Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Archives - Page 24 of 27

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

The Biggest Threat to your Credit Score

Posted on April 6, 2016by Admin

A recent study from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that 52 percent of debt on credit reports is from medical expenses, with an average balance of $579. Medical debt impacts 43 million Americans, and 15 million of those only had medical debt in collections.

This is important because it points to a few important threats for consumers.

Health insurance is confusing, doctors’ billing practices can be questionable and collection agencies have been known for putting the debt on your credit report before making any effort to collect from you. This means it’s not uncommon for people to see a medical debt end up in collections without ever being alerted of the debt.

Here are some ways to prevent medical bills from going to collections:

Make sure your doctor has your correct address. Take a moment to confirm the information your doctor’s office has on file is correct (i.e. – mailing address, phone number, email, etc.)
Set reminders to follow-up. Do not trust that the doctor’s billing dept. will do their job or have your best interest at heart. Set up reminders on your phone and in your day planner as to when your bill is due.
Understand your insurance. Know your deductible and how much your co-pays should be, so there are no surprises.
Work out a payment plan. Sometimes medical debt goes to collections because the bill is just too much to pay. Instead of ignoring the debt, try to work out a payment plan with your doctor’s office or the hospital, before it goes to collections. Request an itemized copy of the bill and check for any errors. Find out if you qualify for any charitable assistance. This is oftentimes based on income and circumstance.

Those who have experienced illness or injury and found themselves overwhelmed with medical debt should contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney. In bankruptcy, medical bills are considered general unsecured debts just like credit cards. This means that medical bills do not receive priority treatment and can easily be discharged in bankruptcy. 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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

‘Martin’ Actress Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Posted on April 5, 2016by Admin

Tisha Campbell-Martin, actress on the hit sitcom, ‘Martin’ and her husband/actor, Duane Martin, have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. They owe more than $15 million dollars in debt with only $313,000 in assets between the couple. Their assets include $65,000 in real estate and $248,000 in personal property. They list the value of their two dogs as $2. As of their filing, they had just $200 in cash and $173 in a Credit Union.

The couple’s liabilities include $3 million to Broadway Federal Bank for a personal guaranty for a real estate loan they took out, $9.5 million to the City of Los Angeles for a personal guaranty, $82,000 in back state taxes for 2005 & 2011, $86,000 to New York State Department of Taxation and $30,000 to the State Board of Equalization.

They also owe $43,000 for a 2016 Range Rover, $17,000 on the 2016 Jeep Wrangler, $67,000 on their 2014 Range Rover, 39,000 to American Express, $455,000 to City National Bank, $538,000 to Comerica Bank for a judgment against them and $120,000 to a law firm. Court documents reveal they owe $208,611 in tax debt and $113,000 in student loan debt.

Tisha famously starred as Gina on the hit sitcom, ‘Martin’ from 1992- to 1997. Her other credits include My Wife & Kids, Everybody Hates Chris and Dr. Ken. Her husband has been equally successful with his career starring in the Real Husbands of Hollywood and the hit movie White Men Can’t Jump.

If you are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all 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.eonline.com/news/753834/tisha-campbell-martin-files-for-bankruptcy-here-s-how-she-fell-15-million-in-debt

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3522790/Martin-actress-Tisha-Campbell-Martin-husband-Duane-drowning-15-million-dollars-debt-filed-Chapter-7-bankruptcy.html

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Rapper 50 Cent Ordered to Appear in Bankruptcy Court after Instagramming Cash

Posted on February 22, 2016by Admin

Curtis J. Jackson III better known as rapper, 50 Cent has been ordered back to bankruptcy court following a string of posts to his Instagram and Twitter accounts flaunting numerous piles of cash.

Jackson first filed for bankruptcy in July of last year. Since October, he has posted several pictures of himself with dozens of stacks of $100 bills on his Instagram account. In one post, he lined the stacks of bills up to spell out the word “broke,” seemingly to mock his bankruptcy filing.

Last Thursday, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ann M. Nevins told the rapper’s attorney, “I’m concerned about allegations of nondisclosure or a lack of transparency in the case. There’s a purpose of having a bankruptcy process be transparent, and part of that purpose is to inspire confidence in the process. When that process becomes very public, the need for transparency, I believe, is even higher,” said Nevins.

Jackson’s attorney later issued a statement saying that his client would show up to court and answer all of the court’s questions. The statement also said, “Mr. Jackson has been forthcoming and transparent with all creditors.”

