The Bankruptcy Lawyers Blog

Start Fresh Today to Launch New Website in May 2012

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:59:12 -0600

In May 2012, Start Fresh Today will launch their highly anticipated new website at www.startfreshtoday.com

Start Fresh Today to Sponsor and Exhibit at Annual NACBA Conference in San Antonio, Texas

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:34:00 -0600

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact Kelly Arduz Start Fresh Today (954) 377-9330 karduz@startfreshtoday.com FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, – Start Fresh Today, one of the nation’s largest providers of federally-required consumer bankruptcy courses, will be in San Antonio, Texas for the...

Start Fresh Today to Sponsor Annual NACBA Conference in San Antonio

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:41:24 -0600

Start Fresh Today to Sponsor Annual NACBA Conference in San Antonio Start Fresh Today is excited to announce that we will be in San Antonio, Texas from April 26- April 29, 2012 for the 20th Annual NACBA Conference at...

Start Fresh Today and LegalPRO Systems, Inc. form Strategic Partnership to Deliver Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Courses

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:45:54 -0600

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact Stephanie Tolley Start Fresh Today (954) 377-9368 phone stolley@startfreshtoday.com Start Fresh Today® and LegalPRO Systems, Inc. form Strategic Partnership to Deliver Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Courses Integration Provides Expanded, Single-Source Access to...

Racial Disparity in the Consumer Bankruptcy System

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:32:18 -0600

Are African-Americans not getting the "fresh start" they deserve when filing for bankruptcy? According to a new study entitled "Race, Attorney Influence, and Bankruptcy Chapter Choice," by Jean Braucher of the University of Arizona and Dov Cohen and Robert Lawless,...

Milwaukee Judge Cites Bankruptcy Preparer for Contempt

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:55:33 -0600

The Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel’s Cary Spivak reported on the latest ruling cracking down on the “hotbed for bankruptcy petition preparers” that is Milwaukee. Chief Bankruptcy Judge Pamela Pepper cited Jennell McKinley for contempt of court and will be facing...

2011 Personal Bankruptcies Down 12%. 2012 Expectations???

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:28:01 -0600

According to a new report from Fitch Ratings, 2011 personal bankruptcy filings declined by 12% to 1.35 million from the year earlier. It was the first decline in four years, possibly resulting from somewhat improved economic conditions and decreased...

New Maryland Rules Require More Proof in Debt Collection Cases

dhyde@startfreshtoday.com (Kevin Chern Esq.) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:56:50 -0600

When a debt collection company or buyer shows up in District Court, they are usually just going by a person’s name, last known address and Social Security number to obtain a judgment against that person. Reacting to a flood...

Ho, Ho, ...Hum? Make the Most of Your Holiday Downtime

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:04:26 -0600

You’re stuck at the office but things have slowed to a crawl. The phone’s not ringing and you’ve already updated your Facebook page. What to do? The Legal Intelligencer has a great post by Neen James with some great tips...

Surrendering Property in a Chapter 13 Plan

dhyde@startfreshtoday.com (William Johnson) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:12:14 -0600

In the past, our firm, Acclaim Legal Services, mainly filed Chapter 13 bankruptcies to stop foreclosure sales and give borrowers the opportunity to cure outstanding mortgage arrearages. More and more, we are seeing clients choosing to surrender their property under...

Courts Take Action on Bankruptcy Preparers

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:49:36 -0600

A recent editorial by the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel focused on how too many bankruptcy petition preparers are going well beyond what is allowed under the law and hurting poor petitioners in the process. Urban areas have no shortage of...

Homeland Soldiers Get Extended Bankruptcy Assistance

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:56:56 -0600

On November 29, H.R. 2192: National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Act of 2011 was overwhelmingly passed in the House 407-1. The law will extend the exemption for an additional 4-year period, from the application of the means-test presumption...

Bankruptcy Code on the Go - Free

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:41:24 -0600

Do you have an Amazon Kindle or similar E-Reader? Maybe now’s the time to add one to your Christmas or Hanukkah list. The University of Illinois College of Law has assembled the full U.S. Bankruptcy Code from public domain...

Start Fresh Today is a Hit at NACBA in Colorado Springs

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:46:04 -0600

Last week, Start Fresh Today made its way from the sunny beaches of South Florida to the crisp mountain air of Colorado Springs for the NACBA Fall Workshop. The three-day event was held at the beautiful and luxurious Broadmoor Hotel...

Outstanding Student Loans Exceed $1 Trillion

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:25:00 -0600

With students needing a college education and workers seeking retraining both hoping to land a decent job, the amount of student loans taken out last year passed $100 billion for the first time last year and total outstanding loans are...

Florida Foreclosure Process Delayed by Bankruptcy Trustees?

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:24:29 -0600

The real estate website MortgageOrb is reporting that a Florida provider of default legal services is sounding the alarm on a new bankruptcy practice that he says could delay the foreclosure process in the state. According to an announcement...

Absolute Priority Rule No Longer Applies Under BAPCPA

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:59:11 -0600

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Bankruptcies Drop As Consumers Still Struggle

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 07:42:03 -0600

The September 2011 American Bankruptcy Institute report showed fewer individuals filed for bankruptcy protection in September holding back on spending, household debt and other borrowing. But while U.S. consumers are making their credit card payments on time, delinquencies grew...

Personal Property May Apply to Homestead Exemption

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 07:47:42 -0600

A panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled the homestead exemption applies to proceeds from personal property sold with a debtor’s house unless the money was segregated from the sale or was used to pay off...

More College Grads Filing for Bankruptcy

karduz@startfreshtoday.com (StartFreshToday) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:06:12 -0600

Historically, the typical personal bankruptcy filer has been low-income and under-educated. But over the past five years, financial distress has affected more and more people with college degrees. According to a new study by a financial nonprofit, the rate...