Credit Card Debt, Debt Relief

Tips for Paying Down Holiday Credit Card Debt

Posted on by Admin

Now that the holidays are over, consumers are about to receive a New Year’s “surprise” in the form of a credit card statement. Those who already had a substantial balance on their credit cards, the extra holiday spending has only added to those balances. According to a report from credit bureau, Experian, the average credit card balance has climbed to $6,629.

You are probably wondering the next steps to take to pay down holiday debt before the interest starts mounting. We recommend taking a realistic approach in paying down the balance over the course of the first quarter of the year. By calendaring and planning out the payments, the cardholder can visualize the end goal of paying off the debt.

Bankruptcy Law

Can I File for Bankruptcy and Still Keep My Car?

Posted on by Admin

The fear of losing everything is a very real fear for many bankruptcy filers. However, this is one of the most common bankruptcy myths, and can keep individuals who are drowning financially from filing for bankruptcy. One concern many filers have is whether they will be able to keep their mode of transportation after filing for bankruptcy.

The good news is most filers will be able to keep their vehicles after filing for bankruptcy. Florida bankruptcy laws offer generous exemptions which allow individuals to keep various types of property, including their vehicle. Under the Florida Motor Vehicle Exemption, bankruptcy filers can exempt up to $1,000 in motor vehicle equity. This amount can be even more if a married couple is filing for bankruptcy jointly.

Bankruptcy Law

Miami Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade Receives the Prestigious AVVO Clients’ Choice Award for 2020

Posted on by Admin

MIAMI – (January 16, 2019) Managing Shareholder, Timothy S. Kingcade of the Miami-based bankruptcy law firm of Kingcade Garcia McMaken has received the 2020 AVVO Clients’ Choice Award. To obtain this award, an attorney must receive five or more exceptional client reviews in the same year.  This is the sixth consecutive year Kingcade has been honored with this award.

One of attorney Kingcade’s clients had this to say on AVVO: Mr. Timothy Kingcade is not only a living encyclopedia in matters of bankruptcy law, but he cares for you on a personal level. He was very detailed in explaining every step of the way what I had to expect as we entered this legal process and made me feel like family, and the rest of the team were always there to support me whenever I needed help. I definitely recommend his law firm; believe me they are the best!!!

student loan debt

Court Ruling in Favor of Discharging Student Loan Debt Gives Borrowers Hope

Posted on by Admin
Student loan forgiveness form on a desk.

When it comes to discharging debts in a bankruptcy case, student loan debt has traditionally been one of the most difficult debts to discharge. But a New York court ruling issued on January 7, 2020, has given student loan borrowers hope that change is near.

A New York judge ruled last week that the $221,385.49 in student loan debt that U.S. Navy veteran Kevin Rosenberg owed for six years was considered a dischargeable debt in his Chapter 7 bankruptcy case.

student loan debt

Tax Consequences That Come With Student Loan Forgiveness

Posted on by Admin

Receiving student loan forgiveness can be difficult to accomplish, which is why so many loan forgiveness applicants are rejected. It is also why many student loan borrowers choose to take the route of income-driven repayment plans to pay off their debt over the course of 10 to 25 years before having the remainder forgiven. However, what many of these borrowers do not realize are the tax consequences that come along with these income-based payment programs.

Under Section 61(a)(12) of the Internal Revenue Code, gross income includes revenue from the discharge of debt amounting to $600 or more in any calendar year, which means any debt that is forgiven at the end of the repayment period is considered taxable income. Depending on how high the outstanding balance is on the borrower’s debt, this taxable amount could be significant.

Bankruptcy Law

Mistakes to Avoid if You are a Senior Filing for Bankruptcy in Florida

Posted on by Admin

More seniors are filing for bankruptcy than ever before, which has been the result of a number of factors including rising healthcare costs, lack of retirement savings and less social security.  Between the years 2013 and 2016, approximately one in every eight bankruptcy cases were filed by individuals who were older than 65. Twenty-one percent of those filing for bankruptcy were between the ages of 55 and 64.

The following mistakes were made by individuals in this age group as they attempted to explore options to avoid filing for bankruptcy.

Credit Card Debt

Credit Card Debt Worse for those with High Income

Posted on by Admin

Credit card debt in the U.S. has reached a high of $830 billion, making a six percent jump since last year. Next to personal loans, credit card debt is the second-fastest growing category of debt, according to a recent Experian report. It is reported that the average American consumer carries a balance of $6,200 on his or her credit card. With balances that high, it can be quite difficult for the average consumer to pay off his or her debt.

It turns out that the consumers who are carrying the most credit card debt are those with a net worth of over $100,000 or more, according to a recent study from Bankrate.  Adults who carried net worth between $100,000 and $199,999 are the most likely to carry credit card debt, followed by individuals with net worth between $200,000 and $1 million. People who had a net worth over $1 million had the least amount of credit card debt.

Debt Relief

Growing Number of Personal Loans Could Mean Danger for U.S. Economy

Posted on by Admin

The rise in personal loan debt has financial experts worried. According to a recent study from Equifax, personal loans are up 10 percent from the previous year. In fact, all three major credit agencies report a double-digit increase in the use of personal loans over the past few months.

More often than before personal loans are being utilized by consumers looking to pay for unexpected or needed expenses. In fact, personal loan debt was reported as being the fastest growing category of consumer debt.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit Score

Tips to Help Seniors Bounce Back from a Bankruptcy Filing

Posted on by Admin

With the rising costs of health care and inflation, it is not uncommon for seniors to seek bankruptcy relief. Although bankruptcy can remain on a filer’s credit report for seven to 10 years, depending on the type of bankruptcy, there are certain steps seniors can take to boost their credit score during this period.

Prepare a Budget

One of the most important steps a senior can take after filing for bankruptcy is to prepare a budget. Many agencies, including the AARP Foundation, will work with the senior to prepare one. Most seniors live on fixed incomes, which leave very little room for unexpected expenses, such as large medical bills or expensive home repairs. However, if senior consumers can put together a plan that gives them leeway to pay for the unexpected, this budget will help them prevent falling into the same financial situation, again.

Debt Relief

‘Debt Crushing’ a Top Priority in 2020

Posted on by Admin

Becoming debt-free is a popular resolution in the New Year. As people are coming off the holidays, they often have larger credit card bills coming due. Approximately 7 in 10 people have at least one credit card.  More than half of the cardholders already in debt were willing to put gifts and holiday expenditures on credit cards, according to Creditcards.com.

Snowball or avalanche method

What is the best way to pay down debt?

The snowball method involves looking at all your debts and picking the one with the smallest balance. Ignore the interest rate and type of debt. Choose the smallest amount and put all your resources into paying that off. While doing so, keep up with the minimum payments on all your other debts. The theory is that aggressively attacking the smallest amount will allow the individual to see immediate results, which then kicks motivation into high gear.