Timothy S. Kingcade Archives - FREE CONSULTATION

Miami Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade Named a Florida Super Lawyer 9 Consecutive Years

Posted on June 24, 2022by Admin

MIAMI (June 24, 2022)– Managing Shareholder, Timothy S. Kingcade of the Miami-based bankruptcy and foreclosure defense law firm of Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been selected to the 2022 Florida Super Lawyers list. This is the ninth consecutive year Kingcade has been selected to the Florida Super Lawyers list (2014-2022) in the practice area of consumer bankruptcy. The recognition is awarded to only the top 5% of attorneys in the state.

Attorney Kingcade practices exclusively in the field of bankruptcy law, handling Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings for the Southern District of Florida. As an experienced CPA and proven bankruptcy attorney, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of their rights under the bankruptcy laws to restart, rebuild and recover.

Legal Awards

TIMOTHY S. KINGCADE RATED ONE OF THE TOP 3 BANKRUPTCY LAWYERS IN MIAMI FOR 2022

Posted on December 17, 2021by Admin

MIAMI – (December 16, 2021) Managing Shareholder, Timothy S. Kingcade of the Miami-based bankruptcy law firm of Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been rated one of the Top 3 bankruptcy lawyers in Miami, FL by Three Best Rated® for 2022.

“It is an honor to have received this award,” said Timothy S. Kingcade. “It is a testament to the commitment my firm and I make every day to each and every one of our clients. We know what our clients are going through when they come into our offices, and we treat them with the upmost care and respect during their most difficult financial times.”

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

Changes on the Horizon for Bankruptcy and Student Loan Debt

Posted on May 16, 2018by Admin

In the past it has been nearly impossible to discharge student loans in bankruptcy. This issue has kept many individuals from filing for bankruptcy as they have seen it as not helping relieve them of the biggest debt they carry: student loan debt. That all could change after the U.S. Department of Education announced this year that it will be reviewing its policies and potentially changing the way student loan debt is treated in bankruptcy.

It is estimated that student loan borrowers in the U.S. owe a total of $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. According to the Brookings Institute, around 40 percent of these individuals will end up defaulting on their loans by the year 2023.

The current test for showing that student loan debt should be discharged bankruptcy is the undue hardship test. However, this standard is very subjective, and does not leave a definitive standard across the board of what amounts to undue hardship. Even Florida bankruptcy courts vary in their determination on what defines undue hardship.

The most commonly-used test is the “Brunner Test,” which requires the borrower to show that he or she cannot maintain a basic standard of living while making student loan payments. The borrower has to show that this undue hardship would last throughout the entire repayment period in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, and he or she will need to show that efforts have been made to try to repay federal loans.

The Department of Education is looking for ways to clearly define the undue hardship standard. According to Clare McCann, a deputy director of higher education policy at New America, it is likely the Department will broaden the definition.

The Chair of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, recently testified before Congress that the student debt crisis has the possibility of seriously hurting the economy if changes are not made.

A date has not been given for when the determination will happen, but it is one step closer to a change that will make a difference in the current student loan debt crisis in the country.

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. There are ways to file for bankruptcy with student loan 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 McMaken 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 McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief

Miami Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade is proud to announce the release of his new e-book

Posted on April 25, 2018by Admin

Miami Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade is proud to announce the release of his new e-book, Restart Rebuild and Recover: Filing Bankruptcy in Florida. FREE to download on TimothyKingcade.com and MiamiBankruptcy.com.

It is a must-read for anyone considering filing bankruptcy in Florida.

Here is what the book covers:

THE TOP 3 DANGERS OF FILING BANKRUPTCY WITHOUT EXPERIENCED LEGAL COUNSEL

DANGER 1: Beware of Filing Bankruptcy Pro Se

DANGER 2: Beware of “Do-It-Yourself” Bankruptcy Kits in Florida

DANGER 3: Without experienced legal counsel, you may not receive the best advice on which type of bankruptcy is best for your particular situation – Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?

HOW TO PAY? We will show you how you can afford to hire experienced legal counsel and strategies to cover your legal fees.
CHARTING YOUR PATH TO A BRIGHTER FINANCIAL FUTURE We discuss what happens after you file and the steps you can take to rebuild your credit, your savings and your peace of mind.

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 McMaken 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 McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Miami Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade Receives the Prestigious AVVO Clients’ Choice Award 2018

Posted on March 5, 2018by Admin

MIAMI – (March 5, 2018) Managing Shareholder, Timothy S. Kingcade of the Miami-based law firm of Kingcade Garcia McMaken (www.miamibankruptcy.com) was recently honored with the 2018 AVVO Clients’ Choice Award. In order to achieve this honor, an attorney must have received five or more exceptional client reviews for the same year.

