Author: Justin Harelik Archive
I Filed Bankruptcy…Can I Sell My House Now and Keep My Equity?
Justin Harelik
December 19, 2016
There are a lot of questions that need answers before the decision to file bankruptcy. There are a lot of questions that come up during the bankruptcy process. And there are more questions that crop up once the bankruptcy is closed and the discharge is received. One common “post-bankruptcy” question ...
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Divorce Decree v. Bankruptcy: Which Determines Final Debt Liability?
Justin Harelik
December 16, 2016
Meet Dawn and Jared. Dawn and Jared were high school sweethearts. They got married during college. Dawn eventually became a lawyer and Jared eventually became a doctor. By the time they got divorced, they hardly saw each other because they were both so busy and had such different priorities and ...
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Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Questions: Can I Keep My Car When I File?
Justin Harelik
December 14, 2016
One of the common reasons that people have for putting off filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy even though it is their only choice in their given financial situation, is that they want to keep their car. Most even go so far as to say that they NEED to keep their ...
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Bankruptcy Alternatives: Can I Transfer the Liability of an Auto Loan?
Justin Harelik
December 12, 2016
People will do a lot to avoid filing for bankruptcy. And as an experienced southern California bankruptcy attorney, I am in full agreement. It’s always best to do everything you can to take care of your debt and financial liabilities without filing for bankruptcy. Filing for bankruptcy is a legal ...
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What Happens When You Miss a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Payment?
Justin Harelik
December 9, 2016
A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is often referred to as a reorganization bankruptcy. It allows people who see a regular income to create a plan to repay all or a designated part of their debt through the bankruptcy court and the assistance of a bankruptcy trustee. Under the Chapter 13 bankruptcy, ...
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Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: Why is My Bank Account Still Frozen?
Justin Harelik
November 25, 2016
If you’ve filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you case is complete and you have received your discharge of debt, you’re probably dancing on the rooftop – or at least on a countertop! That is, unless you have lingering issues such as a bank account that is mysteriously still frozen. If ...
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Bankruptcy & Your Home Business
Justin Harelik
November 23, 2016
If you run a small business from your home, you’re probably wondering if you need to include it in your bankruptcy filing. If you are declaring Chapter 7 bankruptcy on your personal debts, do you have to get your small business involved? This is another specific situation that may require ...
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Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Can I Strip a Second Mortgage?
Justin Harelik
November 21, 2016
When filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may be able to strip a second mortgage if there is no equity in your home after the first mortgage. In this instance, the second mortgage can be treated similar to any other unsecured lien (like a credit card debt) and the debtor ...
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Does a Quit Claim Deed Provide Release from a Mortgage Note?
Justin Harelik
November 18, 2016
Being an adult is hard sometimes. And one of those times occurs when there’s a shortage of money, relationships have ended, property has been divided (theoretically) and someone is filing bankruptcy. In some cases, it can seem like you’re being pressured from all sides to do something that you don’t ...
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Lease-to-Own Property and the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Justin Harelik
November 16, 2016
There are all kinds of ways to get overwhelmed by debt. You might start off with a little bit of credit card debt, and then add a mortgage. A little while later you may throw in an auto loan or two. Along the way, you may be very friendly with ...
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