by Walter Metzen | Dec 10, 2019 | Uncategorized
By Walter Metzen 100% CHAPTER 13 PLANS: NOT JUST DEBT CONSOLIDATION One of the most widespread misconceptions about Chapter 13 bankruptcy is that it is simply another form of debt consolidation. This is incorrect. Legitimate “debt consolidation” involves a...
by Walter Metzen | Nov 19, 2019 | Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Detroit Bankruptcy Blog, Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney
Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a different animal than Chapter 7 bankruptcyIn most cases, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a fairly tight process. A Chapter 7 generally involves 2 or 3 meetings with your bankruptcy lawyer prior to the filing of your petition in order to assemble...
by Walter Metzen | Nov 8, 2019 | Detroit Bankruptcy Blog, Detroit Bankruptcy Lawyer, Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney, Uncategorized
A Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceeding differs from a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in that, instead of discharging your (dischargeble) debt entirely, the process requires that you pay something back to your creditors, depending upon your monthly average income after necessary...
by Walter Metzen | Oct 29, 2019 | Detroit Bankruptcy Blog
Auto Loans and Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: Basic OptionsWhen you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy at a time when you owe a balance on an automobile loan, you are required to state your intention as to whether you intend to retain the vehicle “securing” the loan or whether you...
by Walter Metzen | Oct 22, 2019 | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
When you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, everything that you own becomes an asset of what is known as “the bankruptcy estate.” This “estate” is a legal construct, a sort of shell containing all property that you own, perhaps that you...
by Walter Metzen | Sep 19, 2018 | Detroit Bankruptcy Blog, Uncategorized
Co-authored by Chad Mizelle.There is a disturbing trend we have noticed happening in metro Detroit and probably nationwide in the past few years. We get a call from an upset person who says that a collection agency representing a payday loan company just called them...
by Walter Metzen | Dec 18, 2017 | Detroit Bankruptcy Blog, filing bankruptcy in Michigan, Uncategorized
When I was in law school, my legal writing professor was a strong proponent of getting away from archaic legal terminology or “lawyerisms” and instead using simple words that the general population, namely our non-lawyer clients, can understand. Unfortunately,...
by Walter Metzen | Aug 15, 2017 | Bankruptcy, Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney
IntroductionIn recent years, an interesting trend has developed in which bankruptcy trustees, using their “strong-arm” powers[1] are seeking to avoid or claw back tuition payments made to colleges and universities on behalf of their adult children for the benefit of...
by Walter Metzen | May 11, 2015 | Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Does the law require married couples to file bankruptcy together?No, the United States Bankruptcy laws do not require married couples to file together, although in most of the cases I file, both spouses choose to file together. In other cases, especially with recent...
by Walter Metzen | May 5, 2015 | Bankruptcy, Reaffirmation agreements
What will happen to my debt, my monthly bills when I file Bankruptcy?When you file a bankruptcy, a Court order automatically goes into effect that keeps your creditors from legally collecting from you (the automatic stay). Later, when you are granted a bankruptcy...
