Tag: Kingcade & Garcia

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

Student Loan Debt- Not just a burden to the student

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Ninety-four percent of parents of college students are increasingly feeling the burden of student loan debt, according to a 2014 survey by Citizens Financial Group.  More than half of those parents are worried that the cost of college will impact their ability to retire.  Parents who cosign on their child’s student loan debt assume equal responsibility for repaying the loan.  That means any late payments not only hurt the child’s credit, but the parents as well.

The problem is wide-reaching, but the middle class seems to have been hit the hardest.  In many instances, the debt is held by private lenders because federal loans have been maxed out.  Those taking out the loans oftentimes do not qualify for need-based aid since their parents make “too much” money.

Parents who are shouldering the burden of student loan debt are encouraged to look for ways to improve their cash flow by reducing monthly expenses like cable bills, refinancing mortgages to lower interest rates and shopping around for the best insurance coverage.

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, Debt Relief, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Debt Collectors can now Robcall to Collect Student Loans

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If you are currently in default on your student loans, you may begin receiving continuous calls from collectors to pay up. A budget agreement, which is awaiting President Obama’s signature, contains a provision that allows the government to collect federal debts using automated calling systems to mobile phones.

Not surprisingly, Navient (formerly Sallie Mae) and Nelnet, two companies that service federal loans, have been strongly advocating for this.  They both argue that debtors who receive robocalls are more likely to repay their debts.  Currently, loan servicers are allowed to robocall people only after they have consented to being auto-dialed and who have verified their cell phone numbers. (Only about a third of customers fall into both of those two categories.)

In an interestingly twist, the bill puts the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in charge of implementing the robocalls- an organization that has been fighting against automated calls to cell phones recently.  Just last week, the FCC started publishing  reports on consumer complaints about cell phone robocalls to give software developers tools to build apps that will block them.

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, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

What happens to your debts when you die?

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Your debts become the responsibility of your estate. When you pass away, any debts you leave behind could take from the assets you had hoped to leave your loved ones.  In some cases, family members can even be responsible for your debts. This is the reason many people purchase life insurance- not only to leave their loved ones something when they pass, but also to take care of any outstanding debt and final expenses.

Mortgages and home-equity loans

If the property has a mortgage, the lender does have some protection, at least up to the value of the property. However, federal law states that lenders cannot force the joint owner to pay off the mortgage immediately after the co-owner dies.   This also applies to any relative who inherits the home and lives in it.  This means the family member or co-owner can simply take over the monthly mortgage payments.  If there is an outstanding home-equity loan, a lender can force the person who inherits the home to repay the loan immediately, which could result in the home being sold.

Auto loans

If the vehicle is not paid in full, the lender has the right to repossess the car.   But typically, whoever inherits the car can just take over the payments.  It is unlikely the lender will take action.

Credit cards

When the estate runs out of assets, the credit card companies are out of luck.  This is due to the fact that credit card debt is not secured by assets the way mortgages and car loans are.  Any joint account holder would be responsible for the bill, but people who are simply authorized users of the card would not be.

Student loans

Lenders do not have any recourse if the estate does not have assets to repay other unsecured obligations, like student loans.   Even if your relatives are not responsible for your debts, collection companies can still legally call to discuss the debts to find someone who is authorized to pay them, according to the FTC.  It is important to know, debt collectors cannot mislead family members into thinking they are responsible for the debts.

Caveats

These are the circumstances in which spouses or other people would be responsible for your debts.  These include:

  • They co-signed on a loan;
  • Are joint account holders;
  • Are spouses in community property states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

What is protected?

Creditors typically cannot go after your retirement accounts or life insurance proceeds.  However, if the life insurance beneficiaries you named are no longer living, your death benefit may go into your estate and then be subject to creditors.  That is one reason why it is important to make sure your policy names the proper beneficiaries.

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 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 atwww.miamibankruptcy.com.

 

 

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

High Profile Foreclosure Case moves to Florida Supreme Court

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The Florida Supreme Court is in the final stages of determining when the clock starts ticking on mortgage foreclosure cases.  In the case of Bartram v. U.S. Bank, the now defunct law firm of David J. Stern filed a mortgage foreclosure lawsuit against Lewis Bartram of Ponte Vedra Beach back in 2006.  Years later, after the law firm shut down, with tens of thousands of foreclosure cases in limbo, U.S. Bank missed a case management conference and its foreclosure case was dismissed.

Thanks to the five-year statute of limitations on mortgage foreclosures, the case was revived and Bartram received another favorable judgment. But U.S. Bank appealed that ruling, and in 2014 Florida’s Fifth District Court ruled in favor of the bank, disregarding Florida’s five-year statute of limitations on mortgage foreclosures.

