Frequently, all of it. The same North Carolina exemptions which protect certain property in a bankruptcy filing also protect a consumer’s property if they never file a bankruptcy case. This renders many consumers “judgment proof,” meaning that the judgment creditor may not seize their property and sell it in order to pay off the debt. …
Probably not. During initial consultations, I usually ask clients to tell me about what debts they owe so we can create a plan to deal with them efficiently. Many clients tell me about some of their debts, and then explain that the rest of their debts have been “charged-off.” A “charge-off” usually means the original…
As an Asheville bankruptcy attorney, I frequently meet with folks who have been turned down recently by their bank for a mortgage loan. After speaking with the bank, and being rejected because of old debts clouding their credit report, they call me to assess how they can get their financial lives in order. Many times,…
When financial trouble hits, consumers will do almost anything to make ends meet. Cashing out retirement accounts is common if a family falls behind on bills. I’ve seen this strategy being used time and time again as a bankruptcy lawyer serving Western North Carolina. It makes sense for consumers to consider all of their alternatives,…
Over the years, I’ve seen patterns in the types of financial problems consumers in Western North Carolina are facing. As an Asheville bankruptcy attorney, I help people with a wide variety of financial issues. Here is a partial list of the most common reasons why many of my present and former clients have considered a…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…