If you are struggling with overwhelming debt, you are certainly not alone. Millions of Americans feel buried beneath a pile of medical expenses, credit card debt, mortgages and loans they cannot afford to pay. Chapter 7 bankruptcy offers a way out of that situation....
Are you suffering from debt collector harassment?
New York residents like you may have fallen into debt for various reasons. As you struggle to get back out of debt, the last thing you need on your plate is a debt collector knocking down your door. While most debt collectors obey the anti-harassment laws, this is not...
The means test for bankruptcy
If you are one of the many consumers in New York struggling to get ahead of your piling debt, you may start to consider filing for bankruptcy as a way of getting the fresh start you seek. One step in the process of receiving help from a consumer bankruptcy is to...
Bankruptcy and student loans
Paying back student loans is problematic for a decent number of graduates. With high loan amounts and high interest rates, the monthly payment amount is often too high for many to pay along with rent, food and other necessities. There is a general understanding that...
Job seeking after filing bankruptcy
Conducting a background check prior to confirming a new hire has become standard procedure for many companies today. Job applicants with even the most minor indiscretions on their record may wonder what impact different experiences may have on their ability to get...
What are the advantages of Chapter 13?
When you seek to file for bankruptcy protection, you have options in the different types of bankruptcy to file. One of those options is Chapter 13, which is known as the wage earners plan because instead of having the court remove all your debt, you create a repayment...
4 tips on dealing with the stress of debt
In the United States, many adults are significantly stressed by their financial situations. If you also find yourself struggling with your finances and debt, you likely feel overwhelmed about your future. Taking steps to minimize stress surrounding debt will help make...
What is an “automatic stay” in bankruptcy?
When your finances start to become too much to manage, you may explore your options and consider filing for personal bankruptcy. Doing so may help you get the fresh start you need to get your finances back in order, and it may also give you temporary protection in...
Exempt property in New York chapter 7 cases
The thought of filing for bankruptcy might cause you frustration and anxiety, but it can be the best way to eliminate crushing debt levels due to circumstances beyond your control. For many New York residents, filing Chapter 7 is an appropriate step with long-term...
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...
