Published Tuesday, October 5, 2010 @ 12:16 pm

Serious debt happens to most people before they realize it. Even though it’s always there, only when the income stops do the debt obligations get really noticed. And in a recession like the one that has plagued our country for the last three years, loss of income is a common thing.…

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Published Wednesday, September 1, 2010 @ 7:36 am

There was a time when a college diploma carried the promise of long, prosperous employment. Today, it’s as promising as a one of those silly motivational pictures of eagles and mountains.

As most people are coming to realize, it doesn’t matter how many initials are attached to the end of your name, you stand about as much chance as finding work today as the guy holding a sign at the intersection.…

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Published Saturday, August 28, 2010 @ 8:17 am

Deciding to file bankruptcy requires that you take an honest assessment of your financial situation.

Now if our government would just approach our economy the same way.

News this week about an economic recovery that probably never was and a perpetuating recession are putting into a harsh perspective just how much time, energy and tax-payer money has been dumped into a financial revitalization effort that looks to have not just stalled, but pulled us backward.…

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Published Thursday, August 12, 2010 @ 10:07 am

Well, this may come as a surprise: a bank was deliberately charging customers for banking errors they did not make.

Shocker, huh?

Okay, well, maybe that kind of snark is a bit uncalled for. There are plenty of banks out there doing the right thing. But the timing of a California judge’s ruling that Wells Fargo must pay back more than $200 million to customers for egregiously fat-fingering their adding machines when calculating overdraft fees could not have come at a worse time.…

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Published Monday, January 25, 2010 @ 8:41 am

Part of understanding bankruptcy is knowing who the professionals are that you will meet and deal with along the way. From your attorney to even your creditors, it helps provide a solid foundation of comfort to actually understand the role of those who are playing a role in your financial future.…

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Published Sunday, December 20, 2009 @ 12:31 pm

Wouldn’t it be easier sometimes to not have to shop for Christmas? It sure would be nice to just enjoy roasted chestnuts, old music and making popcorn strings.

But this is America, and we like to spend. In fact, many experts note that the holiday season is when many of us start our forays into bankruptcy-inducing debt.…

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Published Saturday, December 5, 2009 @ 3:10 pm

For far too many people in North Carolina, and the country, job loss has been the primary driver of excessive debt. Even those who spend wisely and are conservative with credit can quickly feel the impact of being laid off. Three months of savings may help. But only for three months.…

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Published Sunday, October 11, 2009 @ 10:09 pm

We can’t stress enough the value of bankruptcy for those who truly need it. Hey, it’s no secret that our business is to help people correctly file and emerge from bankruptcy with a more positive approach to their finances. The truth is that without dependable legal assistance, many Americans would face a very difficult and extremely creditor-centric bankruptcy process.…

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Published Friday, October 9, 2009 @ 5:23 pm

Even though we are in the business of helping people through bankruptcy, legally and sometimes even emotionally, we understand that filing is not always the best option for you. However, our greatest fear is for those who should file but decide not to for the wrong reasons, whether it be because of the stigma of bankruptcy, an inability to face financial reality, or opting for a “less than legitimate” credit counselor.…

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Published Monday, September 21, 2009 @ 1:49 pm

Many of us now come into marriage with some debts in tow. Some of us also arrive owning some of our own property. Once married, we incur new debts, jointly or separately; for example, one spouse may finance a car under his name, while both spouses may need to list their income together when they borrow for a new home.…

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Published Thursday, August 6, 2009 @ 1:21 pm

The month of July 2009 saw yet another increase in the number of consumer bankruptcies filed in the U.S., as low employment and high consumer debt continues to be a toxic combination throughout most of the country with only little signs that an antidote can be found. The number of filings, 126,434, was a 34.3 percent increase from the same month in 2009 and 8.7 percent increase from June, 2009.…

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