Archive for the ‘Client Help’ Category
Thursday, April 14th, 2011
“Making a decision to file for bankruptcy should not be done lightly,” says Bert Briones, an Irvine, CA bankruptcy attorney with Red Hill Law Group, PC. “You must sit down and carefully go through all of your options, debts, payback periods, and amounts.”
If you can pay off your debts in a reasonable time, it is often to your advantage to just deal with it for another three, six, or nine months and pay them off.
If you are leaning toward bankruptcy, before you make the final decision, you should sit down with an attorney and let him or her analyze your situation and give you their advice on the best route to go for you, not for your creditors.
Often times, bankruptcy choices involve legal technicalities that you will most certainly not be aware of; this is when you need the expertise of an attorney. Also, choosing which chapter to use is usually best made in conjunction with your attorney. They will certainly know much more about it and the legal problems and barriers than you will.
Once the decision has been made, then comes the collection of all the information that will be necessary for a clean and complete bankruptcy filing. This information will include bills, statements, letters (both nice ones and unpleasant ones), and any notices you have received.
You will usually also need to compile your paystubs for the last six months (more if possible) and dig up your tax returns for the past three years. This information will be required by the Bankruptcy Court in order to make an informed judgment on your behalf.
An attorney will also ensure that all of your information is put into the correct legal forms for the court to deal with. These forms can be confusing and challenging, but they will not be that way to your lawyer.
In addition, your attorney will confirm that all of the bankruptcy paperwork is properly filed in the right format, in the right office, and by the proper date. Bankruptcy courts are not known for wanting to help a petitioner straighten out all of the paperwork, forms, and documentation.
Then, there will be the matter of the Bankruptcy Hearing. In a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, there is only one hearing required and it is normally a breeze as long as you are represented properly. Facing it yourself can be a very intimidating, confusing endeavor.
Please call Red Hill Law Group with any questions or to schedule a free face-to-face or phone consultation with an experienced personal finance/bankruptcy attorney. We can be reached at 877-343-3289, or please use our contact form and you will be contacted within the next business day.
For a Free Bankruptcy Guide, please use the link below:
http://orangecountybankruptcysite.com/
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Tags: Bankruptcy, Business, Chapter 13 Title 11 United States Code, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Credit card, Creditor, Debt settlement, Financial Planning, Personal Finance
Posted in Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Alternatives, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Client Help, Credit Reform Act, Credit Scores, Creditor Harassment, Debt Settlement / Debt Negotiation | No Comments »
Monday, April 11th, 2011
Tags: Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Title 11 United States Code, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Credit card, Debit card, Debt relief, Debt settlement, Financial Planning, Personal Finance
Posted in Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Alternatives, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Client Help, Credit Reform Act, Credit Scores, Creditor Harassment, Debt Settlement / Debt Negotiation | No Comments »
Friday, April 8th, 2011
“There are several ways to reduce your living expenses, that when you add them up, could free up cash to pay down your debt,” says Bert Briones, an Irvine bankruptcy attorney with Red Hill Law Group, PC.
Here are some examples of areas that could possibly use a closer look at their costs:
Food
Try packing a lunch and reducing the number of times you go out for meals. Buying meals outside of the home can multiply your food expenditures two to three times. Take a closer look at how necessary eating a meal out is for you and make corrections as needed.
Insurance Policies
Have you recently looked at your auto and homeowners insurance deductibles? Sometimes, increasing the deductible on auto collision makes sense, especially for an older vehicle. Evaluate the coverages on your homeowners or renters insurance as well. Many folks do not scrutinize their insurance coverages closely, and some people find areas of coverage that could be changed to reduce costs.
Entertainment
The cost of taking a family to a movie can approach $100 when snacks are purchased. Rethinking entertainment expenses may prompt you to occasionally rent a DVD to watch as a family at home rather than going out.
Satellite/Cable TV
Are you actually using all of those channels and extra services? Premium channels can be expensive and eliminating some of these costs can help reduce your spending.
Cell Phones
Do you really need unlimited text messaging and/or do you have so many “rollover” minutes you will never use them? Perhaps look into a “pay as you go” plan which may just be the right thing for you.
Every consumer has to decide what to consider first when having to make choices. Determine what is sustainable, be patient with your decisions, and you will slowly begin reducing your debt.
