Photo by Edwin Hooper on Unsplash. The $600 pandemic relief payments now being distributed are protected from the reach of bankruptcy trustees, with some timing considerations. The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act (CCA) became law on December 27, 2020. It is reportedly the longest single bill that Congress has passed. Within its 5,593 pages are about 15 pages of temporary changes … Read More
Renewed and New Unemployment Benefits Approved
Photo by Alex Kotliarskyi on Unsplash. Federal unemployment benefits were extended as of December 27, 2020. With one new unemployment benefit added. Here’s what the new law includes. The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), was enacted on December 27. Last week we wrote about the new $600 stimulus payments of this new Act. It also extended unemployment … Read More
$600 Pandemic Relief Payments Are Coming
Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash. Now that Trump did sign the new pandemic relief law, and the increase to $2,000 is not happening, when and how are the $600 payments coming? Last Sunday (on December 27) President Trump signed the pandemic relief law that Congress had passed 6 days earlier. Because between its passage and before signing he’d surprisingly … Read More
Trump DOES Sign Pandemic Relief Law
Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash. Unexpectedly Trump did not sign the new pandemic relief law last week. Then after multiple objections, he unexpectedly signed it Sunday night. Late last weekend (on December 20) Congress announced it had a deal on a new pandemic relief law. That agreement was the topic of our blog post last week. Since our last … Read More
Congress Agrees to New Pandemic Relief
Photo by Blogging Guide on Unsplash. Congressional leaders finally announced an agreement for new pandemic relief, extending unemployment benefits and new stimulus payments. On Sunday evening, December 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate Republican and Democratic leaders announced that they finally agreed on a new pandemic relief package. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the following on the floor of the Senate: … Read More
Chapter 13 and Your Vehicle Loan or Lease
Photo by A n v e s h on Unsplash. Chapter 13 is more powerful and flexible than Chapter 7 in buying time on your vehicle loan or lease. It can even help more after a repossession. We’re in a series on the smart timing of your bankruptcy case. Last week we interrupted for a breaking story on the pandemic-based … Read More
No Federal Student Loan Payments through January
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash. The pandemic’s federal student loan forbearance period which was expiring at the end of December has been extended through January 31, 2021. On Friday, December 4, the Department of Education extended a forbearance period that was expiring on December 31, 2020. Its press release says “[f]ederal student loan borrowers will not be expected to … Read More
Chapter 7 and Your Vehicle Loan or Lease
Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash. A timely Chapter 7 filing helps in diverse situations with your vehicle loan or lease. Check out these 7 ways Chapter 7 gives you big advantages. We’re in a series on the smart timing of your bankruptcy case. Last week we got into filing bankruptcy to stop a vehicle repossession or surrender. We referred … Read More
Avoid Vehicle Surrender or Repossession
Photo by Zachary Keimig on Unsplash. Use bankruptcy to avoid surrendering your vehicle or getting it repossessed. Then Chapter 7 or 13 will either buy time or allow you to keep it. We’re continuing a series of blog posts on the smart timing of your bankruptcy case. This week we get into filing bankruptcy to stop a vehicle repossession or … Read More
Non-Vehicle Cramdown Timing
Photo by Clayton on Unsplash. Cramdown is often used as a tool to lower monthly payments and the total paid on vehicle loans. This tool also works with other collateral. We’re in a series of blog posts on the best timing for your filing of your bankruptcy case. Last week we got into timing the cramdown of a vehicle loan. … Read More
Vehicle Loan Cramdown and Chapter 13 Timing
Photo by Xan Griffin on Unsplash. Vehicle loan cramdown lowers your monthly payment and reduces the total you pay for your vehicle. You have to qualify, and timing is crucial. We’re in the midst of a series on filing your bankruptcy case with the best timing. Today we get into the right timing to be able to cram down your … Read More
Student Loans and Chapter 13 Timing
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash. Chapter 13 gives you significant timing advantages better enabling you to demonstrate the required undue hardship to write off student loans. We’re in a series on the best timing for filing your bankruptcy case. Two weeks ago we introduced the special condition you have to meet to discharge (write off) student loans: undue hardship. … Read More
Student Loans and Chapter 7 Timing
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash. You have to demonstrate undue hardship to write off a student loan. That often requires strategic filing of your Chapter 7 case. We’re in a series on the smart timing of your bankruptcy case. Last week we introduced the special condition you must meet to discharge (write off) student loans: “undue hardship.” Bankruptcy discharges other … Read More
Discharging Student Loans Causing Undue Hardship
Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash. Discharging—permanently writing off—student loans requires showing undue hardship. Smart bankruptcy timing can make this easier to do. Discharging Student Loans in Bankruptcy It takes certain circumstances to be able to discharge student loans. Those circumstances can involve the right timing of your bankruptcy case. Bankruptcy discharges most debts. But it “does not discharge” you … Read More
Avoid Credit Card Allegations of Fraud
Photo by rupixen.com on Unsplash. Making credit card purchases or cash advances a short time before filing bankruptcy can result in fraud allegations. Good timing can avoid this. Last week’s blog post introduced the so-called “presumptions of fraud” in bankruptcy. Today we get into dealing with this issue through smart bankruptcy timing. Bankruptcy Timing to Avoid the Presumption of Fraud … Read More