Discharging student loan debt through bankruptcy is not easy, but it may be possible in cases of undue hardship. To evaluate whether a borrower qualifies, courts and loan holders often look at specific financial and personal circumstances. Recent guidance from the...
debt relief
When a child’s illness leads to medical debt
When a child gets sick or injured, most parents do whatever it takes to get them the care they need. However, urgent or ongoing treatment can lead to high medical bills. If the child doesn’t have full insurance coverage or the care is out of network, costs can quickly...
How common is medical debt?
Many types of debt can leave your finances in tatters, but one of the most common is medical debt. One moment you and your family members are well, and your financial situation is steady, then, out of nothing, something happens that puts you or a loved one in the...
How to prepare for filing bankruptcy
When considering the benefits of bankruptcy, having a solid preparation plan can make all the difference. Working with a seasoned bankruptcy attorney helps you explore all debt relief options and determine whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is your best path forward....
How is New Jersey helping those with medical debt?
We talked earlier this year about the Biden administration’s plan to remove medical debt from Americans’ credit reports. As we noted, the Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB) has been working on a new rule that would implement that change. Currently, the CFPB...
3 tips for rebuilding credit after a bankruptcy
One of the reasons people delay filing for bankruptcy is the impact it has on credit. People generally lose their revolving lines of credit and see their credit scores drop by three points when they initially file. However, those drastic consequences are only...
4 life events that can lead to overwhelming debt
Debt is challenging financial reality that many people face. Unfortunately, most people assume that poor financial decisions are the primary cause of debt. In reality, life’s unpredictability can often be the real culprit. Certain major life events can lead to...
3 tips for handling hospital bills
Medical bills in this country keep rising – and they can financially overwhelm almost anybody. If you’re dealing with an unexpected hospital bill (or one that was just unexpectedly high) there are several things you can do to try to lower or manage the bill. These...
3 medical procedures that can lead to bankruptcy
Healthcare in the U.S. isn’t free. While comprehensive insurance programs can cover a lot, they do not necessarily cover everything. What this means is that a significant number of people end up in medical debt. Some procedures are much more expensive than others....
What goes in a Notice of Intent (NOI)?
Under New Jersey law, a lender that wants to foreclose has to send the debtor a notice of intent (NOI). This indicates that a foreclosure is coming in the future, providing information to the borrower and also giving them a timeline. For instance, after receiving the...