Please call Red Hill Law Group with any questions or to schedule a free face-to-face or phone consultation with an experienced personal finance/bankruptcy attorney. We can be reached at 877-343-3289, or please use our contact form and you will be contacted within the next business day.
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Tags: Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Credit card, Debit card, Debt, Debt consolidation, Debt relief, Debt settlement, Financial Planning, Personal Finance
Posted in Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Alternatives, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Client Help, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
“If you are struggling to pay your bills, you are not alone; but please do not ignore the issue,” says Bert Briones, an Irvine, CA personal finance law/bankruptcy attorney. As our economy continues to present problems, many folks are in debt trouble or are very close to being in this category. Make sure you begin to explore all your options, while at the same time, avoid credit repair scams, and educate yourself as much as possible.
Talk to Your Creditors
Most of the time, it would be helpful to contact your creditors and explain to them what is going on. Often times, they are willing to help you work out a better payment plan that would possibly reduce your payment and/or waive or reduce fees. One exception is if you are filing bankruptcy, and have no plans to repay your debts. You will have the right to insist that creditors stop harassing you with phone calls via the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
More Effective Budgeting
Have you formed a budget and actually stuck with it? With hard work, you may be able to find your way out of trouble. Look into ways to reduce your expenses while forming your budget. Make sure you list your expenses by priority, such as rent or a mortgage, utilities, food, etc., and those less important expenses.
Consolidation Loan
A consolidation loan may be an option to help pay down unsecured debt, since interest rates tend to be lower than what is charged with credit cards. There may also be tax advantages to explore as well (be sure to seek advice from a tax expert). If you plan to possibly take out a consolidation loan, make sure you can handle the payments to avoid the risk of foreclosure. In addition, be aware of the fees associated with a new loan, as they can be quite high.
Is Bankruptcy a Good Option for You?
Bankruptcy is filed in federal court and its primary purpose is to give a debtor a “fresh start” by relieving the debtor of most debts, and to repay creditors to the extent that is manageable by the debtor.
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is basically a “liquidation” bankruptcy and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy could be considered a “reorganization” bankruptcy. If you are considering filing bankruptcy, it is adviseable to seek professional help from an experienced bankruptcy attorney to form an opinion of all your options.
Please call Red Hill Law Group with any questions or to schedule a free face-to-face or phone consultation at 877-343-3289 or use our contact form and you will be contacted within the next business day.
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Tags: Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Title 11 United States Code, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Credit history, Debit card, Debt relief, Debt settlement, Orange County, Personal Finance
Posted in Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Alternatives, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Client Help, Credit Reform Act, Credit Scores, Creditor Harassment, Debt Settlement / Debt Negotiation | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 15th, 2011
Have you recently seen or heard a radio, television, or Internet advertisement featuring credit repair services that sound too good to be true? A simple phone call and a promise is often all is takes to guarantee “easy credit repair”, “but be warned,” says Bert Briones, an Orange County, CA bankruptcy/personal finance attorney.
Consumers desperate for help are being targeted by these services to help eliminate bad credit “overnight”. As a result, a high fee structure, coupled with a minimal or no positive result is often the case.
Identifying scams is not easy, but here are some ideas to help you weed-out disreputable companies:
- The credit repair company requires a full payment up front, in order for services to begin
- You are told to dispute all information on your credit report in writing, regardless of its accuracy
- You are guaranteed to have all credit information removed from your credit report, despite the information being true
- You are instructed not to contact the credit reporting agencies because the credit repair company will do it for you
Do not be an unsuspecting consumer. Completing any of the above actions may get you in serious trouble. In addition, withholding truthful information on a credit application is a crime due to misrepresentation.
Time and patience will help you more than anything else, as credit repair is not an easy task. If you choose to seek out assistance from an outside party, it is advisable to ensure that the service is legitimate and has the experience you need and strong references to prove it.
If you have questions regarding credit repair, debt settlement, or bankruptcy, please call Red Hill Law Group, PC directly at 877-343-3289, or use our contact form and you will be contacted within the next business day.
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Tags: Bankruptcy, Collection agency, Credit card, Creditor, Debt consolidation, Debt relief, Personal Finance
Posted in Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Alternatives, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Client Help, Credit Reform Act, Credit Scores, Creditor Harassment, Debt Settlement / Debt Negotiation | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011
A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is sometimes referred to as a “Liquidation Bankruptcy”. Its primary purpose is to discharge certain debts to give you a “clean slate” in a relatively quick process.