This was a sad day for struggling homeowners and a victory for the banks in Florida who continue to foreclose on loans that defaulted years ago. Many of those loans are referred to as “zombie mortgages,” or a foreclosure that has been started but not completed.

The issue in this case comes  down to mortgage acceleration. Most mortgage contracts carry an acceleration clause, which allows the lender to sue for the entire loan amount immediately, starting a five-year clock on the foreclosure process. But the Fifth District ruled that the court’s dismissal of U.S. Bank’s lawsuit in 2011 negated the loan’s original acceleration date that had been set in 2006, effectively resetting the acceleration date to 2011.

Two other Florida courts have issued similar rulings that uphold the Fifth District decision, but a court in Miami recently ruled against it, leaving it up to Florida’s Supreme Court to decide.   We will keep you posted – A ruling on this case is expected in the next couple of months.

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.

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

A WIN for Florida Foreclosure Plaintiffs!

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Florida homeowners succeeded in getting a judgment in favor of Wells Fargo dismissed, allowing them to reverse a foreclosure action previously in favor of the bank.  The case, Hicks v. Wells Fargo, reached the Fifth District Court of Appeals in the State of Florida.  According to the complaint, the issue turned on the statute of limitations, with the Fifth District holding that the bank’s foreclosure claim was time barred by Florida’s five-year statute of limitations for foreclosure.

The homeowners claim it all began when an initial default occurred on June 1, 2006.  At some point, a prior holder of the note sued to foreclose on Sept. 8, 2006, but the case was voluntarily dismissed in 2008. Then, in 2011, the current note holder (Wells Fargo) sent a notice to accelerate to the borrowers. The second foreclosure action did not occur until 2013, which is seven years past the original default date.

The appellate court agreed with the borrowers that the 2013 foreclosure action by Wells Fargo is “time-barred” by the state’s five-year statute of limitations; however, the bank is not barred from pursuing new or remaining foreclosure claims that fall within the statute of limitations period.

“Despite the previous acceleration of the balance owed in both the instant suit and prior suit, the bank is not precluded from filing a new foreclosure action based on different acts or dates of default not previously alleged, provided that the subsequent foreclosure action on the subsequent defaults is brought within the statute of limitations period,” the court wrote.

So what can be taken away from this case? Florida’s statute of limitations period is sensitive and acceleration actions cannot suffice without a timely foreclosure action. However, not all is lost if a bank fails to file on time, as long as there is a new valid claim to bring forth.

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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Tax Scams on the Rise

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Tax scams are on the rise and small businesses are just as vulnerable as consumers. Authorities report that there have been a rise in calls across the country from scammers claiming to be affiliated with the Internal Revenue Service. In case you are not aware of how the tax scam works, criminals use fear and intimidation practices to coerce victims into sending them money. They basically call victims and leave a threatening voicemail message stating you have a warrant out for your arrest because of a tax violation.

Here is what you need to know to protect yourself and your business from falling prey to this scam.

Get armed with the facts. Remember that these types of scams work on fear and the victims lack of information. Verifying facts is the greatest weapon against these criminals.

Don’t be fooled by professionalism. The scammers sound professional, going as far as to provide phony IRS badge numbers and altering the caller ID numbers to appear as if the calls are coming in from an agency. They also have personal information on their victims to make the scam sound more legitimate.

These tax scams have cost around 4,550 victims more than $23 million since October 2013.  And these are just the ones who report it, many victims of scams are afraid to report the crime, which means the loss is likely much higher.

The IRS has released the following facts regarding how the agency contacts individuals.

1. The IRS does not call and demand immediate payment. The agency only calls after first sending you a bill in the mail.
2. The IRS does not demand you pay taxes without letting you question or appeal the amount you owe.
3. The IRS does not require you pay in a specified way, such as a prepaid debit card.
4. The IRS does not ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5. The IRS does not threaten arrest for not paying.

If you receive calls for these types of tax scams, hang up and report it to your local law enforcement agency immediately. You can visit “Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts” on IRS.gov to get additional information.

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 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

New Bankruptcy Forms Effective December 1, 2015

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The majority of the bankruptcy forms are being replaced effective December 1, 2015.  This change is in an effort to improve the official bankruptcy forms and the interface between these forms and available technology.  In creating the new forms, surveys were conducted to determine the problems with the current forms and input was utilized at the design phase from practitioners, trustees, along with software vendors.