One of attorney Kingcade’s recent clients had this to say on AVVO: “If you are going through a bankruptcy, I highly recommend Timothy Kingcade. He is by far the best in Florida. Mr. Kingcade handled my case with the utmost care and expertise. He is exceedingly proficient and well versed in the bankruptcy laws. He is truly a pro! Mr. Kingcade will ensure that the laws will work for you–so you can get a fresh new start! After Kingcade & Garcia worked my case, in a span of only a few years, my credit score has rebounded immensely. From dismal lows, it has rocketed to 680 and even 700+ and going higher. I never had my credit score so high! I could not have done it without Mr. Kingcade and his Firm. I owe him much gratitude for his excellent work. If you’re going through a bankruptcy, do yourself a favor and give him a call.”

You can click here to read all of Miami Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy Kingcade’s client reviews on AVVO. Timothy has also earned a “Superb” 10.0 AVVO rating in the area of bankruptcy law, the highest rating an attorney can receive. The rating is calculated using a mathematical model, which takes into consideration the years an attorney has practiced law, their professional achievements, discipline history and industry recognitions. The rating is completely objective and unbiased. Attorneys cannot pay or petition the site to have their rating changed, which makes AVVO one of the most respected lawyer rating services in country and an invaluable legal resource for consumers.

Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade has been dedicated to helping thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. Timothy is a certified public accountant (CPA), which allows him to better understand tax-motivated bankruptcy cases against the IRS. Timothy’s vast experience and expertise in the area of bankruptcy law allow him to know what bankruptcy trustees in the Southern District of Florida are looking for, preventing his clients from some of the pitfalls that can lead to the dismissal of a bankruptcy claim.

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Miami-based Kingcade Garcia McMaken, P.A. was established by managing partner and bankruptcy attorney, Timothy S. Kingcade in 1996. The firm represents clients throughout the State of Florida in Chapter 7 bankruptcy and foreclosure defense cases. The firm is committed to providing personalized service to each and every client, clearly explaining the options according to the unique circumstances of his or her life. The office environment and the service provided are centered on a culture of superior client care for the financially disenfranchised. All partners and associates at Kingcade Garcia McMaken P.A. specialize in consumer bankruptcy and foreclosure and have dedicated their practices to this area of the law. Additionally, all attorneys and staff members at the firm are bilingual speaking Spanish.

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

What Bankruptcy Can and Cannot Do

Posted on January 4, 2018by Admin

Bankruptcy can be used as a powerful financial tool to eliminate debt and allow you to push the restart button on your finances However, filing for bankruptcy does not eliminate all debts and before you file it’s important to know which debts will be discharged and which ones will remain.

Here are some things filing for bankruptcy can do:

Eliminate credit card debt and other types of unsecured debt. Your credit card debt is considered unsecured debt, which means the creditor does not have a lien on any of your property and cannot repossess any items if you fail to pay the debt. This is the exact type of debt bankruptcy is designed to eliminate. Other types of unsecured debt include: utility bills, medical bills, personal loans, payday loans, etc. Most debts are unsecured. Primary exceptions are home and auto loans, which are almost always secured.

Stop creditor harassment and collection attempts. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) limits the tactics that debt collectors can take to collect on a debt. When you file for bankruptcy, the automatic stay immediately goes into effect and stops creditors from having any sort of contact with you. They must now communicate only with your attorney.

Here are some things bankruptcy cannot do:

Eliminate child support and alimony payments. Child support and alimony payments cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. You will continue to owe these debts in full.

Eliminate other non-dischargeable debts. These include debts for personal injury or death caused by intoxicated driving, fines and penalties imposed for violating the law, etc.

Eliminate student loan debt, except in very rare circumstances. Student loans can be discharged in bankruptcy only if you can show that repaying the loan would cause you “undue hardship,” an extremely difficult standard to meet. You must not only be able to show you cannot afford to pay your loans right now, but that you have very little likelihood of ever being able to repay your loans in the future.

Prevent a secured creditor from repossessing property. A bankruptcy discharge eliminates debts, but it does not eliminate liens. So for secured debts, where the creditor has a lien on your property (and can repossess it if you do not pay the debt), bankruptcy can eliminate the debt, but it cannot prevent the creditor from repossessing the property.

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 McMaken 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 McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Motion Denied After Creditor Attempts to Reopen Miami Bankruptcy Case and Seize Home

Posted on September 26, 2017by Admin

Managing Shareholder, Timothy S. Kingcade and associate Kristina Gonzalez of the Miami-based bankruptcy and foreclosure defense law firm of Kingcade Garcia McMaken, P.A. achieved a recent victory for their clients after a creditor, Bank of New York Mellon (“BONY”), attempted to re-open their 2009 bankruptcy case and compel the surrender of their Miami home.

“With this ruling, I am pleased to announce that my clients will be able to keep their home. BONY made the decision to abandon its foreclosure efforts and enter into modification negotiations with my clients. It was seven years after my clients received their bankruptcy discharge, five years after the initial foreclosure was dismissed and only after those modification efforts proved unsuccessful that they filed the second foreclosure, based on new post-bankruptcy discharge defaults,” Timothy S. Kingcade said.

