Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in California can eliminate most unsecured debt through a structured court process. The process follows a structured series of steps under federal law, starting with credit counseling and ending with...
When filing for bankruptcy in California, recent luxury purchases and certain cash advances can affect whether a debt is discharged. Under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2)(C), qualifying consumer debts incurred shortly before filing can be presumed...
Using a credit card before bankruptcy is not automatically a problem, but what you charge and when you charge it can matter. Luxury purchases and cash advances made shortly before filing can face extra scrutiny,...
Filing for bankruptcy requires you to disclose everything you own, owe, earn, and have recently sold, transferred, or given away. Even honest oversights can delay a case, such as forgetting an old 401(k), a Venmo...
A married person can file for bankruptcy alone in California, but filing individually does not completely separate your finances from your spouse’s. Your spouse’s income may affect your Chapter 7 eligibility, community property may become...
Missing a payment or paying late after bankruptcy can create new financial problems as you try to rebuild your credit and regain stability. After a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 case, staying current on mortgages,...
A no-asset Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a case in which the trustee finds no nonexempt property worth administering for creditors and files a Report of No Distribution. That can happen because property is exempt, has...
The Chapter 7 meeting of creditors is one of the few times you will participate directly in your bankruptcy case. During this brief proceeding, the bankruptcy trustee places you under oath and asks questions about...
In most bankruptcy cases, the automatic stay begins when the petition is filed. The stay pauses covered collection activity, including collection calls, wage garnishments, lawsuits, repossessions, and foreclosure sales. However, repeat filing rules, statutory exceptions,...
Opportunity Financial (OppFi), a lender that offers installment loans with annual percentage rates (APRs) of 160% or more, is seeking approval to acquire BNC Bank and operate as a national bank. If approved, the acquisition...