If you are navigating the bankruptcy process, you have likely heard multiple people refer to bankruptcy schedules. Overwhelmed debtors are often confused about exactly what role schedules play in their bankruptcy process. Schedules are the primary forms that debtors rely on to provide their financial details, which play a vital role in navigating the bankruptcy…

 Individuals in California who file for bankruptcy are often given a second chance at building a strong credit record. This does not come without a compromise, though. When Chapter 7 bankruptcy is involved, a person must often hand over a substantial amount of their estate in the process. A bankruptcy trustee then manages the estate…

Financial difficulties can leave you uncertain about what to do next. While bankruptcy is one of the best ways to take control of your finances, the bankruptcy process can be complex and intimidating for many, which is why the assistance of an experienced bankruptcy lawyer is necessary.    There are several important questions to ask…

While many people have heard of the bankruptcy “means test,” they are uncertain about what exactly this test includes. The means test is used to determine if a person’s income is low enough to qualify to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The purpose of this test is to block individuals with higher salaries from filing…

When a client walks into the Bay area law offices of Melanie Tavare to discuss debt relief matters, one question that is often at the forefront of the client’s mind is asset protection. The client wants to know whether his or her assets will be protected during a bankruptcy. Often, the client will have worked…

San Jose native Debi Thomas has an impressive resume. She was a pre-med and engineering student at Stanford University; she is a graduate of Northwestern Medical School; she was a trained orthopedic surgeon; she was an Olympic champion and bronze medal winner at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary; she became the first African-American woman…

There are features of Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy that are similar and some that are quite different. A significant similarity is the automatic stay under Section 362 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, or Code, wherein a bankruptcy filing stays, or stops, creditors from taking collection action against the debtor. When this…

Financial stress can take a toll on relationships. Those in the Bay area may remember a time when, typically, the husband worked a 9-5 job while the wife stayed at home and took care of the children and the house. They would go on family outings on weekends year round. Women who worked often provided…

People fall deep into debt for many reasons. It could be due to a loss of income, miscalculating future income, improper spending habits, or major life event. To provide a fresh start, the founding fathers created the bankruptcy clause in the Constitution. The bankruptcy concept was further developed over the years to include various chapters…

When a debtor files for bankruptcy, he or she creates a “bankruptcy estate.” In broad terms, this estate is composed of any legal or equitable interest of the debtor in property as of the commencement of the case.  To note, the legislative history indicates that a bankruptcy filing “bring anything of value that the debtors…