The issue was brought up in court papers filed in January by headphone maker Sleek Audio, SunTrust Bank and 50 Cent’s ex-girlfriend Lastonia Leviston, who claim the rapper owes them a combined $29 million. They also said he has posted videos of performances that he has probably gotten paid for and has not disclosed to the court. They also pointed out that the rapper never admitted he owned property in Africa, contrary to a post on his Twitter account.

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 money, property, vehicles, 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.

Click here to read more on this story.

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.

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Bankruptcy Filings Drop to Eight-Year Low

Posted on February 11, 2016by Admin

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) released statistics showing a 9.9 percent drop in bankruptcy filings in 2015. During the 12-month period, January through December, 844,495 cases were filed in federal bankruptcy courts. This is down from 936,795 bankruptcy cases filed in 2014.

This is the lowest number of bankruptcy filings within a 12-month period since 2007. Last year was the fifth consecutive year that bankruptcy filings have fallen.

Business and non-business bankruptcy filings dropped in 2015. The total business bankruptcy filings were down from 26,983 in 2014 to 24,735 in 2015. The total non-business bankruptcy filings were 819,760, down from 909,812 the previous year.

Both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings dropped in 2015. Chapter 7 filings are the proceedings in which a debtor’s nonexempt assets are liquidated and the proceeds are distributed to creditors. Chapter 13 filings allow individuals to receive regular income to obtain debt relief while retaining their property by proposing a plan that uses future income to repay a portion of their debts over a three to five year period.

Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 filings both increased slightly from 2014. Chapter 11 filings are for businesses or individuals whose debts exceed the statutory thresholds for Chapter 13. Chapter 12 filings are for family farmers or fisherman.

Click here to read more on this story.

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.

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Student Loan Debt Discharge- Another WIN for Consumers in Bankruptcy Court

Posted on December 30, 2015by Admin

Another consumer has successfully had their federal student loans discharged in bankruptcy court. The topic of student loans and bankruptcy is gaining more attention and although not every court district offers the same considerations as this one- it should not be assumed that discharging your student loan debt in bankruptcy is impossible.

Bankruptcy can help mitigate your student loans in a variety of ways, including a full discharge of the debt owed. There are even private student loans that can be easily discharged in bankruptcy; for example, loans for schools or education that was obtained at an “ineligible education institution.”

In this specific case, the debtor was an unmarried woman in her mid-thirties with no dependents. She had suffered a variety of mental issues since her mid-teens, including eating disorders, anxiety, depression and self-harm (i.e. – cutting), which had adversely affected both her academic endeavors and her ability to maintain employment. She obtained educational loans totaling approximately $204,525.00, which included $57,489.11 owed to the U.S. Dept. of Education, $47,900.00 owed to Educational Credit Management Corporation, and $99,136.00 owed to Iowa Student Loan.

She filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 15, 2010. On July 23, 2010, she filed a complaint to determine whether her student loans could be discharged. The matter was tried, and on December 1, 2010, the bankruptcy court entered a memorandum decision in which it concluded, “excepting the educational loan debts Debtor owed to the United States Department of Education, Iowa Student Loan, and Educational Credit Management Corporation from discharge would impose an undue hardship on Debtor and a judgment determining those debts were discharged.”

Click here to read more on this story.

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 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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

New Bankruptcy Paperwork May Result in More Inaccurate Filings

Posted on November 23, 2015by Admin

As we discussed in an earlier blog, the paperwork that people and businesses have used to file for bankruptcy protection since the 1980s is being replaced effective December 1, 2015. Perhaps the biggest change with the new forms is that people and business owners will use two different sets of paperwork to file for bankruptcy. Historically, they have used the same three-page petition.

Bankruptcy experts have expressed concern that the new forms with clearer and more concise instructions (free of legalese) will encourage more people to file for bankruptcy without the help of an attorney. This could lead to people making BIG mistakes.

It is estimated that approximately 10% of bankruptcy filers nationally file without an attorney. While you may think you are saving money, the results can be devastating- jeopardizing your chances of a successful bankruptcy discharge. Studies have shown that filers who hire an attorney to file their Chapter 7 bankruptcy obtained a discharge 95% of the time. By contrast, those debtors who filed “pro se” only received their discharge in 61% of cases.

There are other benefits to hiring an attorney when filing for bankruptcy. A bankruptcy petition incorrectly or untimely filed can negatively affect a debtor’s future, rather than provide them with a much-needed financial fresh start. Bankruptcy is not about filling out forms, it is about understanding the rules, statutes and case law that determine how these forms are completed.

