Figures from the Federal Reserve suggest that a worrying number of consumers in Virginia and around the country are finding it difficult to make their credit card payments on time despite a robust economy and low unemployment. The credit card delinquency rate in the...
Year: 2018
Likelihood of bankruptcy after retirement increases sharply
People are filing bankruptcy in their golden years more than before according to a study by a professor group. The professors used data gathered by the Consumer Bankruptcy Project and determined that the number of bankruptcy filings by people aged 65 to 74 grew by...
Important estate planning steps for new parents
Becoming a parent can change virtually every element of your life, from how you spend your money and time to how you make plans for the future. If you already have an estate plan in place, you may need to make some fundamental changes to it once you have a son or...
Estate planning involves more than just creating documents
Developing a viable estate plan involves more than just making a will for distributing assets. Virginia residents may be interested to know that the people they pick to carry out their plans can be just as important as the documents themselves. Picking the wrong...
The automatic stay in personal bankruptcy
When Virginia residents file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 personal bankruptcy petitions, an injunction known as an automatic stay is issued. This injunction is designed to give individuals the time they need to put their financial affairs in order, and it places strict...
Explaining a will could prevent disputes
A complete estate plan may require more than just a will, a trust and powers of attorney. When a person with substantial assets dies, family members sometimes dispute the wording in the will and precipitate lengthy legal battles. Financing such disputes in Virginia...
Does bankruptcy discharge all of my debts?
Many people have the misconception that bankruptcy will discharge all of their debts. First, there are two types of bankruptcy you could file, Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. In Chapter 7, the court could theoretically order all of your debts discharged. In Chapter 13, you...
Family infighting can limit an estate plan’s effectiveness
Estate planning tools can help minimize a family's tax obligation in the future. However, Virginia residents and others may also want to consider how family dynamics could influence the effectiveness of an estate plan. For instance, siblings who don't like each other...
Understanding how bankruptcy can help with debt relief
Virginia residents who are struggling to keep up with their debt payments could benefit from filing for bankruptcy. Mortgages, auto loans and credit card bills are among the types of debts that could be discharged. It is also possible to have rent, past due utility...
Debt and interest rates to rise in 2018
Americans spend about 10 percent of their monthly income on debts such as auto loans and credit cards. While that may not be a dangerous level for most people, it is a good idea for Virginia residents to know where that debt is going. As a general rule, student and...