It’s important that bankruptcy attorneys do not assume these are the same forms as the old ones.  Read the questions and instructions thoroughly.  Make sure and get your clients to disclose all of their assets and claims, including the contingent ones.

One of the key features of the new forms is that there is a separate case-opening form for individuals, new Form B101, Voluntary Petition for Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy, and a new form for non-individual debtors, new Form B201, Voluntary Petition for Non-Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy.

The new form for individual debtors would also be used for married debtors. Only business entities would use the non-individual form. The non-individual debtor’s form reflects how businesses keep financial records.  The new forms also remove questions relevant only to individuals.

There’s been concern that because these forms are reportedly easier to use, it will encourage more pro se filings.  There are warnings throughout the new forms against pro se filings, but these are always a reality.

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 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.

 

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Former Miami Heat Star Glen Rice Facing Foreclosure

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Glen Rice, former Miami Heat player and his ex-wife Cristy, who starred on The Real Housewives of Miami, are facing the loss of a downtown condo they still own together.  Miami-Dade County records show the couple quit making payments on the condo they purchased in 2006 as an investment, following Glen’s retirement from the Los Angeles Clippers after 15 years in the NBA.

Property records show Glen and Cristy paid $317,000 for the condo, which is on the 27th floor of the Neo Vertika building on SW 1st Ct. in downtown Miami.  Reportedly, the couple took out several mortgages on the condo totaling $500,000.

M&T Bank’s loan is supposed to be paid back at the rate of $1,401 a month.  According to the lawsuit, the Rices stopped making payments in February.  Cristy’s lawyer struck back at the bank with a defense claiming M&T has not followed the proper procedures in the foreclosure attempt.

The Rices’ originally filed for divorce in 2006.  The couple also owns a $468,000 suburban home together.  Glen Rice played for the Miami Heat from 1989 to 1995.

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.

Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

The Latest Online Scam: Tricking Homebuyers into Wiring Settlement Funds

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You are about to settle on your home.  You receive an email from your real estate agent or title company, requesting funds be wired to an account for settlement, which also informs you of a last minute change in writing instructions.   Upon the request, you wire the money using the new instructions.

A few days later, you receive a call from your title company, asking why you have not sent your funds for settlement.  This is the moment you realize you have been SCAMMED.  This wire transfer scheme is nothing new.  However, the increase in its sophistication and the prevalence of wire fraud in the real estate industry has prompted the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to issue warning bulletins.

According to the NAR, the hackers are monitoring emails and waiting to determine the best possible scam.  They realize these real estate transactions involve large amounts of money right before settlement.   Someone in Chicago recently lost $130,000, and in Texas there was a reported loss of $30,000. The scams are getting harder to catch, too.  Hackers have improved their grammar and obtain almost identical email addresses to the broker or title company the seller / buyer is working with, making it very difficult to identify the scam.

Below are some tips for buyers and sellers to protect themselves from becoming a victim of wire fraud:

  • Never send sensitive financial information via email. This includes bank account routing numbers, PIN numbers, security codes, etc.
  • Prior to doing a wire transfer, you should contact the intended recipient by phone and confirm the wiring information and instructions are correct.
  • Change your email usernames and passwords on a regular basis.
  • Clean out your email account. Your email use can establish patterns in your business practice, which hackers can pick up on and use against you.
  • Make sure you have the most up-to-date firewalls and anti-virus software on your computer.  Download these from a trusted source, like your internet service provider.
  • If you suspect any fraudulent activity, report it immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. Receives Prestigious 2015 Florida Excellence Award

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HONHW30The Miami-based law firm of Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has recently been selected for the 2015 Florida Excellence Award by the US Commerce & Trade Research Institute (USCTRI).  This prestigious honor is awarded to companies that have achieved demonstrable success in their local business environment and industry category.

“We are extremely honored as a firm to have received this award,” says founding partner, Timothy S. Kingcade.  “We take great pride in upholding business ethics and company values at our firm.  It is the driving force behind our firm’s corporate culture and success.”

Kingcade & Garcia has been recognized as having enhanced the commitment and contribution of small businesses through service to their customers and the community.  Small businesses of this caliber enhance the consumer driven environment that Florida is renowned for.  This recognition by USCTRI marks a significant achievement as an emerging leader and sets benchmarks that the industry should follow.

Selection is determined through industry research, business surveys and various sources of information gathered by the USCTRI.  The research is part of an exhaustive process that encapsulates a year-long immersion in the business climate of Florida.   USCTRI is a leading authority on researching, evaluating and recognizing companies across a wide spectrum of industries that meet its stringent standards of excellence.

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.