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…

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the preferred type of bankruptcy for many California residents because it ultimately results in most types of debt being completely forgiven. But what keeps many debtors from filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the means test. Under the means test, you must show the court that you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy…

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…

With the economy still struggling, many people are now finding themselves deeply in debt as they get older and inch closer to retirement. Many older people are often concerned about how filing for bankruptcy later in life could affect them. While filing for bankruptcy at an older age may affect your ability to borrow money…

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…

April 15 is almost here, which means the annual deadline is looming to file income taxes. It’s a time that many Californians dread with good reason, but as many debtors have found, bankruptcy isn’t all bad for income taxes. If tax debt meets certain requirements, such as being more than three years old, they can…

There are a variety of reasons that debtors choose Chapter 13 bankruptcy over Chapter 7. Some have debts that can only be discharged in Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Others prefer Chapter 13 because it allows them retain more of their assets while going through the bankruptcy process. Some debtors would like to file for Chapter 7…

Bankruptcy can be a liberating process. There’s a great sense of relief that comes over many debtors when they realize they’ll no longer be drowning in hundreds of dollars in payments each month or hounded by creditors, in constant fear of collection lawsuits or repossession. But along with that relief can also come feelings of…

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…