When someone is considering filing bankruptcy, it is not uncommon for them to also be considering the use of a debt settlement company. These companies often advertise that they are a better alternative to bankruptcy, and that they will help you settle your debts for “pennies on the dollar.” A recent article on DailyFinance warns [...]

When I meet with people who are considering filing bankruptcy, they often feel ashamed and guilty about their situation. They never planned on or even imagined having to file for bankruptcy, but health issues, job loss, and other life-changing situations beyond their control have brought them to my office.
Sometimes it helps them to know [...]

The website, LawHelpMN.org, has a couple of informative fact sheets posted that pertain to garnishment:
Income and Property Protected from Creditors
Garnishment and Your Rights

When I meet with people who are going through a financial rough patch, they are usually concerned about the possibility of their wages being garnished. This is a reasonable fear, because according to a recent article in the New York Times, garnishments are becoming more common.
In Minnesota, garnishment is governed by Minn. Stat. § 571.71 [...]

The National Consumer Law Center has great publications for consumers available on its website. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, or have already started the process, the following brochures will provide you with useful information:

Bankruptcy Client Brochure
Using Credit Wisely After Bankruptcy
Your Legal Rights During and After Bankruptcy

When someone contacts me because they are considering filing for bankruptcy, I often tell them to read over “Bankruptcy Basics” on the U.S. Courts website. I think that this website is a great resource because it “provides individuals who may be considering bankruptcy with a basic explanation of the different chapters under which a bankruptcy [...]

Sometimes, with its focus on bankruptcy and the current housing crisis, this blog can be quite serious – and even a little depressing. This clip from The Office always makes me laugh. Although when you find yourself in a situation where you might need to file bankruptcy it can be difficult to laugh, it’s still [...]

If you or your spouse may file bankruptcy after you divorce, it is important to know how bankruptcy affects some common issues in divorces.
Prior to 2005, a debtor who was able to show an inability to pay for property settlement debts was able to have those debts discharged in a bankruptcy. This is no longer [...]

If a divorcing couple decides that they need to file for bankruptcy, they have two more decisions to make:
(1) Should they file before or after they divorce?
(2) Should they file jointly?
If the couple is filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and their debts are joint debts, it usually makes sense from a financial and emotional [...]

This week I will feature a series on Bankruptcy and Divorce.  The first post in the series, an introduction to the financial issues a divorcing couple may encounter, is featured as a guest post on Your Minnesota Family Lawyer Blog. Your Minnesota Family Lawyer Blog is maintained by Jennifer R. Lewis Kannegieter, a Monticello, Minnesota [...]