BONY waited more than a year after the second foreclosure was filed to seek to reopen the bankruptcy case, and only filed the motion when the bankruptcy debtor filed an action in District Court against the creditor’s loan servicer, Specialized Loan Servicing, for violations of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

In a consumer win for bankruptcy clients, the Honorable Laurel M. Isicoff ruled that there was “no purpose” in re-opening the bankruptcy case because the debtors’ decision to surrender the property was not binding in the subsequent foreclosure action.

Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade practices exclusively in the field of bankruptcy law, handling Chapter 7 and 13 filings and foreclosure defense cases for the Southern District of Florida. As an experienced CPA and proven bankruptcy attorney, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of their rights under the bankruptcy laws to restart, rebuild and recover.

Related Resources:

http://www.flsb.uscourts.gov/Opinions/LMI/09-30656Kurzban.pdf

Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Miami Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade Recognized as a Top Lawyer in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite 2017

Posted on June 27, 2017by Admin

Managing Shareholder, Timothy S. Kingcade of the Miami-based bankruptcy and foreclosure defense law firm of Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. was recently recognized in the 2017 edition of Florida Trend’s Legal Elite™. The list of 1,080 honorees, published in the July issue of Florida Trend magazine, includes attorneys in private practice as well as top government and non-profit attorneys. The Legal Elite listing is widely regarded as one of the preeminent referral guides to the legal profession.

To compile the list, Florida Trend invited all actively practicing Florida lawyers to name attorneys whom they hold in highest regard – lawyers with whom they have personally worked with and would recommend to others. The winner list represents just over 1% of the active Florida Bar members who practice in Florida.

Florida Bar President Michael J. Higer notes, “The Florida Bar is committed to connecting both our members and the public with the legal resources needed to support their practices, businesses and daily lives. Florida Trend’s Legal Elite helps accomplish this objective by creating an independent and reliable process to identify our state’s top legal talent and rising stars.”

Attorney Kingcade practices exclusively in the field of bankruptcy law, handling Chapter 7 and 13 filings and foreclosure defense cases for the Southern District of Florida. As an experienced CPA and proven bankruptcy attorney, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of their rights under the bankruptcy laws to restart, rebuild and recover.

Miami-based Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. was established by managing partner and bankruptcy attorney, Timothy S. Kingcade in 1996. The firm represents clients throughout the State of Florida in Chapter 7 bankruptcy and foreclosure defense cases. The firm is committed to providing personalized service to each and every client, clearly explaining the options according to the unique circumstances of his or her life. The office environment and the service provided are centered on a culture of superior client care for the financially disenfranchised. All partners and associates at Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. specialize in consumer bankruptcy and foreclosure and have dedicated their practices to this area of the law. Additionally, all attorneys and staff members at the firm are bilingual speaking Spanish.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Miami Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade Selected for Inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers 2016

Posted on June 14, 2016by Admin

Managing Shareholder, Timothy S. Kingcade of the Miami-based bankruptcy and foreclosure defense law firm of Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been recognized in the area of consumer bankruptcy law in Florida Super Lawyers Magazine. This is the third year in a row Mr. Kingcade has been selected to the Florida Super Lawyers list. The prestigious honor is awarded to only five percent of lawyers in the state.

“It is a true honor to have received this award,” said Timothy S. Kingcade. “It is a testament to the commitment my firm and I make every day to each and every one of our clients.”

Attorney Kingcade practices exclusively in the field of bankruptcy law, handling Chapter 7 filings and foreclosure defense cases for the Southern District of Florida. As an experienced CPA and proven bankruptcy attorney, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover.

Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, representing the top 5% of Florida lawyers. The goal of the Super Lawyers selection process is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of lawyers to be used as a resource to assist lawyers and sophisticated consumers in the search for legal counsel.

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

Obama Plans to Forgive $7.7 Billion in Student Loan Debt for the Permanently Disabled

Posted on April 14, 2016by Admin

The Obama administration plans to forgive $7.7 billion in federal student loan debt for nearly 400,000 permanently disabled Americans. The law states that anyone with a severe disability is eligible to have their federal student loan debt discharged.

Four years ago, the administration took steps to make the process easier by allowing people who are totally and permanently disabled use their Social Security designation to apply for a discharge, but few took advantage of the opportunity. The Department of Education is now taking it upon itself to identify eligible borrowers and guide them through the process to discharge their student loan debt.

Working with the Social Security Administration, the department has been able to identify 387,000 matches in its first review. Approximately 179,000 of those people are currently in default on their loans, putting them at risk of losing their tax refunds and having their Social Security benefits garnished.

Those Americans with disabilities have the right to student loan debt relief. This week’s announcement further extends President Obama’s Student Aid Bill of Rights, which directs federal agencies to overhaul the way Americans repay student loan debt.

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