Strategies To Manage Financial Stress

In today’s world, money is important, and many people in Clearwater and beyond are stressed about their finances. In fact, around the world, money and financial resources are some of the common reasons for high-stress levels. It can often feel like an unhealthy bank account naturally creates other health problems, such as anxiety, depression, and unmanageable stress. If you’re worried about money and want to find new ways to manage your financial stress, here are some of the strategies to consider. Create a Plan You Read More +

How To Manage Your Mental Health When Filing Bankruptcy

While money can’t buy happiness, it can make you feel sad, embarrassed, fearful, and stressed. These emotions may cause you to put off filing bankruptcy, but instead of letting your emotions stop you, remind them that this is a financial strategy that’ll give you a fresh start. Albeit, it’ll take time, and you’ll need to manage your mental health during this time. There are some things you can do to deal with it in a healthy way. Acknowledge the reality of your situation and how Read More +

Will My Employer Find Out If I File For Bankruptcy?

Understandably, there are some things from your personal life that you don’t want to talk to your employer about (e.g., money, religion, politics). However, there may come a time when you need to file for bankruptcy. When this happens, you may wonder whether your employer will know. The short answer to this question is that more than likely, the fact that you’re filing for bankruptcy will remain a private matter. Of course, every bankruptcy is a public record. It’s quite rare to have a situation Read More +

Common Myths Recurring Bankruptcy And Your Credit

Your credit score will take a major hit, plummeting over 200 points, when you file for bankruptcy. However, if you have a lot of financial debt, bankruptcy may be the best way for you to liquidate your assets, discard or pay any debts, and get some financial relief. Therefore, when considering bankruptcy, you’ll want to know the truth about it before filing. Negative Information on Your Credit Report While some people will try to tell you that having negative information on your credit report before Read More +

Tampa Bankruptcy Court Decision On Discharge Of Construction Contractor Debt To Customer

The Bankruptcy Court in Tampa rendered an important decision on whether a contractor employed to perform construction or repair services to a customer could Discharge such debt in Bankruptcy. In the case of Hollman v Morales (In re Morales) an individual hired the debtor, a handyman, to conduct repairs on his mobile home. The customer paid $25,000 for such services to be performed. Evidently, such services were not fully performed, and the handyman, and subsequently, the debtor, in the Bankruptcy, argued that the mobile home Read More +

Tampa Bankruptcy Court Decision Relating To Tax Refunds

A Bankruptcy Judge in Tampa delivered an important decision regarding tax refunds in Bankruptcy. On July 20, 2022, Bankruptcy Judge CJ Delano rendered a decision regarding whether a debtor may retain a portion of a tax refund received in the amount of $5,500. The debtor claimed $3,750 of such refund as exempt. The debtor’s argument was that portion of the refund should be exempt because it represented monies that the debtor withheld from his social security benefits. Social security benefits are exempt from levy, attachment, Read More +

Tampa Bankruptcy Court Important Decision Regarding Discharge Of Income Tax Debt

A Bankruptcy Judge in the Tampa Bankruptcy Court delivered an important decision regarding the Discharge of Income Tax Debt in Bankruptcy on August 23, 2022. The debtor filed what is referred to as an adversary proceeding seeking to Discharge numerous hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax debts. The Internal Revenue Service responded and argued that such debt should not be discharged pursuant to Bankruptcy Code 523(1)(C) based upon the premise that the debtor had willfully attempted to evade the payment of such taxes. Bankruptcy Read More +

Introducing Your Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee’s Role

Undergoing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is both stressful and time-consuming. You feel as though your life is in the court’s hands as they determine your disposable income and decide upon an amount that’ll be used towards repaying your debts over the next 3 to 5 years. They’re also the ones who will determine whether you can take out any more significant debt during this time. To help oversee these things, as well as others, you have a Trustee appointed to your case. What Your Chapter Read More +

Options Besides Bankruptcy

When you’re struggling with debt, filing for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be a good option. However, before doing so, you should take some time to see if there are any alternatives available because these could be your best remedy. Negotiate With Your Creditors If you either have some disposable income or you’re willing to sell some of your assets to get this type of income, you should try to negotiate with your creditors before filing for either a Chapter 7 Read More +

Buying A Car After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be on your credit report for as long as 10 years after when it was filed. You may need to get a car loan during this time. While it’ll be more difficult, it’s still doable if you make a larger down payment or you’re willing to pay the lender a higher interest rate. Is it a good idea to buy a car after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy? This really depends on your transportation needs and financial circumstances. One of the Read More +