People who are having a rough time making ends meet might realize that they need help to get out of their current situation. When a sudden loss of income, exorbitant medical bills or something else unexpected happens, you may decide that you need to seek legal protection from the bills. One option that you have is to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is known as the liquidation bankruptcy. When you file this type, you must meet a means test, which is necessary to ensure that only people who truly need it file. If you don't qualify based on this, you may choose to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy ..read more

When you owe a creditor money, they might choose to take you to court to collect the money. This can result in a wage garnishment. A garnishment means that a portion of your income is automatically sent to the creditor instead of being paid to you. There are some specific points that you should understand about garnishments. First, no creditor can garnish your wages without a court order. They must file their case within 10 years of the time the account become dormant. The only exceptions to this are if you were incarcerated, a minor or not of sound mind. In these cases, the 10-year time limit ..read more

Having to come up with a crisis budget is a difficult thing for most people to do. It often comes up suddenly, such as when you're laid off, lose your job or become seriously ill. There are several ways that you might be able to make ends meet during this time. One thing that you shouldn't do is to ignore the problem. The bills aren't going to go away and the issue will eat away at you mentally so it is best to face it head on before it becomes far too much to handle. Protect the basics Your top priority is covering life's basics. These include things like your house, utilities, food and t ..read more

Sitting down to take a look at your finances can be a harrowing experience. For some people, there's more due at the end of the month than what they bring home. In these cases, an emphasis must be placed on the essential bills like housing and food. This can lead to credit card, medical and similar accounts going unpaid. If you realize that you can't get ahead with your finances, you might consider filing for bankruptcy. This enables you to consolidate your credit accounts into a single case and resolve your debts. Filing for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which requires you to pass a means test ..read more

Realizing that you aren't able to pay your bills is a harrowing experience. You have probably already sat down and looked at your budget many different ways to try to make the numbers work. Once you come to the conclusion that it just isn't possible, it's time to make a plan. One of the options that you have is to file for bankruptcy. Many people opt to file for Chapter 13 protection. This enables you to consolidate the debts under the guidance of the court. You then make the payments to the bankruptcy trustee for three to five years. The payments you make are split between your creditors ..read more

Having a huge pile of debt hanging over your head is stressful and frustrating. Your anxiety may be heightened by the fact that collection letters keep coming, and debt collectors keep calling. At this point, some of your debts have been discharged by their original holders and sold, so you're not even sure who all is calling you. When a company suddenly offers you a chance to consolidate your debt and get control of your finances again, the relief may feel incredible. Just be cautious. While there are some genuine offers out there, many offers are outright scams. Here are the warning sign ..read more

The bank forecloses on your house. You have to move out. You know that you can take your personal items, even the large furnishings, like your couch and your dining room table. They don't go with the house, and you can move them to your new residence. But is there anything that you shouldn't take? Definitely. If you take things you're not allowed to remove, it could make your legal situation even worse. Don't assume that everything is up for grabs; don't take everything just because you are angry about losing the house. Some things that you're not allowed to take on your way out of the house i ..read more

If you've had the misfortune of receiving debt collection calls or notices in the mail before, then you've probably been warned that your creditor may file suit against you if you don't pay. What you may not realize is that once a lawsuit gets filed against you, you generally have some time to appeal the judgment. If you don't, then your creditor may be allowed to begin garnishing your wages. Virtually any creditor can file to have your wages garnished. It's a more common practice among state child support authorities, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), federal student loan servicers and unse ..read more

Living in Ohio, you may be familiar with a church called Crossroads. Crossroads recently had a sermon called "The Marks of Multiplication" that talked about the burden of medical debt on individuals in the community. He stated that the congregation could, if they wanted to, donate to help free others from medical debt. That campaign wasn't a challenge, but the group took it to heart. Working together with RIP Medical Debt, which would wipe out $100 per $1 donated, the church was able to eliminate over $46.5 million in medical debt throughout the United States. Around $42 million of those funds ..read more

The owner of a well-known Ohio home dubbed the "Circus House" has filed for bankruptcy, and the primary mortgage holder is seeking to foreclose on the home. Built in 1895 for the owner the Sells Brothers Circus, the home, which overlooks Goodale Park in Columbus, now is vacant. Its distinctive roof is shaped like a circus tent. Noted architect Frank Packard combined Gothic, Chateauesque and Romanesque styles when designing the home. "This is truly a one-of-a-kind home that is as important as it is admired," the executive director of the preservation group Columbus Landmarks told The Columb ..read more