“HOLD FAST” a nautical term probably borrowed from the Dutch houd vast (hold tight) used as a reminder to sailors to hold firmly to a ship’s rigging to avoid being thrown overboard. Take a moment to consider your financial situation: what words do you use to describe how you feel? When we think about the problem of debt, I find …

“If you are debt free and got $10 in your pocket, you are already wealthier than 25% of Americans.” ― Celso Cukierkorn. Budgeting is harder than it seems. It is especially hard if you have recently been laid off, experienced a cut in hours, or have a medical condition. Simply put, you can’t budget around ill health or job loss. …

“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”―Muhammad Ali. Financial trouble is overwhelming. It is important to know all of your options. You owe it to yourself to learn about bankruptcy. When learning about bankruptcy, here are some things to avoid: • Don’t listen to “street …

“She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very seldom followed it).” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass. Since 2005, anyone who files a bankruptcy must satisfy a credit counseling requirement. This is nothing to be nervous about; it boils down to taking two credit counseling “courses.” Many companies offer these courses, and your …

“A champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.”—Jack Dempsey. If you have taken the time to check out my bio page, you will have seen I am a fan of boxing. It may seem like a stretch to you, but believe me when I tell you boxing and bankruptcy have more in common that you think. To me, …

I meet with a lot of clients who have previously filed a bankruptcy with someone else and are facing their second bankruptcy after the first one failed. And inevitably, what I find when I sit down and speak with them is that they never really understood their first bankruptcy. They never really got to speak with their attorney. They never …

A Guide to understanding your Bankruptcy Court Hearing in the Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta & Albany Divisions. 1.          Why do I have to go to a hearing? The Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. §341) requires that everyone who files for bankruptcy protection attend a Meeting of Creditors, which is sometimes called a 341 Hearing. The purpose of the Meeting …

The Best Kind of Bankruptcy: “You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you have to overcome to reach your goals.” ― Booker T. Washington. A common question that I am asked as a bankruptcy attorney is “what is the best kind of bankruptcy?” It’s a complex question, and the best answer begins with deciding what you are …

Filing without a lawyer: Recently, I was part of a group of attorneys that was asked what risks are there for someone who wants to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy without a lawyer. What risks are there? One risk is of losing your property to the Chapter 7 trustee. A Chapter 7 is a liquidation, and you need to be sure …

Bankruptcy Exemptions: “If worries were dollar bills, I’d have money to spare.” One of the main worries people have when considering filing for bankruptcy protection in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is whether they will get to keep their property and belongings. What are bankruptcy exemptions? In filing for bankruptcy, the idea is to wipe out debt and get a …