Just over ten years ago, on October 17, 2005, the Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act became law, and amended the federal bankruptcy requirements in many fundamental ways. Folks still call us up and ask about the changes and what the differences are.
Read MoreThis blog has repeatedly reported on what not to do when filing for personal bankruptcy protection and getting a “fresh start” and the reports come down to this: do not submit false testimony, be honest in your bankruptcy petition and schedules, and fully disclose your assets and liabilities to your attorney so he or she can make a plan for you to discharge you debts, if possible.
Read MoreYou are the victim of personal injury. You file a lawsuit and win. You receive a judgment that, under the Full Faith and Credit clause in the United States Constitution (Article IV, Section 1) allows you to collect against the person responsible anywhere he or she ventures in the US. However, what happens if the person causing your injury files for bankruptcy?
Read MoreWhen necessary, filing for personal bankruptcy is an excellent way of getting a “fresh start” by discharging debts while keeping exempt assets. The laws give Massachusetts residents ample exemptions, including the Massachusetts Homestead Exemption, while allowing folks to discharge most consumer debts and old taxes.
Read MoreFirst, let’s set the record straight. Donald Trump, the man (and Republican Party presidential candidate), has never filed personal bankruptcy. On the other hand, his casino business has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in bankruptcy a record four times in the past 30 years! While it is legal for corporations to file for bankruptcy, and they often emerge stronger, keeping key employees and business, it certainly raises some questions about the chief executives’ ability to manage a large entity successfully. Furthermore, the debts owed to lenders, employees and creditors are either wiped out or reduced.
Read MoreIn an astonishing new study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, 16% of retired NFL players declare bankruptcy. This is within 12 years of retirement. That’s correct. In a study of football players drafted into the NFL between 1996 and 2003, almost 15% declared bankruptcy. This group had an average income of $1.9 million per year! And the study determined that the actual income was not a factor in bankruptcy.
Read MoreIf you file for personal bankruptcy in Massachusetts, do you have to list your Facebook account as an asset? Is there a distinction between your personal account and the business account for small businesses?
Read MoreMany of our personal bankruptcy clients have payday loans. These are loans from companies who specialize in “short-term” loans to “get you to the next payday.” We have always wondered about these loans, as folks who need such short-term loans are often borrowing from Peter to pay Paul…and then doing it again the next week.
Read MoreIn a study undertaken by the Boston Federal Reserve Bank regarding wealth and race, some unfortunate results were uncovered. White households have significantly more wealth as measured by home equity, retirement accounts, and other such standard measures of wealth. For example, over 56% of while households have retirement accounts while only 21.2% of black families in Boston have such accounts; even fewer Boston Dominican families have retirement accounts, at 7.5%.
Read MoreMany folks call us and ask if they can keep their tax refund and still file for bankruptcy protection. The short answer for many people is yes. Of course, the real answer is that you should meet with an experienced Massachusetts bankruptcy attorney before trying to undertake your own bankruptcy planning.
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