“Given a fresh start, you will be able to live your life free of collector calls, overdue payments, and the stress of being sued,” says Bert Briones, the Principal Attorney of Red Hill Law Group, an Irvine, CA bankruptcy law firm. “You will have no more personal liability for your discharged debts upon completion of your Chapter 7 bankruptcy case.”
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is only available to individuals, not businesses. In order to complete a file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the following must be provided:
- A list of assets and debts
- A list of monthly living expenses
- Driver license
- Social Security card
- Tax returns from the previous year
- Completion certification for credit counseling
Once a bankruptcy petition has been filed, an automatic “stay” will be issued by the court that will give you immediate relief from creditor actions. As long as this stay is in effect, creditors usually may not initiate or continue lawsuits, telephone calls, or wage garnishments.
Once your trustee is satisfied with the information in your Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing is correct, you will rest easy by becoming eligible for a Chapter 7 discharge. A typical Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing takes approximately six months from initial filing to discharge.
Please call our office at 877-343-3289 with any questions you may have, or use our contact form and you will contacted within the next business day.
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Tags: Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Debt, Debt settlement, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Posted in Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Alternatives, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Client Help, Credit Reform Act, Credit Scores, Creditor Harassment, Debt Settlement / Debt Negotiation | No Comments »
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
“No one ever plans to face a possible foreclosure, but when unforeseen occurrences happen, you may find yourself in an uncomfortable position of having to make some decisions”, says Bert Briones, an Irvine, CA bankruptcy attorney at Red Hill Law Group, PC.
Foreclosure typically begins when a legal notice called a Notice of Default (NOD) is received by the homeowner. You may be able to prevent receiving an NOD by getting in touch with your lender. Often times, the lender will work with you to help you catch up on your mortgage payments rather than moving toward a foreclosure.
If you have difficulties with lender cooperation, filing for a bankruptcy before an NOD is filed should immediately stop a foreclosure through an “automatic stay“. This will at least allow you some additional time to catch up on your payments, arrange for a short sale, file a deed in lieu of foreclosure, or apply for a loan modification.
If you have a question regarding bankruptcy in California, please call us at 877-343-3289 or use our contact form and you will receive a phone call on or before the next business day. A no-charge consultation, either via phone or face-to-face is also available to address your questions and concerns.
Our highly-experienced bankruptcy attorneys are available to assist you every step of the way. Questions concerning the various types of bankruptcy filings, lien strips, cram downs, wage garnishment, etc., are always welcome.
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Tags: Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Title 11 United States Code, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Debt settlement, Orange County California, Personal Finance, Real estate
Posted in Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Alternatives, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Client Help, Credit Reform Act, Credit Scores, Creditor Harassment, Debt Settlement / Debt Negotiation | No Comments »
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
Debt Relief Law Group, a division of Red Hill Law Group PC ,an Orange County bankruptcy law firm, is proud to announce its top-three debt settlements for February, 2011!
Original Balance Settlement Amount %
$9,515.66 $1,620 30%
$9,538.42 $2,000 21%
$18,124.33 $5,500 30%
Often times, our clients are able to avoid bankruptcy by entering into a repayment program negotiated by the Red Hill Law Group bankruptcy alternatives team. Our bankruptcy alternatives team will work with our clients’ creditors in order to reduce original debt balances by up to 90%, coinciding with a manageable repayment plan spanning over an average of fifteen months.
Initially, our team will conduct a personal evaluation of your exact situation, including what debts are present, and your ability to repay a percentage of the debts. Following your evaluation, our team of negotiating specialists will approach your debtors to get the highest reduction possible. Often times, this entails several rounds of proposals until an agreed-upon program is reached.
Entering into a debt settlement program is not easy; it will require you to stick with the program, but you will receive continued support from our debt settlement team every step of the way. Your program will be closely monitored during the entire process, and thereafter as long as you need us.
Banks continue to settle! Don’t let anyone tell you something differently.
