Filing for bankruptcy can be an unfortunate blow to your credit score. However, the good news is there are ways you can rebuild this, it’s just a matter of knowing how. Nothing in credit is “forever.” Adopting responsible credit habits such as paying your bills on time, using only a small portion of your available credit and not applying for too much credit at once can rebuild your credit gradually.
1.) Learn from your mistakes. If your problem was overspending, create a budget and stick to it. If medical bills caused you to file bankruptcy, seek a job with adequate health insurance coverage.
2.) Establish an emergency fund to help get you through a job loss or other financial setback. Try to save at least 25% of your paycheck and get a second job if necessary. This also may require you to live below your means for the first 6 months to save as much as possible.
3.) Open a checking or savings account, preferably through a large bank. 
4.) Attain a secured credit card. To quickly rebuild your credit you need to establish two types of credit: Installment (i.e. – auto loans, student loans or mortgages) and Revolving (i.e. – credit cards or home equity lines of credit). Light, regular use of a credit card will help rebuild your credit.
5.) Become familiar with your credit report. The most important thing is for you to attain positive reports from your credit card issuer through Experian, TransUnion and Equifax- ALL three. Check your credit reports every 4 to 6 months, making sure all information is accurate.
If you have any questions on this topic or are in need of a financial fresh start, please contact our experienced team of bankruptcy attorneys at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. Web site at www.miamibankruptcy.info/.
5 Things to NEVER do after Filing for Bankruptcy
1.) Do not pay your bills automatically from your checking account. Automatic bill pay can overdraft your account if you are not monitoring it carefully and can hurt your efforts of trying to rebuild your credit.
2.) Never use payday loans. The fees and interest rates are high and it is easy to get into trouble using them.
3.) Do not try to erase bankruptcy from your credit report, it is not possible and will only make matters worse.
4.) Do not enlist credit counseling agencies to clean up bad credit, no matter how legitimate they seem. Too often these companies are more likely to take advantage of the situation than help you.
5.) Do not immediately go out for a $150 dinner or buy a $200 pair of jeans. Curb your spending habits to avoid repeating the same mistakes twice.
If you have any questions on this topic or are in need of a financial fresh start, please contact our experienced team of bankruptcy attorneys at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. Web site at www.miamibankruptcy.info/.
Renter’s Rights Violated by Foreclosed Property Owners
Many renters, particularly in the Miami-Dade area are under an increasing amount of pressure due to foreclosures placed on the property they are renting. A recent federal law passed by President Obama, called Help Families Save Their Homes Act states that following the date of foreclosure, the renter has 90 days before vacating, if they are renting month-to-month, or until the end of their lease. However, many landlords are taking matters into their own hands and are disregarding the law, evicting tenants before the end of their lease.
A large part of the problem is lack of knowledge on the part of the owner and the tenant. New owners are taking advantage of the fact that lawmakers are not enforcing these laws. A lot of my clients are unaware that only an order by a judge can force them out of their home before their lease ends. In July of 2009, the Affordable Housing Task Force created a packet for individuals in the Miami-Dade area explaining their rights as a tenant and their landlord’s rights as a property owner. The packet is complete with scenarios and different routes you can take in addressing this legally if you have been violated of your rights. http://www.miamidade.gov/foreclosure/library/Know_Your_Rights_Handbook.pdf
If you have any questions on this topic or are facing foreclosure, please feel free to contact Bankruptcy and Foreclosure attorney, Timothy Kingcade at (305) 285-9100. He 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. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. Web site at www.miamibankruptcy.info.
– Timothy Kingcade
If I File For Bankruptcy, Will I Lose My Tax Refund?
In cases where my clients are expecting a tax refund, many wonder if they will have to declare this as an asset of the bankruptcy estate. In many cases it is. But there are methods of preserving your tax reimbursement if you are anticipating one.
1.) The money that the government owes you for a tax refund may be claimed as exempt property.
2.) You can apply your reimbursement toward next year’s taxes. However, should you make this decision it is irrevocable, you cannot change your mind.
3.) Filing jointly if you are married and only one of you files for bankruptcy, the other may still get their share of the tax return, because that spouse does not have to suffer the consequences of bankruptcy.
4.) You can always keep the refund from becoming property connected with the bankruptcy estate by waiting to file until after you receive your refund. After receiving your tax refund, you will likely be able to spend this money on your attorney’s fees or necessities. These are both legitimate purchases to devote your tax refund to.
5.) If you use your tax refund to pay someone back, like any kind of creditor, including family and friends that you may have borrowed money from, then the bankruptcy trustee will ask that you pay the amount received from the tax return. However, if you do not use the money to repay someone and spend it on something like getting your roof fixed or repairing your car, they will usually not go after you to get the tax return money.
If you have any questions on this topic or are in need of a financial fresh start, please contact our experienced team of bankruptcy and foreclosure defense attorneys at (305) 285-9100. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment now. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. Web site at www.miamibankruptcy.info/.
– Timothy Kingcade
Can my employer fire me for filing bankruptcy?
No. The law prohibits government units and private employers from discriminating against you because you filed a bankruptcy petition or because you failed to pay a dischargeable debt.
Bankruptcy Filing & Student Loan Exemption
In my practice I have seen an increase in bankruptcy filings among college and graduate school educated individuals. As a result of a 2005 law no longer discharging private student loans, many of my clients have been asking if there is a loophole in the law. When it comes to discharging student loans, unless you can show that your loan payment is an “undue hardship” on you, your family, and your dependents, your student loans are ineligible for cancellation in bankruptcy. 
