March 2020 may well go down in the history books and in the hearts and minds of people across the country and the globe as one of the bleakest and most difficult times of their lives. The outbreak caused by the coronavirus seems to have left no sector of society...
Do you understand the emotional impact of debt?
It feels as though debt intrudes on your every thought every day, preventing you from enjoying your life. While you know bankruptcy is an option, it is one that you hesitate to entertain. To better understand the benefits of filing for bankruptcy, it may help to...
Covid-19: Personal Financial Crisis
Can Bankruptcy be a solution? Are you eligible? What are the Risks? What are your personal options? What is the best Chapter for you? What is the best timing? Everyone’s situation is unique. A“cookie-cutter” bankruptcy filing without proper strategic planning may not...
Medical debt — it is not your fault that you got sick
Regular calls from a New York hospital’s collection service might be a regular part of your life if you have medical expenses that you cannot afford to pay. However, a court officer showing up at your house with the notification that the hospital is suing you is...
Does your situation qualify for Chapter 7?
If you are one of the millions of Americans who is in over your head with debt, you may wonder if you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the bankruptcy courts discharge most of your unsecured consumer debts and some secured debts. Chapter 7 is...
Reason No. 7 to Investigate Small Business Chapter 11: A Chapter 11 Trustee can be a Plan facilitator
In a Traditional Chapter 11 case there is no Trustee: a debtor is on its own dealing with creditors and the Court. In a new Small Business case, a Chapter 11 Trustee is appointed. Unlike a Chapter 7 Trustee, however, who is only interested in liquidation and is an...
Reason No. 6 to Investigate Small Business Chapter 11: No Disclosure Statement
In Traditional Chapter 11 it is necessary to prepare a detailed “Disclosure Statement” similar to a prospectus for the purchase of securities. Preparation of such document is time-consuming and expensive. Then it must go through a hearing process and the judge must...
What happens in a bankruptcy interview?
Board Certified Bankruptcy Lawyer Paul Hollender delves into four issues in his first meeting with a client: Is the client eligible for some type of bankruptcy relief What are the risks of each bankruptcy chapter for which the client is eligible? What are the client's...
Reason No. 5 to Investigate Small Business Chapter 11: No New Capital Contribution
In Traditional Chapter 11 the owners of the company are not allowed to remain as owners of the reorganized company unless either (i) the creditors accept the plan, or (2) the owners invest new capital of a value at least equal to the net worth of the reorganized...
Can Chapter 13 strip your second mortgage lien?
If you have both a first and second mortgage on your home and face foreclosure because of your overwhelming debt situation, you may well wish to consider filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead of Chapter 7. Why? Because while you can forestall foreclosure via Chapter 7,...
Estate planning needs to be active and early
Many people fail to realize the importance of early and active estate planning. Some put it off thinking they are too young to need it. Others have estate plans that only include a basic will, with no thought toward what could happen between now and the time they die...
Choosing between an irrevocable trust and a living trust
Estate planning typically includes executing a trust, which serves as a separate legal entity to hold properties and assets for its beneficiaries. As reported by Kiplinger's Personal Finance, in addition to real estate, trusts may include financial accounts, cars and...
How does arbitration and mediation differ from litigation?
Litigation is a great way to get things done in a legal sense. It is one of the most traditional methods of handling disputes, especially those that are beyond your ability to resolve without outside interference. But what about alternative dispute resolution...
What is surrogate’s court and what do you do there?
When a loved one dies, not only do you have to process the grief, you need to process through their estate. This is often an emotional episode in your life and the lives of the loved one's other decedents. Whether you have a will or not in the aftermath of all that,...
Reducing inheritance conflict among siblings
Your children may need to lean on one another more than ever once you are gone, but if you are not careful, you run the risk of your New York estate plan – or lack thereof – creating conflicts among your kids. Inheritance battles are often expensive and...
How to avoid inheritance disputes
Estate planning helps you to ensure your loved ones have everything they need after your death, but inheritance disputes can tie up assets for years and break families apart. To reduce the likelihood of such disputes, consider these tips while making end-of-life...
Can you protect your elderly loved ones from financial abuse
As your loved ones age, they may become more vulnerable to abuse from people they trust. Financial abuse is one form of mistreatment that can violate privacy, damage reputations and threaten financial security. Protecting your loved one's against this type of abuse...
How does probate work in New York?
When someone dies in New York, his or her executor presents the will to the Surrogate's Court in the county where the person lived. In a process called probate, the court determines the validity of the will and supervises the administration of the deceased person's...
A look at small estates in New York
If you have a relatively modest estate, it is still important to set up an effective estate plan. Unfortunately, many people with modest estates fail to create estate plans, which often causes their loved ones to experience anxiety and uncertainty after their death....
How do you structure an estate plan review?
Estate plan reviews are a crucial part of your end of life plans. After all, you cannot simply create an estate plan and leave it as-is indefinitely. It needs to reflect your life in the current moment, which means it must change as your life changes. But how do you...