Please call us or use our contact form to schedule a no-charge attorney consultation, via phone or face-to-face. Evening and weekend appointments are available:
877-343-3289
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Tags: Bankruptcy, Credit card, Credit history, Debt, Debt consolidation, Debt relief, Debt settlement, United States
Posted in Bankruptcy, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Client Help, Credit Reform Act, Credit Scores, Creditor Harassment, Debt Settlement / Debt Negotiation, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, February 24th, 2011
“It is important to check your credit report at least once a year, or even better, once a month,” says Bert Briones, an Irvine, CA bankruptcy attorney at Red Hill Law Group, PC. “In addition, be sure to check the accuracy of your report each time.” Ensuring that the credit report information is accurate before applying for credit is especially prudent, since incorrect information can lead to a drop in your credit score, resulting in a higher interest rate or a denial of credit being granted at all. If you suspect an inaccuracy in your credit report, be sure it is resolved before applying for credit.
When your credit report is pulled, check to ensure your personal information is correct, including your name and address, and correct spelling for listed information. The next step is to verify all inquiries, inactive accounts, payment history, active account balances and aging, and any negative information that should have “dropped off” are correct. If you find an inaccuracy, you can file a dispute, usually at no-charge, either via phone, mail, or online.
A dispute must be investigated within 45 days and you will be notified of the outcome, usually via the means in which you originally filed the dispute. After the resolution, the information will remain on your report if it was verified, or deleted; however, you can add an explanation regarding verified information to your report.
Credit reporting agencies do not create your information; creditors provide it. This reinforces how important it is to regularly check your credit report for accuracy.
For additional information, please call Red Hill Law Group at 949-468-0915 or use our contact form and you will contacted shortly.
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Tags: Accuracy and precision, Bankruptcy, Business, Credit bureau, Credit card, Credit history, Credit rating agency, Credit score, Financial services
Posted in Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Alternatives, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Client Help, Credit Reform Act, Credit Scores, Creditor Harassment, Debt Settlement / Debt Negotiation, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Monday, February 21st, 2011
“The actions you take leading up to bankruptcy can drastically affect your journey through the bankruptcy process” says Bert Briones, Principal Attorney of Red Hill Law Group PC, an Orange County, CA bankruptcy law firm. “You definitely want to pay attention to these seven potential trouble spots.”
The credit card run-up mistake:
The best thing to do is to not use your credit cards once you have decided to file for bankruptcy. Consumer debts that you incur for luxury goods and services owed to a single creditor in excess of $600 within 90 days of filing are presumed to be non-dischargeable and may be found to be due and owing! Even cash advances of more than $875 within 70 days of filing are presumed to be non-dischargeable and may also be found to be due and owing.
The repay a family member mistake:
When it comes to repaying debts, you cannot treat a family member any better than you would an ordinary creditor. As a matter of fact, a bankruptcy trustee can reclaim any amount repaid to a family member within one year of filing.
The transfer property out of your name mistake:
A bankruptcy trustee can go so far as to undo a transfer of property that previously belonged to you. This surprising event can occur if the transfer took place within four years of the filing with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud a creditor.
The liquidate your retirement account mistake:
Your retirement accounts are generally protected. You can eliminate your debt and keep whatever you have in an ERISA qualified account, free and clear. Too many individuals empty their retirement accounts in a desperate attempt to pay down their credit card debt.
The line of credit/second mortgage to pay off debt mistake:
Don’t take a loan against your real estate in an attempt to reduce the equity. You can often file bankruptcy and not lose this valuable asset. If you take out a second mortgage to pay credit card debt, you may be putting your home at risk.
The failure to appear at court proceedings mistake:
If there is a collection case pending against you in state or federal court, don’t assume that you can avoid the court process simply because you have decided to file bankruptcy. Until your bankruptcy case is actually filed, a collection case can continue.
The failure to tell your attorney the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth mistake:
Your attorney can only provide advice that is based upon information provided by you. Failure to notify your attorney about your assets can lead to the loss of those assets, denial of your bankruptcy case, fines, imprisonment, or all of the above.
Red Hill Law Group PC is available to answer all of your questions regarding bankruptcy and alternatives to bankruptcy. Please call us at 949-468-0915 or use our contact form.
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Tags: Bankruptcy, Credit card, Creditor, Debt, Filing (legal), Law, Lawyer, Services
Posted in Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Alternatives, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, Chapter 7, Client Help, Credit Reform Act, Credit Scores, Creditor Harassment, Debt Settlement / Debt Negotiation | No Comments »