Click here to read more on this story.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Five Things to do after Bankruptcy

Posted on November 12, 2015by Admin

So you recently filed for bankruptcy and received your discharge, what should you do next? Whether you filed for Chapter 7 (a simple and straightforward elimination of debt bankruptcy) or a Chapter 13 (a debt repayment bankruptcy), there are certain things you should do once your case is finalized.

Collect and preserve all paperwork from your case. You should have received a full copy of your bankruptcy petition from your attorney, which is 40-50 pages of detailed financial information – including the facts about the debts and assets involved in your case. You should have also received a notice of bankruptcy filing directly from the court, which shows the deadlines that affected your case. The court should have also sent you a copy of your discharge order entered by the bankruptcy judge. It is important to have these because some lenders want to see a copy of the bankruptcy papers when considering you for new credit. This is especially true for mortgage loans.

Monitor your credit reports regularly. Credit reports from the three major credit reporting agencies can be obtained for free once a year- and it’s important to know what your creditors are saying about you. Wait approximately three to six months after your bankruptcy has been discharged to do so. It may take several billing periods for creditors to update their accounts, and many creditors and lenders will stop reporting to the credit bureaus altogether after a bankruptcy. It is important to do this because you want to make sure all of your discharged debts from the bankruptcy are being reported to the credit bureaus with a zero balance, so it does not count against you as outstanding debt, which can hurt you if you are applying for new credit.

Start a budget and review it regularly. A main focus after bankruptcy is rebuilding your credit and your budget. Create a basic budget to understand your expenses and take some time every week to see where you are at. Remember the Means Test from your bankruptcy paperwork that compared your income and expenses over a six-month period to standards set by the Census Bureau and the IRS. This test was meant to ‘filter out’ those who had the means to pay their debts, but who were living an extravagant lifestyle financed on credit cards. This is often considered an urban myth, as statistics reveal that a very small percentage fit into “the extravagant lifestyle” category. Most bankruptcies are the result of unforeseen medical expenses, a job loss, divorce or birth of a child.

Start an emergency fund. This goes hand in hand with putting together a realistic budget. When creating your budget, a small part of your income should be set aside for the unexpected. You can begin saving for an emergency fund in less than one month. If you do this every month, you will be amazed at how much it grows. You can start putting a portion of it aside for retirement or your child’s college fund. This is important to do because it will prevent you from obtaining new debt and repeating the cycle.

Consider new credit. Don’t let yourself get carried away with this one. Start with a small credit limit; monitor your charges and budget so you can pay the balance in full each month. There is a world of difference between having good credit and a heavy debt load.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

What’s Considered Bankruptcy Fraud? The Supreme Court will decide in New Case

Posted on November 11, 2015by Admin

Bankruptcy relief is not available to those who defraud their creditors, but what is the definition of fraud? The Supreme Court is getting ready to decide this in a new case. Bankruptcy laws require debtors pay back the money they owe if it was obtained by “false pretenses,” “false representation” or “actual fraud.”

Two circuits have broadly interpreted “actual fraud” as when a debtor obtains money through a scheme that is intended to cheat creditors. However, another appellate court, ruled that it is not “actual fraud” unless a debtor actually lies to the creditor. As a result, the Supreme Court will have to decide between the narrow and broad definitions of “actual fraud” to determine when certain debts will be discharged or must be dealt with in bankruptcy.

The case involves business owner Daniel Lee Ritz Jr., whose company, Chrysalis Manufacturing Corp., purchased $164,000 worth of goods from Husky International Electronics Inc. between 2003 and 2007. During the four-year period, Chrysalis never paid for the goods, and Ritz funneled more than $1 million of Chrysalis’s funds to other companies under his control.

Husky later sued Ritz to hold him personally liable for Chrysalis’s debt, but before a judge could rule on the suit, Ritz filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. Husky countered and sued Ritz in bankruptcy court, arguing that he should pay the debt because he defrauded Husky by moving Chrysalis’s funds out of its reach. A bankruptcy court found in 2011 that although Chrysalis did not benefit from the transfer of its funds, and although Ritz was not a “credible witness,” his conduct did not meet the definition of “actual fraud” for one reason: He did not lie to Husky.

A lack of misrepresentation from Ritz to Husky is what also caused a district court and appellate court to each conclude that there was no “actual fraud” and therefore Ritz could be set free from the debt he owed Husky. Husky has requested the Supreme Court take the case, which they agreed to last week.

Click here to read more on this story.

Bankruptcy Law, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Miami Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade Receives the AVVO Clients’ Choice Award 2015

Posted on April 22, 2015by Admin

Managing Shareholder, Timothy S. Kingcade of the Miami-based law firm of Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. was recently honored with the 2015 AVVO Clients’ Choice Award. In order to achieve this honor, an attorney must have received five or more exceptional client reviews within the last year.

