On May 2, 2012, Governor Nathan Deal signed Senate Bill 117, which increased the residential homestead exemption in the State of Georgia from $10,000 to $21,500 for an individual debtor, and from $20,000 to $43,000 for a married debtor. Our …
10
May
2012
Residential Homestead Exemption
I have often joked about how my father presented me with a bill for $250,000 immediately after my college graduation. He explained that it represented the cost of feeding, clothing, raising and educating me through college. Unfortunately for today’s parents, …
25
Apr
2012
Phone collection scam. Don’t be a victim
While other blogs have addressed collection law and lottery scams, there is a new scam which falls somewhere in the middle of the two. Consumers will receive phone calls from individuals claiming to be with non-existent government agencies, threatening …
Even the most vigilant, conscientious consumers may have to deal with a collection agency at some point. It could be because a bill was overlooked at some point. It may be because the consumer disputed the debt, and refused to …
16
Jan
2012
DO I NEED AN ATTORNEY TO FILE A BANKRUPTCY?
DO I NEED AN ATTORNEY TO FILE A BANKRUPTCY?
This is a common question that is asked by potential clients. The short answer is “no”. Bankruptcy law does not require that a debtor have an attorney in order to file …
Refund Anticipation Loans or “RAL’s” were originally marketed as “rapid refunds”, with the goal of expediting the receipt of income tax refunds for tax filers. What many filers believed was a refund was actually a loan made directly to the …
Once the joy and good tidings of the holiday season have subsided, unpleasant reminders begin to appear in the mailbox in the form of higher-than-average credit card bills. Some consumers may be prepared for their credit card statements, while others …
09
Dec
2011
Lottery Scams – Don’t be a Victim!
When economic times are hard, especially during the holidays, it is easy for some consumers to let down their guard and become victims of lottery or prize scams. A few things to remember if you should be contacted by anyone …
An oft-debated component of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA) was with respect to the consumer protection from credit card abuses. Unfortunately, many of the recommended protections were left out of the final version of …
27
Jul
2011
Bankrupty Terms for the Layperson
Many people have trouble understanding the terms that lawyers routinely use. But even attorneys in other areas of practice often complain that bankruptcy attorneys seem to have their own arcane language. Because both debtors and their attorneys receive motions, pleadings …