As a consumer bankruptcy attorney in Asheville, part of my job is to study the bankruptcy code, and match a client’s available exemptions with their assets. In over 90 percent of the cases, clients are able to protect all of their assets while discharging their unsecured debt. Occasionally, non-exempt equity exists. Just last week, I…
Frequently, in my bankruptcy practice, I see people who need Chapter 7 relief because they were overwhelmed with debt after a hospital stay. A man argued before the North Carolina Supreme Court today that a hospital should have to show why it is necessary to charge more than 24 times what a local pharmacy would…
Recently, I spoke with a man who felt like he was constantly on the edge. Each month he would wonder if he was paying the right company, responding correctly to telephone calls, and doing the responsible thing. He said, “I work hard each month, and it just keeps getting tighter and tighter. I’ve always paid…
Nobody wants to file a bankruptcy case. For many people who have been struggling, a bankruptcy case represents horror and shame. They continue to struggle month after month to make ends meet, paying high credit card interest or small payments to collection companies. Eliminating debt through a bankruptcy filing would immediately change where their money…
I see clients all the time who have become aggravated by the short sale process because right when they think they have a deal, their mortgage company changes the terms again. It feels like a hopeless situation waiting on the bank to sign off to let the client move on with their life. I have…
When people come to see me at my Asheville NC office, and are behind on their mortgage or car payments, one option we will discuss is a Chapter 13 bankruptcy (we’ll also talk about Chapter 7). We can reduce your monthly expenses in Chapter 13 by paying your ‘disposable income’ to creditors in a repayment…
While working in Asheville, NC, I speak every day with people who confess they never thought they would be speaking with a bankruptcy lawyer. Lots of folks never hear about their friends or co-workers filing, and think they must be the only ones. Well, if you are having financial trouble, you are not the only…
Yes, so long as certain requirements are met. An Asheville NC bankruptcy lawyer can guide you through the steps necessary to remove the lien and make the most of the relief offered through the Court. Under 11 U.S.C. 522(f) of the bankruptcy code, a lien can be removed to the extent it impairs an exemption…
An Asheville Bankruptcy Attorney can explain the North Carolina exemptions, how they work, and how they apply to the facts of your case. Generally, over 90 percent of people who file a Chapter 7 case keep ALL of their property. Here is a summary of the exemptions for Western North Carolina (please note: for a…
This story, about how over 20 percent of our population surrounding Asheville is living in poverty, demonstrates the need for people to take action regarding their financial situations. If not for their own sakes, they should explore options for the sake of their family. All too often, I meet with hard working folks who have…