Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Discharging Student Loans
According to statistics, Americans owe more on student loans than they do any other type of loan apart from mortgages. Indeed, student loan debt has risen much faster than other forms of debt and today totals almost $1.5 trillion. You might think that you can discharge student loans like you can any other unsecured… Read More »
Consolidating Credit Card Debt with a HELOC Is a Terrible Idea
Consumer credit card debt continues to climb. In December 2017, consumer credit grew by $18.4 billion to a total of $3.841 trillion. Distressed consumers might be considering debt consolidation with a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or home equity loan. No matter how precarious your finances, using your home to consolidate credit card… Read More »
The Benefits of Hiring a Florida Bankruptcy Attorney
This is definitely a Do-It-Yourself culture. Many Floridians write their own wills, file their own divorce papers, and bring cases in small claims court, all without the help of a lawyer. But a bankruptcy case is different. Not only do you want to get it right the first time, but studies reveal that you… Read More »
Why bankruptcy is not the stigma you might think it is
Many people think of bankruptcy as a weakness or as a moral failing, but this perception is far from accurate. Facts can help rebut criticism. When families in Florida get together for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, holidays and the like, they often catch up on the news. Cousin Jane is getting married, Uncle Pete bought… Read More »
Three signs bankruptcy may be the best path for your business
Deciding to move forward with relief through bankruptcy can be difficult. These three questions can help. Considering filing for bankruptcy is not easy. This is particularly true for those who are attempting to keep a business running. For many entrepreneurs, a business is more than just a professional endeavor. Businesses often have strong personal… Read More »
What does a bankruptcy mean for my future?
Bankruptcy may well help Florida residents get out from under large mounds of debt but a good understanding of the future impact is also important. When faced with debt that seems only to grow and the options to pay that debt down get smaller and smaller, Florida residents may understandable look to bankruptcy for… Read More »
An introduction to the automatic stay in bankruptcy
An introduction to the automatic stay in bankruptcy The broad cessation of collection activity against the debtor is a huge relief from financial pressure. One of the strongest benefits of filing a petition for bankruptcy is the immediate automatic stay triggered by the filing. The automatic stay is an order of the U.S. Bankruptcy… Read More »
Life after bankruptcy
Some people avoid filing for bankruptcy because of fears about the future but life after bankruptcy may be better than they think. Even as the nation’s economy rebounded from the great recession, many people in Florida continued to experience severe financial challenges. Many factors can contribute to this including job loss, illness, injury, divorce… Read More »
Establishing financial independence after filing bankruptcy in Florida
There are several things those who file bankruptcy can do to reestablish their financial independence and move forward. After filing for personal bankruptcy, many people in Florida wonder how they will reestablish their financial independence, set new goals and move forward. This is especially true since after filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the action remains… Read More »
Improving your credit score after filing bankruptcy in Florida
There are a few key steps bankruptcy filers can take after the filing process is over to improve their credit score and maintain financial freedom. Those who file bankruptcy in Florida might find that after the process is over, their credit score is much lower than it used to be. This often occurs because… Read More »