your debt. On the other hand, incurring student loans places you in debt. Furthermore, student loans are typically non-dischargeable (there are exceptions in some cases) in bankruptcy making them one of the few unsecured debts that survive a bankruptcy filing. It would seem that these two concepts would be the exact opposite of each other; however, there are similarities between bankruptcy and student loans.

As consumers, we spend billions of dollars each year on goods and services, both online and in traditional stores. An increasing number of those purchases are made with some type of credit. As debt has increased, the need to protect consumers against credit fraud and unfair or deceptive trade practices has also increased. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the federal agency that enforces consumer protection laws. Below are descriptions of the three most well known consumer protection laws and details about how each one is designed to protect you against unfair creditor practices.

If you are wondering, “What is loan consolidation and will it help me?” you are not alone. Banks and loan consolidation companies target people who are struggling to pay their bills with advertising claiming that a loan consolidation can solve all of their debt problems. However, while loan consolidation may help some individuals, it is not always the best solution. Furthermore, there are several types of loan consolidations available, each having unique benefits and disadvantages. Before I go into detail about the various types of loan consolidations and how they may benefit you, I would like to provide you with a clear answer to the question, “What is loan consolidation?”

Almost all of us will experience debt problems at some point during our lifetime due to a financial crisis such as a job loss or due to our own devices. Some individuals cause debt problems for themselves through poor spending habits, abuse of credit cards, gambling, co-signing loans for others or because of a failure to budget and manage money well. Because they feel their debt problems are due to something they did or failed to do, they may wonder, “Is personal bankruptcy a good option for me?”

According to a study conducted by NerdWallet Health, over twenty percent of Americans will struggle with medical debt this year. For some, the best alternative is to file bankruptcy. Medical bills have been an ongoing financial problem for many Americans for more than a decade. In 2009, more than 60% of individuals who filed for bankruptcy relief did so due to medical bills. According to a report published in the American Journal of Medicine, the number of individuals who had to file bankruptcy due to medical bills rose from 46% in 2001 to 62% in 2007.

Why do so many people who get divorced fall into financial trouble?

If you are struggling with debt, you are not alone. Many Americans face this situation every day due to job loss, loss of a spouse, medical illness or other circumstances that prevent them from paying their bills. Whatever your situation may be, it is important that you understand that there are options available to help you manage this burden and recover financially and emotionally. One possible solution for dealing with debt is debt consolidation. Debt consolidation can help individuals who are struggling to make minimum monthly payments on their credit cards or other debts. However, in some cases, debt consolidation could create more problems than it solves. While it may seem practical to consolidate debts into one, lower monthly payment, you must first consider the pros and cons to debt consolidation.

As a legal advisor, I've come across many people who've gone through some extremely nightmarish situations due to debt. They have been lied to about the financial services they selected, made poor financial decisions or encountered bad debt consolidation companies with programs they were assured would help.

Divorce is one of the top 5 reasons many debtors turn to bankruptcy. If you are going through this situation, know that you are not alone. The following is one woman’s story about how divorce and bankruptcy turned her life around, in ways she could never have expected.

Few things in life are of greater consequence to one’s physical and emotional well-being than financial hardship. Many individuals facing harassment from creditors have enough of an income to begin allocating toward their debts, but not enough to keep up and prevent the seizure of their assets. Many debtors turn to bankruptcy to find a fresh beginning.

Making the final decision to file bankruptcy can be challenging, but my clients report feeling immensely relieved. Simply settling on this decision provides relief because you have a plan to move forward and out of your financial darkness. Technically, nothing official happens until you file your petition. However, your peace of mind will lighten your load and allow you to think and see your future clearly.