Free Pre-Bankruptcy Credit Counseling

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

Consumerbankruptcycounseling.info provides free pre-bankruptcy credit counseling.  This service is internet based only.  It does not provide in-person or telephone service.  It is funded by charitable donations.

Do not use this service if you need to file bankruptcy right away.  This service does not guarantee delivery of the certificate.  It may take up to five days after you enter the date into the software.  You will be responsible to get the certificate to your attorney.

If you are not in a hurry and have internet service, this free service may be for you.

Credit counseling must be obtained within the past 180 days to file bankruptcy.

in Financial Help.

Is Insurance Really Necessary?

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

My blogging colleagues, Jay Fleischman and Gene Melchionne, talk insurance. Great idea or great scam? You’ll find out just how much a whole life insurance policy was worth when Gene graduated from law school, and the marketing angle Jay’s got for the folks at Gerber Life Insurance. Listen online here:  http://debtpodcast.com/episode-x004-is-insurance-really-necessary/

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in Bankruptcy News.

Rethink Home Ownership Dream

Posted on August 30, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

Americans are rethinking the "dream of home ownership" in this time of economic downturn. Read about it in my latest post on Money Health Central.

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in Bankruptcy News.

Map of Bankruptcy Statistics by State

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

Map of Bankruptcy Statistics by State

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in Bankruptcy News.

Debt Settlement Companies Fleecing Debtors

Posted on June 20, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/19/business/economy/19debt.html?hp

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in Bankruptcy News.

Kansans Fare Better on Bankruptcy Audits

Posted on April 4, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

Kansas debtors have less errors on their bankruptcy paperwork than the national average, according to the report just issued by the U.S. Trustee.  "Material misstatements" were reported in 12% of the audited cases, compared with 22% nationwide, although the report does not say just how serious the errors were. The federal government audits bankruptcy cases just ...

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in Bad Outcomes, Fraud, Bankruptcy Crimes, Kansas Bankruptcy News.

Topeka Attorneys Observe U.S. Supreme Court Bankruptcy Argument in Lanning

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

We watched the arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., yesterday in the bankruptcy case of Hamilton v. Lanning. We are not involved in this case.  We attended as observers.  The case ...

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in Chapter 13, Kansas Bankruptcy News, Means Test.

New Kansas Bankruptcy Rules Today

Posted on March 17, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

New Local Rules for Kansas Bankruptcy and District Court become effective today. Click here for the pdf document.

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in Bankruptcy Laws.

Bankruptcy Code Gets Cost of Living Raise

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

Certain dollar amounts in the bankruptcy code are adjusted every three years for changes in the cost of living.  The next change will be April 1, 2010.  2010 Federal COLA adjustments

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in Bankruptcy News, Chapter 13, Exemptions & What You Get to Keep.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Debt Ceilings to Rise 7%

Posted on February 28, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

More people will be able to get help for their debt problems on April 1, 2010, when the chapter 13 debt limits increase about seven per cent. $360,475 of unsecured debt $1,081,400 of secured debt These numbers are the caps on the amount of debt an individual ...

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in Bankruptcy News, Chapter 13, Filing Bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy Means Test Meaner as Family Incomes Drop

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

As the economy worsens, unemployment rises and family incomes are dropping, getting bankruptcy help gets a little tougher. The bankruptcy income guidelines go down a few hundred dollars for Kansas cases filed on or after March 15, 2010.  While this change probably won't disqualify many debtors, the downward ...

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in Bankruptcy News, Means Test.

More Free Tax Filing Help

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

VITA volunteers will help people earning less than $49,000 per year with their tax return filing at two Topeka locations. It will be offered at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th, Tuesdays 6 to 8:30 p.m., Thursdays 3 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays 1 to 4 p.m. through April 15. Another site will ...

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in Bankruptcy News.

Get Your Taxes Prepared Free

Posted on January 22, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

(Topeka) -- Starting Monday, January 25, free E-File income tax preparation is available on the first floor of the Docking State Office Building, 915 SW Harrison Street, Room 158, Topeka. The assistance site is a partnership of the Kansas Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service's VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program. The site is ...

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in Bankruptcy News.

Bankruptcy Dismissed for No Tax Returns

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

DISMISSAL FOR FAILURE TO FILE RETURNS MANDATORY UPON MOTION In re McCluney, Case No. 06-21175 June 2007, Judge Somers The Court sustained a motion to dismiss by the IRS for failure to file pre petition tax returns as required under the new 1308 provision. This is not an “automatic dismissal” provision, but once the motion was filed, Judge Somers ...

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in Court Rulings, Filing Bankruptcy.

Gap Insurance, Warranty Not PMSI

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

“TRANSFORMATION” RULE AND NEGATIVE EQUITY DISCUSSED; GAP INSURANCE, SERVICE CONTRACT NOT PART OF COLLATERAL In re Miller, Case No 08-40935 December 2008, Judge Karlin Debtor sought, and was permitted, to pay only the cost of the car, rather than cost plus other charges. Court did not rule on whether certain fees not adequately addressed by ...

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in Chapter 13, Court Rulings, Vehicles.

Negative Equity

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

NEGATIVE EQUITY ISSUE NOT RULED UPON IN 1327 CASE In re Kuhasz, Case No. 07-20282 November 2008, Judge Somers Court noted split within the district. Judge Karlin excluded negative equity from PMSI claim in In re Padgett, 389 BR 203, while Judge Nugent included it. In re Ford 387 BR 14827 but declined to rule on the issue ...

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in Chapter 13, Court Rulings, Vehicles.

What Is Business Use of Vehicle?

Posted on January 16, 2010 by Jill Michaux, Topeka Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney

BUSINESS USE MUST BE “SIGNIFICANT” TO ESCAPE 910 FULL PAYMENT In re Wilson, Case No. 06-40637 December 2006, Judge Karlin Debtor sought to avoid the full payment requirement of the 910 car loan provision. Debtors were using the vehicles in question for personal and business use, as they served as foster parents. The court ...

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in Chapter 13, Court Rulings, Vehicles.
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