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Monthly Archives: October 2018

When to Think Twice Before Filing for Bankruptcy

One of the most challenging aspects of bankruptcy law is that a large number of clients have misconceptions about the process and what it entails. One of these is when it is appropriate to file for bankruptcy. While the bankruptcy process offers several advantages including the opportunity to start over at building a good credit record, bankruptcy is not for everyone. This article discusses some of the situations in which you should think twice before filing for bankruptcy. You are Able to Pay Your Debts Occasionally, some people think that it might be a good idea to file for bankruptcy even though their debt is much smaller than their income. In these situations, a person should instead create a short or long-term plan to pay those debts. If you are not in a position to pay your debts, however, you should give serious consideration to filing for bankruptcy. Your Debt is Primarily Taxes or Student Loans Debt associated with taxes or student loans are particularly difficult to discharge through bankruptcy. To be discharged, income tax must meet several requirements including being three years old and not assessed within the last 240 days. Because you are unlikely to discharge most types [...]

2018-10-28T12:57:55+00:00Tags: |

Life Insurance Benefits

The reason why many decide to purchase life insurance is that it often helps them reach their financial goals. In some cases, life insurance can even provide individuals with benefits while they are still alive. Selecting the proper type of life insurance, however, can be challenging. Fortunately, an experienced estate planning attorney can help you obtain the best possible life insurance for your situation. This article will discuss some of the advantages (as well as disadvantages) involved with life insurance in an estate planning context. The Benefits of Life Insurance Life insurance offers some unique benefits, which include the following: After a person’s death, compensation from life insurance policies helps provide survivors with financial security. In comparison to other types of accounts like Roth IRAs, life insurance policies are not as restricted by tax requirements. This means that compensation administered after a person’s death is often tax-free. Another tax advantage provided by life insurance policies is that the value of the benefits grows at a tax-deferred rate while the insured is alive. Life insurance policies also offer the tax advantage that cash withdrawals up to the total of the life insurance policy can be made free of income tax. If [...]

2018-10-17T19:38:22+00:00Tags: , |

Understanding Common Fears About the Bankruptcy Process

Few people approach Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy without any concerns about what the process might involve. Instead, it is much more common to involve bankruptcy as a potential solution in difficult times, but also a process that comes with several particular challenges. This article will address some of the most common fears that people have when considering filing for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy Will Remain on Your Credit Report for Years Chapter 7 bankruptcy might only take several months to complete and offer the advantage of discharging you from debts, but many people worry that a bankruptcy will remain permanently on their record. In reality, many people discover that the bankruptcy filings remain on their record for a period of only a few years, after which they are able to begin rebuilding their credit score. Bankruptcy Records can be Viewed by Anyone Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding, which many people fear means that these records can be read by anyone. To access bankruptcy records, however, a person must have your name and other personal details. A person also must have the correct information to conduct an online search, which often means that these records are better hidden than many people [...]

2018-10-11T11:34:30+00:00Tags: |

Crucial Considerations When Estate Planning

Creating an estate plan is a gift to the loved ones you leave behind after your death. By creating a strong estate plan, you are able to provide assistance to guide your loved ones through the difficult and emotional time following your death. In many cases, failure to perform proper estate planning results in substantial disagreements between your loved ones. This article will review several of the steps that you can take to greatly reduce the risk of disagreements among loved ones following your death. Appoint an Appropriate Executor After a loved one’s death, some family members grow to feel that the family member who was appointed as executor is stealing from the estate. Other executors disappear from all contact with the family and refuse to deal with the appropriate paperwork to divide the estate. While many people decide to appoint the oldest surviving child as executor, consider the person’s skills at performing the job before giving that person such an important position. Failing to Address Personal Property The smallest piece of property has a tendency to lead to the largest family fights. Anything to which a family has strong emotional or sentimental connection has the potential to cause arguments. [...]

2018-10-06T21:39:23+00:00Tags: , |