The Cassidy Law Firm Blog

Deciding to pursue bankruptcy is never an easy decision. Once you have made that decision you will need to decide which chapter to use for your bankruptcy. An individual (or married couple) can file using chapters 11, 12, 13, and 7; however, most use either chapter 13 or chapter 7. Whether or not you have the option to choose between the two depends on whether you qualify to file a chapter 7 bankruptcy.

A chapter 7 bankruptcy in Ocean County allows the debtor to discharge most debts without being required to repay any of them back whereas in a chapter 13 bankruptcy (as well as in a chapter 11 and chapter 12) the debtor is required to develop a repayment plan that contemplates the repayment f most debts over an extended period of time. Understandably, this makes a chapter 7 bankruptcy the more attractive option for most debtors. When the various chapters were created, the idea behind chapter 7 was that it would be used by low income debtors who did not have the means to repay debts for unforeseen bills such as hospital bills. Unfortunately, debtors who could afford to repay their debts frequently took advantage of the option to file chapter 7 bankruptcy prior to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, or BAPCPA.

Debtors who could benefit from bankruptcy often hesitate to consider bankruptcy because of the numerous myths and misconceptions about the process and about life after bankruptcy. One common misconception that people have is that if one spouse files for bankruptcy the other spouse is required to file as well. The truth is that your spouse does not have to file for bankruptcy just because you file; however, your filing could directly impact your spouse if you have co-signed for credit or if you jointly own property.

If you choose to file for bankruptcy protection there is no legal requirement that forces your spouse to file a joint petition along with you. Often, only one spouse needs bankruptcy protection. If your spouse does not need to file bankruptcy there may be no reason for him or her to do so; however, it is important to understand how your bankruptcy can affect your spouse.

In recent years the number of people filing for bankruptcy in the United States has reached historic proportions. The overall economic crisis in the U.S. has largely been to blame for the record number of debtors seeking protection from creditors through bankruptcy. For many debtors, the single largest bill they face each month is their mortgage payment. If the mortgage was taken out when interest rates were high, the monthly payment can be a significant source of strain on the budget each month. In some cases, bankruptcy can result in a lower monthly mortgage payment by re-financing the mortgage during or after the bankruptcy.

In Monmouth County, individual and married debtors typically use either chapter 7 or chapter 13 when filing bankruptcy. Chapter 7 can only be used by a debtor who passes the “means test”. In essence, this means that a debtor’s income must be at or below the median for the area. In addition, a chapter 7 should not be used when the debtor has valuable non-exempt assets to protect. In that case, a chapter 13 is the better option because assets are not at risk of being sold to pay off creditors because the debtor pays off most debts over an extended period of time.

In Monmouth County, New Jersey, the penalties for a conviction of trafficking drugs are harsh and frequently involve a lengthy term of incarceration. For this reason, it is crucial that you consult with an experienced Monmouth County criminal defense attorney early in the prosecution of a drug trafficking case. There are often several viable avenues of defense available to an individual charged with trafficking a controlled substance; however, the longer you wait to begin working on your defense the less chance you will have of success.

In Monmouth County, most debtors are hesitant to consider bankruptcy as a solution to their debt problems because of the various misconceptions people have about the bankruptcy process and life after bankruptcy. If you are among the millions of people who have been struggling with debt in recent years, it may be time to clear up some of those misconceptions and start considering bankruptcy as a long-term solution. One of the biggest misconceptions people have about bankruptcy is that a debtor who files a chapter 7 bankruptcy in Monmouth will lose all of his or her assets during the bankruptcy. This is simply not true.

One of the reasons people are concerned about losing assets is that a chapter 7 bankruptcy is often referred to as a “liquidation” bankruptcy. The name can be misleading. Although the bankruptcy Trustee in a chapter 7 bankruptcy does have the authority and obligation to take possession of non-exempt assets and sell them to raise funds for the repayment of creditors, most chapter 7 debtors are able to protect most, if not all, assets by using the exemptions available to them.

In recent years the number of bankruptcy filings has reached historic levels due, in large part, to the overall economic crisis with which the United States has been dealing. If you have been struggling to climb out of your own financial crisis for some time now, it may be time to consider bankruptcy. One of the most common questions we are asked about bankruptcy is “How long does it take to file a chapter 13 bankruptcy?” A better understanding of the chapter 13 bankruptcy process can answer that question.

Since the “War on Drugs” began in the United States over three decades ago the laws and penalties for drug offenses throughout the country have become tougher and tougher. New Jersey is no exception. People typically think of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, or heroin when they think of drug offenses; however, you could face serious penalties for possessing, distributing, or trafficking in prescription drugs as well.

A generation or two ago it was not uncommon for someone to give a friend a pain pill from the medicine cabinet if the friend was in pain or a valium if the friend was experiencing stress. Today, helping a friend out like that could end up in a trip to jail with you facing felony drug charges.

Whether you have been drinking or not, seeing the flashing red lights in the mirror when you are driving can be a stressful, if not downright frightening, experience. If you have actually had anything at all to drink you will undoubtedly be worried about the numerous negative consequences of being arrested, charged, and even convicted of driving under the influence, or DUI. One decision you will need to make if you are stopped and the officer suspects that you have been drinking and driving is whether or not to submit to the field sobriety tests the officer will want you to perform.

In recent years the number of bankruptcy petitions filed in the United States has reached historic levels. On primary reason for the increase in the number of debtors turning to bankruptcy is the national recession the country has been experiencing. As is often the case during an economic downturn, the real estate market has also suffered. In many markets, property values plummeted virtually overnight. The result for many debtors is that they now owe considerably more for their house than the property  is worth in the current market. The one shining star in all of this is that if you find yourself in this situation and you have a second mortgage on the property you could be able to eliminate the second mortgage through bankruptcy.

If you are one of the millions of hard working Americans who struggles every month to pay your bills yet never seems to get ahead, it may be time to consider filing for bankruptcy as a long-term solution. Most debtors struggle for months, even years, before seriously considering bankruptcy as an option. Often, valuable assets are lost in the process – assets that could have been saved had the debtor consulted with a bankruptcy attorney early on. Once you understand the Middlesex County bankruptcy process better you may see why filing for bankruptcy in Middlesex County is often the best option for a debtor who is struggling financially.

In many criminal prosecutions evidence is admitted at trial that is the result of a search and seizure. If that search was conducted illegally, however, the evidence obtained as a result of that search cannot be admitted at trial. Only an experienced Monmouth County criminal defense attorney can evaluate the specific facts and circumstances of your case to determine if an illegal search occurred; however, understanding what an illegal search in Monmouth County is, in general, may make you question the search in your criminal case.