“Undue hardship” is difficult to prove unless you are physically unable to work and there is no chance of you making money. To discharge your student loans under this exemption, you must file a separate motion with the bankruptcy court and present your situation before a judge. People who are unable to pay their debts may file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the federal bankruptcy code. This allows the court to “erase” your bills and have a fresh start financially.
If you have any questions on the topic of student loans as they relate to your bankruptcy filing please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. Web site at www.miamibankruptcy.info/.
– Timothy Kingcade
Bankruptcy Filing & Student Loan Exemption
In my practice I have seen an increase in bankruptcy filings among college and graduate school educated individuals. As a result of a 2005 law no longer discharging private student loans, many of my clients have been asking if there is a loophole in the law. When it comes to discharging student loans, unless you can show that your loan payment is an “undue hardship” on you, your family, and your dependents, your student loans are ineligible for cancellation in bankruptcy.
“Undue hardship” is difficult to prove unless you are physically unable to work and there is no chance of you making money. To discharge your student loans under this exemption, you must file a separate motion with the bankruptcy court and present your situation before a judge. People who are unable to pay their debts may file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the federal bankruptcy code. This allows the court to “erase” your bills and have a fresh start financially.
If you have any questions on the topic of student loans as they relate to your bankruptcy filing please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. Web site at www.miamibankruptcy.info/.
– Timothy Kingcade
What happens to my car loan after I file for bankruptcy?
In Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, cars are hard to redeem since the law now requires paying the lender the retail replacement value of the car. That value is generally higher than the private sale value that was used under the prior law. It remains possible for a debtor to surrender a car when keeping up the payments is impossible. Under Chapter 13, debtors must repay the entire car loan if they bought a car within 910 days of the bankruptcy filing. For example, if you had an outstanding balance of $6,000 on a car loan whose blue book value was only $4,000, you would be required to pay the entire $6,000 balance if the car was purchased less than 30 months of filing.
The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) of 2005 creates a formal way to assume a personal property lease, such as a car lease, in a Chapter 7 case. The lease will be deemed rejected if the case trustee fails to assume it within 60 days after filing. At that point, the debtor may notify the creditor that the debtor wishes to assume the lease. The creditor may, at its option, notify the debtor that it is willing to have the lease assumed and may condition the assumption on cure of any outstanding default. The debtor then has 30 days after the creditor’s notice to send a further notice that the lease is assumed.
If you have any questions on the topic of car loans as they relate to your bankruptcy filing please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. Web site at www.miamibankruptcy.info/.
Timothy Kingcade
Bankruptcy Filing Advice
Bankruptcy filing is at an all time high and many people are having a tough time understanding some of the recent bankruptcy rules and how they can affect their filing. It is important that you retain a lawyer with significant experience in bankruptcy law who can answer your questions and clearly explain to you what your options are. Before making a decision to file bankruptcy, you should know that not all of your debts will be discharged by the court. Tax debts, college/graduate school loans and child support are some of the non-dischargeable debts.
While bankruptcy leaves a poor mark on your credit report for several years, it should not discourage you from filing. Usually, you can obtain new credit if you show proof that your financial situation has improved and you have been consistently employed with the same company for at least two years.
A common bankruptcy advice tip when it comes to credit repair is to check your credit report for errors. You are entitled to receive one free credit report per year from Equifax, Experian or Transunion. You can write, call toll-free or visit the Web sites of these companies to order your free credit report.
Once you have your credit report, review the information carefully. Check your personal information, account and credit payment information to make sure everything is accurate. If there are any discrepancies, inform the credit company in writing requesting the information be corrected, and make copies of these documents to back up your claims.
There are reputable financial institutions that are willing to help you restore your credit. Shop around, compare your options and be patient in your search. You can get information on the general terms of bankruptcy and credit cards by simply inquiring with the different companies. Note that too many credit applications and credit checks will lower your credit score significantly.
Filing for bankruptcy is emotionally and mentally stressful. A good bankruptcy attorney will help you navigate through the legal process, and provide you with immediate debt relief and valuable information, along with services and advice to help get you back on your feet financially. At Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. our attorneys have devoted their careers to helping clients with their problems and take extreme pride in the results achieved for them through Chapter 7 bankruptcy and foreclosure defense cases. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment now. We offer free office consultations and will listen to you, evaluate your individual situation, and take immediate action to help you get the relief you need.
Please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. Web site at www.miamibankruptcy.info/.
timothy kingcade
A Bankruptcy Fresh Start Post Holidays: How holiday spending can impact your filing
A Bankruptcy Fresh Start Post Holidays: How holiday spending can impact your filing
It’s important to remember this holiday season, that spending behavior can affect your ability to discharge certain bankruptcy debts- particularly when purchases are put on credit cards. Credit card issuers who believe that some part of the debt owed to them was incurred by the purchaser without the intent to repay can come back and sue the debtor in their bankruptcy proceeding. Under Bankruptcy Code Section 523 the creditor can argue the debt was incurred by fraud and should survive the bankruptcy case.
As part of a New Year’s resolution, start by putting your credit cards away this holiday season and move to a “cash only” system. Get a fresh bankruptcy start by filing this New Year. We will stop creditor harassment and help you get back on your feet.
If you have any questions about this topic, please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. Web site at www.miamibankruptcy.info/.
– Timothy Kingcade