Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Medical Bills Cause more than 60% of Bankruptcies in U.S.

CNN analysts estimate that at least 1.5 million Americans will file for bankruptcy this year, for some it will be the result of overspending, but for 60% medical debt will be the leading cause. Over the past 6 years, the number of bankruptcy filings due to medical debt has almost doubled from 46% to 62%. The majority of those who filed for bankruptcy represent the middle class and those with good education. Many families are unaware that they are just one illness away from financial ruin. Medical bills are causing excessive stress in one out of five American families today.

Those who have experienced illness or injury and found themselves overwhelmed with medical debt should contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. Bankruptcy laws were created to help people resolve overwhelming debt and gain a fresh financial start. Bankruptcy attorney Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:
http://www.istreetresearch.com/medical-bills-caused-more-than-60-of-bankruptcies-in-the-united-states/2510949/

Bankruptcy Law, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Jersey Shore Star, ‘The Situation’ Indicted for $8.9M Tax Fraud Conspiracy

Former Jersey Shore cast member, Mike Sorrentino (a.k.a. ‘The Situation’) and his brother / business manager, Marc Sorrentino appeared in a New Jersey Federal Court this week to plead not guilty to a fraud indictment claiming they did not pay taxes on $8.9 million of income. Court documents show that both Sorrentino and his brother are being charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., and an additional two counts of filing false returns.  His brother faces three.  ‘The Situation’ is also charged with not filing a tax return in 2011, when he earned more than $1.9 million in income.

The document states, “From in or about January 2010 through in or about November 2013, in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, in the District of New Jersey and elsewhere, defendants Marc Sorrentino and Michael Sorrentino, aka ‘The Situation,’ did knowingly and intentionally conspire and agree with each other and others to defraud the United States by impeding, impairing, obstructing, and defeating, through deceitful and dishonest means, the lawful functions of the IRS, a constituent agency of the United States Department of the Treasury, to ascertain, compute, assess, and collect federal income taxes,”

“According to the indictment, Michael and Marc Sorrentino filed false tax returns that incorrectly reported millions made from promotions and appearances,” U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said in a statement. “The brothers allegedly also claimed costly clothes and cars as business expenses and funneled company money into personal accounts. The law is absolutely clear: telling the truth to the IRS is not optional.”

The conspiracy and filing false tax returns each carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count charging ‘The Situation’ for failing to file a tax return carries a maximum potential penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Regardless of your occupation or status in life, if you attempt to cheat on your taxes for personal financial gain- you face real consequences, criminal prosecution and even jail time.

If you are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:
https://celebrity.yahoo.com/blogs/celeb-news/mike–the-situation–sorrentino-indicted-for-tax-crimes-181532715.html

http://www.people.com/article/mike-the-situation-sorrentino-tax-evasion

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Credit Card Debt or Student Loan Debt: Which to pay off first?

It is important to first realize, that all debt is not created equal. Some debt can actually work for you. For example, debt that is tax deductible, such as mortgage and student loan debt falls into the category of “good” debt. On the other hand, debts like credit card debt and car loans fall into the “bad” debt category.

Student loans offer fixed rates and tax deductible interest. You should not be in a rush to pay these off, particularly if you are not already saving adequately for retirement and other emergencies. Federal student loans offer the opportunity to reduce or even suspend payment without damaging your credit scores if you face financial difficulty and have the possibility of forgiveness. Those options are not available for credit card debt.

If your student loan payments exceed 10% of your income when you enter into repayment, the federal government  has a “Pay as you Earn” program, which offers more manageable payments for borrowers, especially those with large amounts of debt.

For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at http://www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-montalk-20140921-column.html

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

New Study Reveals Surprising Impact Student Loan Debt has on the Housing Market

A new study reveals the impact of student loan debt on home ownership. The impact is 414,000. That is how many home sales will not happen this year as a result of high levels of student loan debt, according to a report from John Burns Consulting, a firm that advises home builders.  This number is the equivalent of about 8% of all home sales, enough to dent the housing industry by $83 billion a year!

The report estimates that the number of borrowers under the age of 40 that owe $250 or more each month in student loans has nearly tripled since 2005, to 5.9 million. And it projects that every $250 in monthly student loan payments decreases home borrowing and purchasing power by $44,000.  With the typical sale price of a home being $200,000, you get $83 billion in lost sales.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has found that young people with student loan debt are now less likely to own a home than people who never attended college, a reversal of the long-standing trend linking higher education to home ownership and higher earnings. Student debt has been a key factor in the lower-than-normal rates, particularly for first-time home buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors.

