Posts by Frank Ledbetter
How to Protect Your Life Insurance When You Declare Bankruptcy
Life insurance is an important financial product. It helps you protect your family in the event of your death. For some, it also acts as a savings, investment, and retirement plan that may or may not pay out death benefits. If you have a life insurance policy you should make sure your bankruptcy lawyer knows…
Read More4 Problems Which Could Complicate Your Chapter 7 Case
Chapter 7 is the only type of bankruptcy case which people ever successfully DIY. Still, failure rates are high. 62% of people who attempt bankruptcy on their own aren’t going to get their discharge, or will suffer significant losses in the process of filing. In short, you need a lawyer. Even if you think your…
Read MoreHow to Make Debt Collectors Stop Calling
Are debt collectors driving you crazy? Getting call after call can be emotionally distressing and mentally exhausting. Did you know you don’t have to put up with it? You have rights. Here are some ways to get debt collectors off your back. Tell them to stop contacting you. Scrupulous debt collectors who are trying to…
Read MoreCan Bankruptcy Stop an Eviction in Missouri?
Are you considering bankruptcy because you’re behind on your rent? Few things are more stressful than knowing your financial problems could deprive you of a place to live. It’s important to understand the interaction between bankruptcy law and Missouri landlord-tenant law if you’re going to launch a strategy capable of helping you. Why are you…
Read MoreDefending Your Home Against Foreclosure in St. Louis
Foreclosure is one of the most frightening financial situations you’ll ever face. It’s important to understand how the process works and what you can do about it. Armed with this information, you can consider next steps. Steps in a Missouri Foreclosure The process technically begins when you miss your first payment. Once this happens, you’ve…
Read MoreMissouri Residents: 3 Things to Remember When Debt Collectors Call
Few things are more stressful than hearing from debt collectors. They’re even trained to ramp up the stress, playing on your guilt, and shame about your financial situation to get whatever money they can get out of you. Past a certain point, paying debt collectors is rarely profitable, so you might opt to stop speaking…
Read MoreHow to Avoid Accusations of Bankruptcy Fraud
Bankruptcy fraud is a serious criminal charge. It will prevent you from receiving your bankruptcy discharge, and you could end up paying massive fines, or going to jail. Often, people take certain actions during bankruptcy that seem quite innocent to them, but which are presumed to be fraudulent actions when the courts find out about…
Read MoreIs it Possible to Discharge IRS Debt in Bankruptcy?
The gig economy has led to a great many people who are forced to pay self-employment taxes. For many, this can result in significant tax debts well out of proportion with the income they receive, or their ability to pay taxes. The IRS will often work with taxpayers to create payment plans. This can be…
Read MoreDo Both Spouses Have to File Bankruptcy?
You may be surprised to learn that you and your spouse don’t have to file bankruptcy together. You can file two separate bankruptcy cases if you want to. You can file while your spouse stays out of the bankruptcy process altogether. Deciding which of these options is most advantageous means asking a few questions. What’s…
Read MoreShould You Pay Any Debts During Your St. Louis Bankruptcy?
One of the biggest advantages of filing for bankruptcy is gaining the protection of the automatic stay. During the automatic stay, your creditors can’t take any actions against you, not even so much as a collection call. And you probably won’t pay most of them directly ever again. If you file Chapter 13 they’ll receive…
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