If you ask someone where you file for bankruptcy, they’ll probably tell you “in court.” More specifically, you file for bankruptcy in federal court. And if we’re really getting detailed here, you will file bankruptcy in the federal district in which you reside. California has four districts (Northern, Central, Southern and Eastern), with the Central…

One of the reasons for passing the Affordable Care Act of 2010 was to reduce health care costs and make insurance more affordable for everyone. To some extent, the ACA has been a success. Health insurance is more accessible now than at any time it has ever been in the past. Millions of people now…

One reason that many people are hesitant to consider bankruptcy, and particularly Chapter 7 bankruptcy, is that they fear it will mean losing all of their assets. While Chapter 7 bankruptcy does involve submitting all of your assets, including vehicles, to a bankruptcy trustee so that he or she can determine what assets should be…

It’s well-known that federal student loans are very difficult, if not almost impossible to discharge in either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. There is another type of education loan that is lesser known to most people that is often thought of as nondischargable in bankruptcy, but a recent decision from New York indicates this…

When you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, a trustee will be appointed to your case. The trustee is typically a local attorney experienced in bankruptcy law. The function of the trustee is to represent the estate that is created when you file for bankruptcy. The trustee is not meant to be your…

The biggest difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the ability to keep property that is subject to a lien, such as a home or car. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, this property can usually be retained subject to a repayment plan if the debtor has a high enough qualifying income. In Chapter 7…

To file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must fall within certain income guidelines. In California, you must earn less than the median state income for a household of your size. This is a key component to qualifying for Chapter 7, which may allow you to discharge certain debts. Filing for bankruptcy can provide a great…

Using the Wildcard Exemption in Your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is sometimes called a “liquidation bankruptcy.” This is because Chapter 7 Bankruptcy liquidates all of a debtor’s nonexempt assets in order to pay as much of their debts as possible. However, this term can be somewhat misleading in that not all of…

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy can help people who are in financial trouble to get rid of most of or all of their debt. In a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, unsecured debt is often discharged, but the Chapter 7 filer has the option to surrender collateral in order to discharge secured debts or to keep the collateral and…

Pop Star Aaron Carter Files Sometimes even celebrities need a fresh start. This month, pop star Aaron Carter filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Carter was formerly a child pop star, releasing his first hit single at age 9 and the popular album Aaron’s Party (Come Get It) at age 12. With three platinum albums by…