Bankruptcy Law Blog

One of the first questions asked of a Citrus Heights bankruptcy lawyer is “What do I need to bring to the initial consultation?” Filing for a California bankruptcy will require you to gather a number of different documents. These documents will help you prepare for the thorough paperwork required to file the initial Chapter 7…

Credit card debt is one of the most prolific types of consumer debt in California. In fact, the total credit card debt in 2018 for Americans exceeded $1 trillion. For the first time in history, this equates to an average household credit card debt figure of over $8,600. As such, individuals commonly approach a California…

If the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. are held liable for the deadly November 2018 wildfire in Northern California, it could add billions to the company’s debt. The company’s insurance only covers $1.5 billion, coming far short of the estimated $15 billion in liabilities. Financial Ruin While the utility company hasn’t made any announcements regarding…

Filing a bankruptcy case is not like filing a divorce case or a lawsuit. That’s because those kinds of cases are often filed in state court. State court cases are filed in county court houses. So finding your courthouse is as simple as knowing what county you live in. Most people know their county and…

Student Loans have long been a rising challenge for college graduates in the Unites States. The cost of eduction has steadily increased during the last half century. In fact, higher education tuition is one of the fastest increasing costs for young Americans. The rise of small private schools was supposed to offer convenient and affordable…

Everyone wants a high credit score. Your credit, after all, is the financial key needed to access credit. Over the course of this year, you may have noticed that your own credit score has improved thanks to initiatives by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). In fact, the average overall FICO Credit score in the…

Whether you are seeking debt discharge through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in California, you must complete the debtor education course as a requirement of the US Bankruptcy Code. The debtor education course is intended to teach you fundamental personal finance management skills that you’ll need to be financially successful after bankruptcy. Here is…

Sears Holding Corp, which owns Sears and Kmart, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month. Not showing a profit since 2010, Sears has been unable to compete with giants like Walmart and Amazon. The iconic retailer is attempting to restructure over $5 billion in debt. Part of the plan is to close less profitable…

A common question often asked by debtors is whether or not tax debts can be discharged in bankruptcy. Tax debts may qualify for discharge if (a) the due date for the return was three years or more before you filed bankruptcy, (b) the taxes were assessed at least 240 days prior, (c) the tax return…

When you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, certain types of unsecured debt, such as credit card debt and medical debt are discharged (wiped out). You are also granted bankruptcy exemptions, which protect certain assets from entering into the “bankruptcy estate”. Items in your bankruptcy estate are known as non-exempt and will be sold off by the…