Blogs

If you are like many Americans, you may have been reading news reports of the country's improving economy and falling unemployment rates and wondering why you are still struggling financially. Of course, there are many factors at play, but one factor in particular is impacting tens of millions of Americans: low wages.

Nobody is particularly thrilled with the idea of filing for bankruptcy, and those who do so are understandably eager to get through the legal process and to the good part, bankruptcy discharge: the moment when you’re legally released from many types of unsecured debt and are free to start rebuilding. Many Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases are completed within 4 to 5 months.  This timeline generally holds true in all three states where we handle consumer bankruptcy cases: Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

If you’ve been researching or talking to friends about debt relief options, you may have heard a horror story or two about people who thought they’d finally resolved their debts, only to get hit with a huge tax bill. The story typically goes something like this: 

The Bond and Botes lawyers and staff do what we do to help others every day. Some of us go above and beyond. In February, the Madison County Volunteer Lawyers Program recognized our own Mary Conner Pool as their Volunteer Spotlight! We are proud of Kathryn for putting in the extra time to help those who are less fortunate. Kathryn has a real compassion for the less fortunate and is willing to step out of her comfort zone to help.

Steady income is essential for most of us and is never more important than when we’re struggling financially. So, it’s understandable that many people who have bad credit histories or are considering bankruptcy are concerned about how their credit reports may affect their job opportunities. While many states place limitations on the use of credit histories in hiring, there are no such state-law restrictions in Alabama, Mississippi, or Tennessee. 

For the last couple of years, we have heard about the concept of “HQ2,” notably with Amazon.  There was a frenzy of competition for Amazon to locate its second headquarters in towns and cities throughout the country.  Now, things are settling down with the work for Amazon’s main HQ2 located in Arlington, Virginia.

The threat of losing your home can be overwhelming, and sometimes that makes it hard to think clearly and strategically. Many Mississippi homeowners are currently facing that stress. According to ATTOMData, foreclosures have fallen nationwide--from more than 1.6 million in the first half of 2010 to fewer than 300,000 in the first half of 2019. But, closer to home, the news isn’t so good.

There’s a battle of experts underway about just how often medical bills and lost income due to an illness or injury triggers a bankruptcy filing. Some studies conclude that as many as ⅔ of all bankruptcy filings  are due at least in part to medical problems, while others contend the number is much smaller. 

There’s a battle of experts underway about just how often medical bills and lost income due to an illness or injury triggers a bankruptcy filing. Some studies conclude that as many as ⅔ of all bankruptcy filings  are due at least in part to medical problems, while others contend the number is much smaller.