One of attorney Kingcade’s reviews on AVVO had this to say, “It’s never easy for a hard working, honest person to file for bankruptcy. But after years of struggling with a workplace injury, decreased earnings, and a dishonest bank, it was time to make a quality decision. I am so grateful that we chose the Law Firm of Kingcade & Garcia! From the very first interview, it was clear; Mr. Kingcade was no ordinary attorney. There is no question Mr. Kingcade is a brilliant legal intellect, but what is most striking is the sincere passion he has for his work. Fighting for families in financial straits is not just a career, but a calling for him. He truly understands the negative impact financial hardships have on couples and families. His confidence, transparency and availability, afforded us peace-of-mind we hadn’t had in a long time! Excellence is not just concentrated behind Mr. Kingcade’s desk. It permeates the entire office. As a result, our bankruptcy was completed according to plan and ahead of schedule!”

Timothy S. Kingcade founded the law firm of Kingcade & Garcia, P.A., in 1996. Today, he and his firm handle more than one thousand bankruptcy filings each year. As Managing Shareholder of Kingcade & Garcia, P.A., Timothy and his firm represent clients throughout the State of Florida in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, personal injury and PIP claims. To compliment Attorney Kingcade’s extensive legal experience, he is also a certified public accountant (CPA), which provides him with a unique understanding of how to handle tax-motivated bankruptcy cases against the IRS.

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Miami-based Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. was established by managing partner and attorney, Timothy S. Kingcade in 1996. The firm represents clients throughout the State of Florida in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, personal injury and PIP claims. The firm is committed to providing personalized service to each and every client. The office environment and the service provided are centered on a culture of superior client care. Additionally, all attorneys and staff members at the firm are bilingual speaking Spanish.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Find out the Jobs that Qualify You for Student Loan Forgiveness

Posted on April 17, 2015by Admin

Student loan debt is the second largest source of debt in America, behind home mortgages. Last year’s graduates entered into the job market with an average of $33,000 in student loan debt, the largest average debt for college graduates to date, according to an analysis by Edvisors.

Students do have options, such as deferment and income-based repayment plans to assist on a short-term basis. Some students have even turned to refinancing their student loans. However, there are some jobs that make you eligible for true student loan forgiveness.

Last year the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau revealed that approximately 25 percent of the U.S. workforce employed by a public service employer may be eligible for student loan forgiveness.

Although there is no student loan forgiveness program for private student loans, the programs cover many different types of federal student loans. In addition, forgiveness programs vary depending on the type of federal loan.

The Department of Education has created a reference charge that provides all of the conditions that may lead to the cancellation or forgiveness of a federal student loan.

Teacher Forgiveness
One of the most common ways to qualify for student loan forgiveness is to work as a teacher in the public service sector or for a nonprofit organization. You must first work for five consecutive years in a designated elementary, secondary or educational service agency to be eligible for up to $5,000 of the total amount to be forgiven.

Up to 100 percent of a Perkins loan may be forgiven if you have served full-time in a public or nonprofit elementary or secondary school system serving low-income families. You may also qualify if you are a special education teacher for infants, toddlers, children or youth with disabilities. If you teach in the fields of mathematics, science, foreign languages, bilingual education or any other field determined by the state education agency to have a shortage of qualified teachers in your state, you may also be eligible for student loan forgiveness.

If you qualify, the following formulas may be applied:

• 15 percent canceled per year for the first and second years of service;
• 20 percent canceled for the third and fourth years of service;
• 30 percent canceled for the fifth year of service.

Public Service Employee Forgiveness
Direct Loans are the most common loan considered for forgiveness for public service employees. If you hold a Perkins or FFEL loan, you may need to consolidate your loans in the Direct Loans program to qualify. PLUS loans for parents and graduate students are part of the Direct Loans Program.

If you are employed with a federal, state or local government agency, entity or organization or a not-for-profit organization that has been designated as tax exempt by the IRS, you may qualify for this program.

You may also qualify if the following apply to you:

• You have made 120 on-time, full scheduled, monthly payments on your Direct Loans after October 1, 2007. If you have consolidated your Perkins or FFEL loans, the 120-payment cycle must begin after the loans are consolidated;
• You have made those 120 payments under a qualified repayment plan;
• While you have made each of those payments, you must be working full-time at a qualifying public-service organization.

Click here to read more on jobs that may qualify you for student loan forgiveness.

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.