Legal Versus Equitable Interests in Bankruptcy

When one files bankruptcy, a bankruptcy estate is created. The bankruptcy estate consists of all legal or equitable interests the debtor possesses in any property, at the time of the filing of the bankruptcy petition [See USC 541(a)(1)]. In bankruptcy, one may have a legal interest in property, or an equitable interest in property. A legal interest is represented by ownership in property that is generally more recognizable by law. If one buys an automobile and titles the automobile in his or her name, then Read More +

Factors That Impact Your Bankruptcy Case

Are you struggling to pay your bills? Do you find that you have fallen so far behind that you think you’ll never catch up? Maybe you’re drowning in a mountain of debt. While you may be struggling to keep your head above water financially, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are solutions available for you. One of the solutions you may wish to consider is bankruptcy. This type of insolvency is a welcome source of relief for many people today. There are a Read More +

Discharge of Student Loans in Bankruptcy Proposal in New Bill Before Congress

A new bill being presented to Congress will permit the discharge of student loans in bankruptcy provided certain conditions are met. The bill, sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin and Senator John Cornyn, is titled the Fresh Start In Bankruptcy Act. Under the current bankruptcy laws, it is quite difficult to discharge a student loan in bankruptcy. Generally, the debtor must bring an adversary proceeding and obtain a finding from a bankruptcy judge that the student loan constitutes an undue hardship. The undue hardship standard is Read More +

Middle District of Florida New Rules and Procedures for Chapter 13 Trustees in Bankruptcy Cases

Recently the Middle District of Florida’s Chapter 13 Trustees updated their expectations and rules of debtors and their counsel. From procedures in reference to tax returns to discouragements, there have been some new hurdles added to getting a bankruptcy confirmed. As a part of the new regulations, the Chapter 13 Trustees are requiring the last four (4) digits of the debtor or debtors’ social security number be redacted, along with the names of any children listed in the tax returns. Also, any account numbers on Read More +

How Bankruptcy Affects Evictions

There are a lot of bills that may pile up and cause you to be in debt. However, when you realize you’ve fallen behind on paying your rent you’re likely to find this to be more stressful than any of the other types of debt you may encounter. Unfortunately, COVID has caused many Americans to find themselves coping with the ongoing stressor of a looming eviction. In March the Census Bureau published a survey in which they discovered that around 20% of adults who were Read More +

Steps for Life After Bankruptcy Discharge

After you have found yourself to be on the successful side of a bankruptcy case in Florida, you are likely to be mighty relieved. This is the first good news you must have heard after struggling financially for a long time. Many people are surprised to find out that what they envisaged to be a straightforward procedure rather has turned out to be a massive challenge at every turn. If you are on the other side of bankruptcy, it means you are in contrast with Read More +

Tampa Bankruptcy Attorney on 100% Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Plans

In the practice of bankruptcy law, attorneys will sometimes refer to a 100% Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Plan. This generally means that the debtor or the bankruptcy filer must pay 100% of the full balances owed to his or her unsecured creditors. Most bankruptcy filers who are in a 100% plan are paying such unsecured creditors in full, because the filer or debtor has significant disposable income, to the extent that the debtor is able to pay his or her unsecured creditors in full. In the Read More +

the 20-year Controversy on Judicial Liens; When Does It End?

Many, if not, most Bankruptcy Practitioners would tell you that by law, judgement liens can only encumber property for a 10-year period and receive a one-time extension of 10 more years. This would make the time a lien may last a maximum of 20 years. Fla. Stat. § 55.10(2). However, these people would be technically wrong. The law does not define when the initial begins on a judgement lien. Bankruptcy professionals presume that the lien will be filed as soon as the judgment is entered. Read More +

What You Need to Know About Buying A Home After Bankruptcy

Even though we’re still in the midst of a pandemic, most people have at least one friend or family member who’s bought a home within the past year. In fact, the first few months of 2021 have reflected rapid growth when it comes to buying homes. This has been supercharged by the real estate market’s bidding wars at the end of 2020. Despite some people having issues because they made purchases quickly the market still hasn’t slowed down any. With all the talk about buying Read More +

Why You Should Consider Bankruptcy for Your Medical Debt

Unfortunately, there are millions of Americans who are struggling to pay their bills today because they’ve accumulated too much medical debt unexpectedly. Nobody can prevent major health issues from happening or predict when they will occur. When they do arise you simply need to figure out a way to get the treatment you need, even if it’s something you can’t afford. While this will help ensure that your medical issue will be resolved quickly it can leave you in a situation where things suddenly spiral Read More +