For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at http://www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources: http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-student-loan-debt-housing-market-20140922-story.html

Bankruptcy Law, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Consequences of Concealing Assets in Bankruptcy

A Palm Beach couple is facing criminal charges for attempting to hide pricey assets, such as jewelry and silverware from bankruptcy court. The couple filed Chapter 7 in 2008 hoping to discharge $2.9 million in debt. Dr. Richard Krugman heads a medical practice in New Jersey that lost a $4.3 million judgment to an insurance company. The couple claimed available assets of less than $13,000, but a court review found significantly more than that.

According to the federal criminal complaint, the couple fraudulently failed to disclose that they owned the following pricey items:

• A woman’s gold wedding band with two carats of diamonds.
• A woman’s platinum hoop earrings with pave diamonds.
• A woman’s gold cocktail ring with blue stone.
• A woman’s silver bangle bracelet.
• A man’s Swiss army diving watch.
• A Royal Doulton China set.
• A high-end silverware set.
• A Waterford Crystal glass set.
• A Lalique leaf bowl.
• A Lalique caviar bowl.
• Two George Rodrigue “Blue Dog” lithographs, signed and numbered.

As a result, the bankruptcy court refused to grant them a discharge. Now the couple could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for excluding these assets. The defendants intend to plead guilty.

This should come as a warning to anyone who plans to hide assets from the bankruptcy court and their attorney. Bankruptcy trustees are experts at finding undisclosed property, vehicles, boats, jewelry, antiques, and collectibles. If you are caught trying to hide assets, the consequences are big. Your discharge will be denied, and you will be unable to discharge the debts you listed in a subsequent bankruptcy filing. In addition, the potential penalty for bankruptcy crimes include fines and imprisonment of up to five years.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:
http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/bankruptcy-trustee-find-property-not-in-bankruptcy-paperwork.html

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2014/09/15/couple-faces-criminal-charges-for-hiding-pricey.html?ana=e_sflo_bn_breakingnews&u=um2Eyo72dYSImvglWn/0xO6wsIE&t=1410970294

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Florida’s “New” Foreclosure Initiative Favors Banks not Homeowners

In the past year, Florida judges have been working under explicit directions from the state Legislature and Supreme Court to get rid of old foreclosure cases and clear the court dockets- largely by awarding tens of thousands of homes to the banks.

The state’s so-called “foreclosure initiative” is set on clearing the court system of cases and cutting the time it takes banks to foreclose. This is a nightmare for many underwater homeowners struggling to hold onto their homes.

State legislative and judicial leaders have ignored the ramifications of foreclosing on thousands of families and turning these properties over to the banks. In an attempt to clear the backlog of foreclosures, the state has set up a parallel legal system in which judges hear only foreclosure cases — often more than 100 motions a day — in courtrooms set up solely for that purpose.  In another twist, the rules will differ from those that guide civil law in other types of cases in Florida and across the country.

Homeowners and foreclosure defense attorneys are outraged, saying “the state’s entire court system is being compromised” and they are not getting a fair hearing in a legal system that is favoring the banks from start to finish. In statements from the bench and other public forums, judges have made it clear that speed is their top priority. The rights of homeowners come, at best, second.

The state Supreme Court set a target of disposing of 256,000 foreclosure cases each year for three years. That works out to about 700 cases per day. The courts have gone as far as to hire retired judges solely to hear foreclosures and case managers. These clerks and judges schedule hearings and trials even if both parties do not consent.

According to data collected by the state, one judge in Broward County closed 786 cases in a single day! Overall, Florida judges disposed of 193,922 foreclosure cases in the first nine months.  Not surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of those judgments were against homeowners.

Click here to read more on this story.

Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified Miami foreclosure defense attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Miami foreclosure defense attorney Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources: http://www.newsweek.com/floridas-foreclosure-nightmare-269526

Bankruptcy Law, Credit

Senior Americans Burdened with Student Loan Debt

The student loan crisis is not just affecting young college graduates, it is reported that a growing number of aging Americans are struggling to pay their student loans. Even a senior’s social security benefits become fair game for lenders when borrowers cannot keep up with their payments.

Among Americans ages 65 to 74, 4 percent in 2010 carried federal student loan debt, up from 1 percent six years earlier, according to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released. For all seniors, the collective amount of student loan debt grew from about $2.8 billion in 2005 to about $18.2 billion last year.

Student loan debt hits seniors especially hard because many of them are also struggling with other challenges such as health problems, divorce and job loss. Some went back to school in hopes of making a higher salary, or co-signed on loans to help fund their children’s education.

