by John Skiba, Esq. | Jul 9, 2011 | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Garnishment
***** Update***** Check out the new Consumer Warrior Podcast Episode on Fighting Wage Garnishment! Many people I meet with for bankruptcy consultations are terrified that their wages are going to be garnished because they have missed a payment or two on their credit...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jul 8, 2011 | Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
I mention quite frequently in my blogs on and on my website that no one wants to file for bankruptcy. Because of this many people delay their bankruptcy filing even when it will be the best decision in the long run. After having just celebrated the July 4th holiday,...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jul 7, 2011 | Uncategorized
When meeting with people to discuss a bankruptcy filing it is clear that for most that they are in what they view as a very low point in their lives. Many view their bankruptcy filing as the end of their life as they know it. However, in several ways your life will...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jul 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
If you have ever opened your own business you quickly learned that business credit for a small business simply does not exist. Sure, banks will loan your business money and landlords will allow you to put a lease in the company name, but none of it will take place...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jun 29, 2011 | Uncategorized
No one wants to file for bankruptcy. But sometimes, the situation requires it. And sometimes the situation requires that hit happen right now! A bankruptcy case typically takes anywhere from one week to a month to prepare. The bankruptcy court requires a lot of...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jun 29, 2011 | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Often at the end of a bankruptcy consultation I get hit with the question – would you file bankruptcy with this amount of debt? People are worried that the amount of debt they have is not enough to warrant a bankruptcy filing. There is no magical number or threshold...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jun 27, 2011 | Uncategorized
Today it was announced that the Los Angeles Dodgers filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, proving that no matter how much money you have, you can always go broke. The Dodgers were reportedly running extremely low on cash and were at risk of not being able to...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jun 24, 2011 | Uncategorized
When you fall behind on your bills you feel helpless. Like it is you against the world. The first thing that happens is the phone calls. The phone rings off the hook night and day. After a while you stop answering because you realize there is no purpose. The...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jun 22, 2011 | Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Prior to meeting with me for a bankruptcy consultation many people will have pulled a copy of their credit report to get an idea of the total amount of outstanding debt. Often they will see that certain debts have been “charged off” or “written off” by a certain...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jun 21, 2011 | Uncategorized
No one wants to file for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is the last option for most people, and probably rightly so. By the time people come to my office to meet with me most have looked into other options as they struggled along trying to keep up with monthly minimum...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jun 20, 2011 | Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
A question I get quite often from clients thinking of filing for bankruptcy is how long the actual bankruptcy case will last. The answer to that question depends on what type or chapter of bankruptcy you will be filing. Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases are relatively...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jun 14, 2011 | Foreclosure
Much of the time I spend with clients is helping them understand the bankruptcy process. However, I do try and help clients understand the consequences of bankruptcy and in doing so one of the first questions I get is how many years must go by before it is possible...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jun 13, 2011 | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
In every bankruptcy case it is required that the person filing for bankruptcy attend a meeting called the Meeting of Creditors. This meeting is an opportunity for the trustee who is assigned to your case to ask you questions about the truthfulness of the information...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jun 9, 2011 | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
A big fear for many prior to bankruptcy is the thought of having wages garnished. This is a well-founded worry as in Arizona up to 25% of each paycheck can be garnished and paid to your creditors. However, what most people don’t realize is that your creditors can’t...
by John Skiba, Esq. | Jun 8, 2011 | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
In a fair amount of bankruptcy cases that I file medical bills are a significant part of what lead to the bankruptcy filing. Many people simply can’t afford health insurance and when they get sick the bills can be overwhelming. Medical debts generally fall into the...
