Category Archives: Bankruptcy
How to Stop Wage Garnishment in Jacksonville and St. Augustine
Few things are more alarming than opening a paycheck and finding a chunk of it missing. Wage garnishment in Florida usually means a creditor has already sued you, won a judgment, and obtained a writ directing your employer to withhold part of your earnings. The good news is that Florida law offers strong protections,… Read More »
Debt Settlement & Bankruptcy
What Jacksonville Residents Should Know Late-night commercials promise to cut your debt in half without bankruptcy. The pitch sounds appealing, especially if you are worried about your credit or feel that filing is a personal failure. But debt settlement and bankruptcy are two very different tools, and choosing the wrong one can cost Jacksonville… Read More »
Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Which Is Right for You in St. Augustine? If debt has become unmanageable and collection calls are a daily event, bankruptcy may be the fastest path back to stable ground. For most St. Johns County residents, the decision comes down to two options: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Both are filed in the Jacksonville… Read More »
Will I Lose My Car if I File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Florida?
For most people in St. Augustine and Jacksonville, a car is not a luxury. It is how they get to work, take children to school, and reach medical appointments. So it is no surprise that the first question many clients ask about Chapter 7 is whether they will lose their vehicle. The answer in… Read More »
How Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Stops a Foreclosure Sale
A foreclosure in Florida moves slowly until it does not. The lawsuit can sit for months, then a summary judgment hearing is set, a sale date is scheduled, and a homeowner who thought there was still time finds the clerk’s auction is three weeks away. At that point the options narrow sharply, but one… Read More »
Can I File Chapter 13 Bankruptcy if I’m Unemployed?
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies offer different benefits. Chapter 7 is generally reserved for low-income debtors who have significant unsecured debt, such as credit card debt, medical debt, personal loans, and old taxes. Through Chapter 7, debtors are able to “discharge” or wipe out certain types of debts. Meanwhile, Chapter 13 is a… Read More »
Amid COVID-19, Florida Governor Suspends Foreclosures
Since President Donald Trump declared a national emergency due to COVID-19, Americans’ lives have been turned upside-down. Schools have been closed and students switched to online learning. Businesses everywhere have shut down. Concerts, conventions, and events have been canceled, and even movie theatres have closed their doors. As a result, millions of Americans have… Read More »
What Happens to Debt When Someone Dies?
If you’re like most people, you don’t enjoy contemplating your own mortality. In fact, this is such a sensitive subject that a lot of people, including high-net-worth individuals, never create an estate plan. But have you ever wondered about your debt and what would happen to it if you died? If you’re married, would… Read More »
Can You File Bankruptcy if You’re Unemployed?
If you’re unemployed and having a hard time paying your monthly bills, you may be considering bankruptcy and reasonably so. But you may also be wondering if you can file for bankruptcy when you’re unemployed. Will unemployment be a problem? It depends on the type of bankruptcy you’re interested in. Generally, if you file… Read More »
Can Child Support Be Discharged in Bankruptcy?
“Sometimes it’s difficult to collect past-due child support, especially when those amounts reach into the tens of thousands of dollars. The average amount owed among noncustodial parents with child support debt is more than $21,000,” according to the Office of Child Support Enforcement. If you can relate to the above paragraph because you too… Read More »
