Debt, no matter the amount, has the tendency to loom over us. This is because we have been trained to think that debt is bad while at the same time being pressured to have multiple credit cards and to constantly buy. Thus, many individuals seek debt relief each year....
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
The effect of the automatic stay in bankruptcy
Anyone who has been through a time of financial difficulty knows how unpleasant it can be to deal with a stream of calls from creditors or collection agents trying to collect past due obligations. Many people who are considering bankruptcy as a solution to their...
Is Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy better for my situation?
When New Yorkers are thinking about finally addressing their financial struggles through bankruptcy, they may be unsure of which chapter is better for their circumstances. The two types of personal bankruptcy for individual debtors are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Each...
Finding debt relief options for small businesses
Interest hikes, high inflation and supply chain issues have affected many small businesses. U.S. bankruptcy filing data revealed a 34% rise in commercial Chapter 11 filings last May, although the overall filings decreased in the last year. Recent legislation that...
Is medical debt relief on the way?
Medical debt can be unexpected and soul-crushing. It is the double whammy of our system that can feel like you are being punished simply for getting sick. And, even when you figure out a way to pay off that debt or settle it, that debt stays on your record as a...
What is Chapter 13, and who is eligible for it?
If you are struggling with debt, you know it can be a lonely feeling. You may not want to tell your friends and family about your financial troubles, and this furthers your sense of isolation. It may be helpful to know that many people in New York are in very similar...
What if I need to file for bankruptcy a second time?
Financial problems can happen to anyone throughout New York State. This is true regardless of their education, employment and personal circumstances. Sudden illness, an unexpected societal challenge, medical expenses, job loss, divorce and other issues can spur an...
Discharging credit card debt in bankruptcy
Many people use credit cards to pay for expenses and although these borrowers intend to repay the debt, there are sometimes situations where they are unable to. Credit cards often have high interest rates as well and even borrowers who make minimum payments aren’t...
Understanding the automatic stay in bankruptcy
Many Buffalo residents have been told that filing for bankruptcy can offer protection from a person’s creditors, but very few understand how this protection is created. The short answer is the “automatic stay,” a provision of the United States Bankruptcy Code that...
There is no shame in asking for a fresh financial start
For a number of reasons, many residents of the Buffalo area may run into serious financial problems. Recent statistics from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the employment rate hovers around 7.5% in Buffalo, meaning more than 1 out of 20...