The GAO found that about 80 percent of the student loan debt by seniors was for their own education while the rest was taken out for their children or other dependents. Federal data revealed that seniors were more likely to default on loans for themselves compared with those they took out for their children.

The GAO found that about a quarter of loans held by seniors’ ages 65 to 74 were in default. In addition to docking Social Security benefits, the government can use a variety of collection methods to recoup student loans, such as docking wages or taking tax refund dollars.

For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at http://www.miamibankruptcy.com

Related Resources:
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/older-americans-struggle-student-debt

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

FICO’s New Credit Score and What it Means for Home Buyers

Following the 2008 housing crash, your credit score now plays a major role in the home buying process. Having a low credit score can result in borrowers having a higher mortgage interest rate and sometimes not qualifying for a loan at all.

FICO’s new credit score model is expected to change all that. The upgrade, called FICO 9 is likely to result in a seismic shift in credit reporting, helping those who have had less than perfect credit.

FICO 9 will be released this fall and will be less sensitive to medical collections information reported to credit bureaus. According to FICO, the median FICO score for consumers who only have medical collections on their credit report will increase by 25 points with the changes.

The new model also drops collection agency accounts that are paid off either in full or via a settlement. In addition, under FICO 9 people will be able to get a credit score even if they lack credit history.  Credit bureaus will instead be able to pull their phone bill or cable bill. This will tell lenders if the applicant is at risk of defaulting or if they have a good track record of paying their bills on time.

Mortgage experts do not anticipate FICO 9 having a dramatic increase in new home sales, but they do say, “It will help a set group of people secure a loan or get better terms.”

Under the current FICO score, a settled collection account can drop a score down low enough to not qualify for a mortgage. Under FICO 9, borrowers who could not pay their debt in the past but are now back on track, will not be penalized for past credit mistakes.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2014/09/10/what-fico-new-credit-score-formula-means-for-home-buyers/

Bankruptcy Law, Foreclosures

Is it better to file bankruptcy BEFORE or AFTER foreclosure?

If you plan to file bankruptcy and are also facing foreclosure, the timing of your bankruptcy can make all the difference- depending on whether you want to keep your home. When you file for bankruptcy, an automatic stay immediately goes into effect. This freezes all collection activities against you, including any collection attempts from your mortgage lender. Once the automatic stay goes into effect, creditors cannot take money from you or pursue any lawsuits against you. Even collection phone calls and letters violate the automatic stay.

If you file for bankruptcy before your home is sold at foreclosure, the automatic stay will prevent the foreclosure from moving forward. This will also allow you to stay in your home longer and add to the time it takes the lender to sell your home.

If you do not want to keep your home and your bankruptcy is complete before the foreclosure, this can give you peace of mind.  You will not need to worry about any lingering deficiency balance once the foreclosure goes through. Bankruptcy will eliminate this. Even if you try and negotiate a loan modification with the bank and do not succeed, you can still walk away without owing anything.

If you have any questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources:
http://www.thebankruptcysite.org/resources/is-it-better-file-bankruptcy-before-or-after-my-home-fore

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

BOA’s $17 Billion Mortgage Settlement Explained

Bank of America has agreed to a legal settlement with the Department of Justice to avoid prosecution for hundreds of billions of dollars in bad mortgage loans, making it the largest corporate legal settlement with the government in U.S. history. The total “on-paper” cost of the deal is reportedly as high as $17 billion. But many are calling the deal deceptive. In reality, the settlement is unlikely to cost BOA anywhere near that amount. Much of the deal will be tax deductible and half of its cost is made up of actions on behalf of homeowners that are in the bank’s best interest- not in the form of cash refunds that will cost the bank money.

So what does this settlement mean for struggling borrowers and underwater homeowners? While the details are still being worked out, the deal includes roughly $9 billion in cash payouts and $7 to $8 billion in “consumer relief” actions such as mortgage write-downs and refinancing for struggling borrowers. These consumer relief provisions do not require the bank to spend money they would not already spend in the normal course of business operations. For BOA, helping people stay in their homes and keep making payments is better for the bank’s revenue than foreclosing on struggling homeowners.

The settlement requires BOA to relax loan terms, reduce principal amounts and destroy abandoned properties that are hurting property values. Even at face value, the reported settlement is minuscule compared to the harm caused by Bank of America companies. The on-paper cost of the deal is less than 7 percent of the value of the mortgage deals Bank of America and its subsidiaries Countrywide and Merrill Lynch made before the housing crisis that have since gone bad.

Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified Miami foreclosure defense attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Miami foreclosure defense attorney Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Related Resources: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/08/07/3468558/bank-of-america-deal-shrinkage/