Consolidating Debt & Debt Reduction Without Owning A Home
You have two options to consolidate and reduce your debt if you
don't own a home. First, you can use the services of a debt
consolidation agency. They will negotiate lower interest rates
and smaller payments. The other option is to take out a...
Debt Elimination 4
Planning For Debt Elimination Without Surplus Cash Previously we looked at using surplus cash each month to chip away at those outstanding loans, on our long road to debt elimination. But what can you do if there is no surplus cash every month? ...
How to Find Your Way Out of Debt
If you are in debt over your head and wondering if you will ever find a way out, the answer is yes! Serious financial problems can make life miserable and cause a great deal of stress and worry. Many people have found themselves in the situation of...
Shocking Facts - What Debt Settlement Companies Don't Tell You
If you're thinking about using a debt consolidation or debt settlement service to help you get out of debt faster and save money on your monthly payments, make sure you do your homework before choosing a company. There are definitely shams and...
The Battle of the Budget: How To Get Out of Debt
A lot of people I talk to tell me that they have a great idea for a home business, but when I ask them when they are going to start it up, more often than not they say something like, "Well, I would start, but I don't have a lot of spare cash right...
Bankruptcy and Debt - New Law May Hurt Katrina Victims
The world remains horrified at the tremendous destruction caused throughout the Gulf Coast recently by Hurricane Katrina. An unknown number of people are dead and thousands more are homeless, jobless and completely destitute. It may be months before the city of New Orleans is inhabitable again, and in the meantime, most residents of the city will have little or no income. This is a problem, as most people will continue to have payments due for credit cards, auto loans and mortgages. A number of people will probably be forced to file for bankruptcy as their debts continue to pile up with no income to offset them. Unfortunately for them, recently passed legislation may make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to have their debts wiped away through bankruptcy.
The Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law by President Bush last April, makes it more difficult to file for bankruptcy than in the past. New, stricter guidelines, which take effect next month, require proof of income for six months prior to filing as well as credit counseling. The documentation requirements of the new law are fairly strict, and even hold attorneys who represent bankruptcy filers liable for incorrect information filed on their clients' behalf.
These will be huge obstacles for hurricane victims, many of whom
have lost their homes and contents. Along with their furniture, clothes and other possessions, victims of the storm have also lost vital paperwork outlining their debt obligations and income. Without this paperwork, it will be virtually impossible to file under Chapter 7 of the Federal code, which allows the courts to wipe out most consumer debts. Instead, filers will have to file under Chapter 13 and establish a repayment plan. This will undoubtedly create an undue burden on thousands of largely uninsured hurricane victims as they try to pay the bills for personal belongings that no longer exist.
Congress has taken note of this situation and a number of Democrats are attempting to pass new legislation that will assist victims of Hurricane Katrina with bankruptcy filings. It appears at present that no Republicans are willing to support this legislation, so anyone who has suffered a loss from the storm should try to gather financial information together as best they can and prepare for a long and expensive day in court. About the Author