Author Archives: Site Administrator
Fraud charges for woman filing for Chapter 13 multiple times
With the financial challenges that many people are facing in Florida, bankruptcy can be a good option for some. However, there are certain rules and qualifications for bankruptcy, to prevent people from abusing the system. The idea of being able to dismiss your debts or restructure them for easier payment can be tempting, but… Read More »
Personal bankruptcy cases should be accurate in credit reports
When filing for bankruptcy in Florida, people facing financial challenges hope that they’ll be able to start over rebuilding their credit. But that won’t be able to happen if the major credit reporting bureaus haven’t accurately updated credit reports to reflect a bankruptcy debt dismissal. SmartCredit.com’s president of consumer education says the three main… Read More »
Appeals courts define IRA bankruptcy exemptions differently
Some people would say that standardized laws regarding bankruptcy exemptions and other rules would be helpful and make the bankruptcy process easier for Florida residents as well as people across the country. If someone moves to another state where bankruptcy law is different, it can cause confusion and even remove the option for people… Read More »
Florida foreclosures may speed up with passing of bill
Florida continues to lead the nation for foreclosures, as well as being one of the top states with the longest foreclosure process. While the national average for foreclosures is 414 days, our state’s average is 853 days. A bill to expedite Florida’s sluggish foreclosures has just been passed by the Florida House, after several… Read More »
Overall debt in South Florida is decreasing
You may have learned the hard way that it’s always good to keep your debts down to a minimum. Some types of debt, such as a mortgage or car loan, are often a necessary part of life, but others, particularly from credit cards, are best avoided or at least kept as low as possible…. Read More »
Students struggling with debt may soon see student loan changes
Since the 1970s, student loans have been mostly exempt from bankruptcy discharge. Students and graduates crushed by overwhelming debt have been unable to find relief from their student loans by filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Florida’s governor and many other politicians from both political sides are listening to student activist groups and advocates about… Read More »
Federal student loan consolidation as debt relief: important tips
In many ways, student loans can help out someone in need of college money, who might not otherwise have the chance at an education. Many student loans allow deferment until after graduation. However, jobs aren’t always in demand right after someone gets a degree, leaving the borrower in the unfortunate situation of not being… Read More »
New rules on federal exemptions help clarify wage garnishment
Just getting by from day to day can be difficult enough for many Floridians with financial challenges, without the worry of having their wages garnished to pay off their creditors. Millions of people might find themselves facing wage garnishments before filing for bankruptcy. Some exemptions have been put in place to prevent people with… Read More »
Bank of America fined for Orange County mortgage abuse
The $9.3 billion settlement between major banks and the federal government was supposed to provide aid to homeowners in the struggling economy. The agreement was meant to protect them against the types of abusive foreclosure activities lenders were practicing with the “robo-signing” scandal and other actions. But some Florida consumers, judges, and bankruptcy lawyers… Read More »
Payday loans a poor choice for those with financial challenges
In this struggling economy, many Floridians will resort to payday loans as a way to help them take care of unpaid bills and other expenses. Whether online or in-store, a payday loan might seem at first glance to be a quick and easy way to get some debt relief, but many consumers don’t realize… Read More »