jlawhorn's blog

Every day, I meet with people to discuss their finances. One common subject is classifying the type of debts that they have. Rent-to-own contracts have become all too common in today’s financial market. Many people are unable to acquire standard financing so they turn to alternate methods to acquire property.

There is one thing that many people agree on: Low gas prices are good. As of today, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is around $2.04. This is quite a change from the average a year ago of $3.28.

There are many misconceptions about bankruptcy. It is quite common for individuals to believe that they alone are at fault for their financial problems.

Homeowners across the United States continue to struggle with their mortgage payments. This is obvious from the estimated 700,000 foreclosures last year.

I get this question quite often and it is a valid question for someone that is not familiar with the bankruptcy process. The best answer to the question is: “Not with proper representation.”

Yes. Even if your spouse is not filing with you, their income has to be disclosed to the bankruptcy court.

National pizza chain Sbarro recently announced that it has exited its Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The company filed for Chapter 11 protection in March and a judge approved Sbarro’s reorganization plan on May 29.

When you seek relief through Chapter 13 personal reorganization or Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you are required to disclose your income and your assets. Disclosing your income is usually quite simple.

As the law currently stands, a bad credit rating can prevent potential employment with some jobs. Whether credit rating is a factor completely depends on the employer.

A frequent topic of discussion in the initial consultation is the difference between secured and unsecured debt. While the difference is fairly easy to understand, the way in which they are treated can be complex.