Essex Richards is excited to announce the launch of our Bankruptcy blog. The blog, written by bankruptcy attorney Heather Culp, will cover questions and issues that arise in filing for personal bankruptcy, as well as other debt-related legal matters. Topics will include the differences in …
Can I leave a Certain Debt Out of the Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy clients frequently have this question, and the quick and simple answer is NO: under penalty of perjury, all debts must be listed in a bankruptcy. From consulting with hundreds of clients filing for bankruptcy, we have found that folks ask this question for one …
Will I Have To Go To Court?
Many people are intimidated by the legal system – at least the one portrayed in movies and T.V. legal dramas – speaking in front of a judge, being sworn in, appealing to a jury, facing your creditors. But in the case of bankruptcy, rest assured, …
Will My Bankruptcy Hurt My Spouse?
Your marriage has been a model of relational accord since saying “I Do” a few decades ago, with one major exception: finances. Money – one of the most significant weights and causes for discord placed on most marriages. Jobs have been unsteady, hospital bills have …
Will I Ever Get Credit Again, After Bankruptcy?
If you’ve ever had to file bankruptcy, one of your overwhelming questions was likely, “will I ever have credit again?” I hear this question from almost every client, and why wouldn’t I? It’s a big one! The vast majority of our bankruptcy clients receive credit …
What Are My Options For Dealing With Debt?
One of the first questions I typically get in bankruptcy consultations is, “what do I do with the debt?” As with most things, the answer is “it depends.” It depends on the type of debt and your personal situation, but in general, the below are …
Welcome to Essex Richards’ Bankruptcy Blog
Welcome to the first blog post from the bankruptcy group at Essex Richards. I often think about what my clients have been through before they make the decision to give me a call. They have likely been putting off calling for months, sometimes years, so …
Reliance on Conflict
It seems like just about everyone these days is talking about conflicts of interest. The dems say the repubs are conflicted. The repubs say the dems are conflicted. Chaucer says everyone’s conflicted (“doctors & druggists wash each other’s hands”). A Canterbury Tales reference? Super hip, …
When It Comes To The Definition of Disability, Insurers Don’t Play Fair
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of things that aren’t fair: When a coworker/friend/random stranger spoils the latest episode of your favorite TV show (Game of Thrones, anyone?). When your spouse eats your leftovers. When your Amazon Prime package doesn’t arrive within the previously promised two-day timeframe. …
What Is ERISA?
What Is ERISA? The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, commonly known by its acronym ERISA, is a federal law that applies to most private employers. ERISA protects plan participants and their beneficiaries by setting minimum standards for retirement, health, disability, and other welfare …
What To Do If Your Disability Benefits Are Denied
You’ve worked hard all your life. Never in a million years did you think that you would be unable to continue working or support yourself. But you plan for the unexpected, so you obtained long-term disability (LTD) insurance, perhaps through your employer or maybe you …
Those Health Insurance Claim Denial Blues
We see it all the time: We think we have good health insurance, but then, right when we need it the most, the insurance company denies coverage for a needed medical procedure. Often, insurance coverage is denied for emerging treatment protocols that are recommended by …