Welcome back to bankruptcy court. It has been a while. Then again, it has not been that long. Filing for bankruptcy protection can give you a much-needed reset and enable you to put the past behind you. For some people, that past is so painful that they spend the rest of their lives making every effort to…

Credit card debt is a major drain on your finances these days, and you are not the only one. As of early 2024, American consumers owe a total of more than a trillion dollars in credit card debt. Minimum payments on credit cards take up a big portion of your paycheck, so even as you…

Everyone has the right to file for bankruptcy protection, according to federal law. Regardless of your age, your marital status, and whether you are employed, you have the right to ask the bankruptcy court to discharge your eligible debts that you cannot pay.  People who file for bankruptcy come from all walks of life, but…

Yes, California is expensive, but it offers better financial protection for consumers than most other states do. California’s state minimum wage is one of the highest in the country; as of 2024, only Washington state and Washington, D.C. have higher minimum wages. In some cities in California, the minimum wage is even higher.  The paid…

Even though some shady credit repair services might try to convince you otherwise, a bankruptcy filing does not cast a dark shadow over your creditworthiness for the rest of your life. All the restrictions that bankruptcy imposes on your financial choices eventually go away, at least in theory.  The bankruptcy filing eventually disappears from your…

Family law attorneys advertise Divorce Monday, the first business Monday of the year, when unhappily married people act on their New Year’s resolutions and file for divorce from their spouses; the courts receive more divorce filings on Divorce Monday than on any other day of the year. Although bankruptcy lawyers do not advertise Bankruptcy Monday,…

If you follow the procedures correctly and answer all of the court’s questions truthfully, your chances of discharging your eligible debts in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing are high. Depending on your overall financial situation, it might even be able to discharge your eligible debts without liquidating any of your assets. Filing for Chapter 7…

If you struggle with debt, filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be an option. However, making the decision to declare bankruptcy can be challenging, considering that there are certain assets you could lose after filing. To help you make an informed decision, you need to understand which assets are protected and which assets you could…

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is not a decision that should be taken lightly. Filing for bankruptcy always requires careful consideration. Many people who want to get rid of their debts through bankruptcy do not know what to expect after the filing. Our Oakland Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney at the Law Offices of Melanie Tavare can guide…

Nobody is ever truly prepared for financial difficulties. Often, filing for bankruptcy might be the right solution for you to get a fresh start. However, many people might think that filing for bankruptcy means losing everything they own. That is not true. Bankruptcy law provides debtors with legal exemptions that protect certain assets from being…