As a bankruptcy attorney who has met with thousands of distressed consumers in the Augusta area, I have had the opportunity to evaluate the different methods that people have used to reduce their expenses in situations where income has been...
Read moreHomeowner’s Association Fees & Bankruptcy
A frequent issue that arises in bankruptcy cases in Augusta, GA is the treatment of Homeowner’s Association fees (“HOA fees”) or regime fees. These fees represent an assessment against all homeowners in the association to maintain and improve...
Read moreDebt Management Plans: When It Makes Sense and When It Doesn’t
Many people who encounter financial hardship and fall behind on their credit card payments may consider a debt management plan. [i] In the standard debt management plan, a third party contacts the credit card companies on behalf of the consumer...
Read moreThe Cost of Consumer Bankruptcy and How It Has Increased in the Last 10 Years
There is no question that the cost of filing bankruptcy for a typical consumer has increased dramatically in the Augusta, Georgia in the last 10 years. Some of the increases are easy to identify, such as the increase in court-imposed filing fees...
Read moreDrive It or Dump It, Part 2: What to Do If the Car is Not Worth Keeping
This article is a follow-up to a previous article regarding the factors to be considered for a consumer who is considering the filing of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy to save a car from being repossessed by the lender. This article will address the...
Read moreDrive It or Dump It? When It Makes Sense to Keep a Car in Bankruptcy, or Let It Go
There is no question that reliable transportation is essential to functioning as part of the American economy. Whether it be the means for an employee to get back and forth to work, or for a retiree to travel for necessary medical care, we must...
Read moreThe Perils of Filing a Pro Se Bankruptcy Petition – Part 2
This is a follow-up to a previous article that identified many of the pitfalls that confront a debtor who files for bankruptcy without the aid of an attorney. Specifically, that article addressed the main reasons why such debtors would not...
Read more2015 Foreclosure Trends in Georgia
In the wake of additional financial regulation and agency enforcement of settlement agreements, mortgage companies have to be very careful to make sure that there documents are in order before commencing a foreclosure proceeding. This is...
Read moreUpdate on Debt Collection Scams
Previous articles here on the bankruptcy blog have discussed consumers’ rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) and the Do’s and Don’ts of Dealing with Collection Agencies. However, here in Augusta GA, we’ve noticed that...
Read moreThe Perils of Filing a Pro Se Bankruptcy Petition – Part 1
The Bankruptcy Code does not require that a debtor must hire an attorney to file the bankruptcy petition and represent them in court. I have noticed lately in Augusta that the number of “pro se” debtors has increased.[i] Some of these petitions...
Read moreRebuilding Your Credit After Bankruptcy
A common question that we receive from clients at Leiden & Leiden in Augusta, GA, is what will be the best way for a consumer to rebuild their credit after a bankruptcy filing. Obviously the bankruptcy will affect the credit score, but its...
Read moreFiling a Joint Bankruptcy Prior to Divorce: Why it Makes Sense for Many Couples
Financial problems and marital strife often go hand-in-hand, so it is no surprise that many divorces may be a result of financial distress. However, the financial distress may linger long after the divorce, and prevent closure for the former...
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