Credit Card Debt, Credit Score

How Credit Card Debt Impacts Your Credit Score

Most consumers utilize a credit card at some point in their lives, and many of them carry credit card debt from month-to-month. While using credit cards responsibly can help increase a person’s credit score, having too much credit card debt can cause significant harm to that score.

The amount of debt you owe on your credit card is one of the biggest factors affecting your credit score. That’s why it is never a good idea to max out your credit card. And when your credit score goes down, you could end up having to pay higher interest rates on loans or any other credit you apply for. A low credit score can impact your applications for apartment rentals, cell phone plans, and more. Research by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has indicated that high income earners are as prone to financial stress because of debt as low-income earners.

Lawyers in the News, Legal Awards

BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY TIMOTHY S. KINGCADE RECEIVES THE PREEMINENT AV RATING FROM MARTINDALE-HUBBELL FOR 2023

MIAMI – Kingcade Garcia McMaken ( www.miamibankruptcy.com) is pleased to announce that Managing Shareholder, Timothy S. Kingcade has received the Preeminent AV Rating for 2023 from Martindale-Hubbell, joining a select group of lawyers recognized for their legal ability and professional ethical standards.

Martindale Hubbell AV Rating

In addition, he has earned the Client Champion Platinum Award from Martindale-Hubbell for 2023. This honor is awarded to attorneys whose clients have acknowledged their exceptional communications ability, responsiveness, quality of service and cost value.

Bankruptcy Trends, Consumer Bankruptcy, Consumer Debt

Five Reasons People Go Bankrupt

The number of bankruptcy filings across the U.S. are on the rise. Common reasons that people file for bankruptcy include loss of income, medical bills, a mortgage payment that is too high, spending beyond their means, or lending money to loved ones.

Many times, it is not just one simple cause, but rather a combination of factors that contribute to why someone has filed for bankruptcy. Here are some common reasons people file bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy Law, Bankruptcy Trends, Consumer Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy Filings on the Rise

With federal pandemic aid programs ending, many Americans are finding themselves in difficult financial situations. Rising interest rates and high inflation make these situations all that much worse. As a result, bankruptcy courts are now seeing a spike in bankruptcy filings.

According to data from Epiq, the total number of bankruptcy filings increased in January 2023 by 19 percent, to 31,087 filings from one year ago. Additionally, the number of American consumers who filed for bankruptcy in Chapters 7, 11, and 13 increased by 20 percent from one year ago.

Debt Relief

Make a Resolution to Eliminate Your Debt in the New Year

Some of the most common New Year’s resolutions involve improving one’s physical health through diet and exercise, cutting out bad habits, and losing weight.  Other popular New Year’s resolutions involve improving one’s financial health, getting finances in order, and eliminating debt.

Credit card debt, medical expenses, and the rising cost of living is weighing on many South Florida residents, causing more to fall behind on their monthly bills.

Bankruptcy Law, Consumer Bankruptcy, Divorce

How Will a Bankruptcy Case Affect my Pending Divorce?

People will hold off on filing for bankruptcy for several reasons, especially if they are in the midst of a pending divorce case. The fear is that a bankruptcy case will affect the ability of the parties in a divorce case to divide their property. While a bankruptcy case will not affect a family law court’s ability to handle child custody and child support matters, the bankruptcy will prevent the court from finalizing a division of marital property.