I’m getting collection calls but can’t pay. What should I do?

As an Asheville bankruptcy lawyer, I speak everyday with consumers struggling to pay monthly bills. They want to fix things, not only to improve their credit scores, but also to stop the incessant telephone calls from creditors and debt buyers. Its very stressful trying to figure out who to pay, how much to pay, and…

I want to improve my credit score. Should I settle my old debts?

As an Asheville bankruptcy attorney, I speak with potential clients about their financial problems, solutions to those problems, and the best path forward for their family. Many potential clients are rightfully concerned about their credit scores. A bad credit score means paying more for cars, houses, and can count against someone on job applications. Almost…

Is my personal property protected from seizure in Chapter 7?

In over 95% of Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases filed in Western North Carolina, consumers are allowed to keep all of their property.  As an Asheville bankruptcy attorney, I speak with people daily about the concept of “exemptions,” which protect a limited amount of property from the reach of a consumer’s creditors.The bankruptcy code promises a…

Protecting assets and upward mobility.

As an Asheville bankruptcy lawyer, one of my primary functions is to help potential clients focus on their best financial options in order to speed up a recovery.  One of the options I commonly discuss at first client meetings is protecting assets by utilizing exemptions without using bankruptcy.  Unfortunately, this asset protection strategy is under…

Wage garnishment bill would cripple North Carolina families.

North Carolina has long balanced a creditor’s need to get paid with a consumer’s right to protect a limited amount of property from seizure by a creditor. State law currently prohibits wage garnishment or the seizure of the previous 60 days of wages from consumers when it can be shown that those earnings are “necessary…

Put your family first when deciding which bills to pay.

When there is not enough money in the household budget to pay all the required bills, consumers face a difficult choice about what bills to pay. As an Asheville bankruptcy attorney, I know it is quite common for the loudest and most annoying creditor to get paid which means more important household bills get neglected.…

I’m being harassed by a debt collector. What can I do?

As an Asheville bankruptcy attorney, I frequently meet with consumers who are stressed out by the incessant calls or threatening letters they are receiving about a debt.  The debt collectors, if acting on behalf of the original creditor, generally must comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).  The Act promotes ethical business practices…

Should I settle my debts or file for bankruptcy help?

As an Asheville bankruptcy lawyer, one of my main tasks is to figure out a client’s best financial alternatives. I try to explain those options in a way that is easy to understand and simple to execute.  Frequently, potential clients ask, “What is better for me?  Debt settlement or bankruptcy?” Here are some of the…

Protecting assets with a bankruptcy filing.

As an Asheville Bankruptcy Lawyer, I speak to potential clients on a daily basis who are having difficulty paying their bills. Once behind, consumers grow concerned about the assets most precious to their family’s health and well-being: their house, their retirement accounts, and the money they had planned to leave behind for their children. At…