Technically, all bankruptcy records are public through the federal court’s internet-based Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) service. In order to access bankruptcy records through PACER, one needs an account set up. Those in Eden Prairie can create their own PACER accounts, but the average Eden Prairie resident doesn’t know that. One typically is in some sort of legal field in order to know about PACER access. Further, those with PACER access would need to search your name in order to find your bankruptcy filing. The chances of one of your Eden Prairie friends or relatives having a PACER account and actually searching your name is pretty low.

If you’re one of the thousands of Minnesota residents struggling with debt, chances are you might be faced with some form of aggressive collections actions from creditors in the near future. What many Minnesotans don’t realize, however, is that there is one way to stop foreclosure, repossession, and creditor harassment fast: by filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Minnesota.

Have you ever been tempted by “one size fits all” Minnesota bankruptcy services? Advertisements for law firms that claim to understand the complexity of your financial situation without ever meeting you or discussing your information? Law firms that tout their bankruptcy expertise, without ever having actually taken a Minnesota bankruptcy case at all, let alone one that is exactly like yours?

Could you use a financial fresh start? Do you have unsecured debt that you are unable to pay? Is your low credit score preventing you from living the life you thought you would?

Sadly, many St. Cloud residents would answer “yes” to all three of the above questions, while many more would agree with at least one.

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is what we refer to as a “Government Sponsored Debt Repayment Plan.” Instead of using a debt consolidation company or tackling your overwhelming debt on your own, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be a great option. The main difference between a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the Chapter 13 Plan. When you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you include a 3 to 5 year repayment plan. The repayment plan amount is based on your disposable income. Basically, you take your average income in a month and subtract your average living expenses. The amount left over is considered your “disposable income” which you can contribute to your Chapter 13 plan. Your Chapter 13 payments are then distributed to your creditors.

While most Minnesota residents are familiar with the concept of bankruptcy, the nuances between the different types can still be confusing. At Kain & Scott, we offer our Minnesota clients both Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. This article focuses on Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, which can eliminate all of your unsecured debt forever in 90-120 days from filing.

October is a time for scares: ghosts, goblins, and ghouls abound and frights are as common as falling leaves. One type of scare you don’t want in October is to come face-to-face with a low credit score. Unfortunately, for those who are considering filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Minnesota, a low credit score is a common problem and, once your score has fallen, it can be difficult to raise it again.

Chapter 7 bankruptcies are known as the “Liquidation” chapter of bankruptcies. That doesn’t mean the judge is going to pull up in front of your house with a moving truck, load up your stuff, and drive away. Instead, it means the court labels your property as either “exempt” or “non-exempt” based on either federal or state laws. Your non-exempt property can either be: 1) surrendered to your Chapter 7 trustee, 2) “purchased” from your bankruptcy estate, 3) or abandoned by the Chapter 7 trustee. Here, I will first discuss the differences between exempt and non-exempt property. Then, I will discuss the three non-exempt property options.

I often receive panicked phone calls and emails from clients stating they received a call from the IRS threatening to arrest them for failure to pay taxes. After looking into each client’s case, more often than not I find that the call or email was a scam. When you are faced with overwhelming debt, it can be difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is fake. You may be receiving a mix of calls from real debt collectors and fake debt collectors. The fake collectors take advantage of people that have other, real types of debt in the hopes that they will accidentally get paid. Here are some signs and tips to avoid IRS scams:

If you're struggling with overwhelming debt there's no better time than now to start searching for an Edina Bankruptcy Lawyer to help you get the debt relief you need and deserve through bankruptcy. 

Every year, thousands of Americans file for bankruptcy for good reason: bankruptcy can be a useful way to erase your debt and get a fresh start. Despite the benefits of bankruptcy, many Minneapolis residents aren’t sure what steps they need to take to erase their debt or how fast and easy filing for bankruptcy can be with Lifeback Law.

In Minnesota, the foreclosure process takes a pretty long time. The average non-judicial (most common) Minnesota foreclosure lasts anywhere from 9 to 12 months, sometimes even longer! When faced with foreclosure, a homeowner has a few options 1) surrender the home to the bank (and potentially file Chapter 7 Bankruptcy), 2) redeem the home, or 3) file Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Here I will discuss the pros and cons to each of these options.

Do your finances need a boost to get back into shape? Does your credit score need to be re-energized? Are you searching for the perfect Minneapolis Bankruptcy Lawyer to give you a complete financial makeover?

Congratulations on making the decision to eliminate your debt and take control of your finances by filing for bankruptcy! You’ve already chosen to erase your debt and get a fresh financial start; the next step in your journey is to find the best bankruptcy lawyers in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

When you file for bankruptcy in Minneapolis, Minnesota, you want the best bankruptcy team by your side. That’s why at Kain & Scott, our legal team is comprised of the Best Bankruptcy Attorneys in Minneapolis who use their specialized bankruptcy know-how to help our clients become debt-free and repair their credit – FAST.

One of the benefits of filing bankruptcy is something called the Automatic Stay. The Automatic Stay is what protects you from your creditors during the life of your bankruptcy. Think of it as an invisible and impenetrable blanket surrounding you that prevents your creditors from contacting you or collecting from you. Unfortunately, there are rare circumstances in which the Automatic Stay cannot protect you from certain creditors. Certain creditors, as I discuss below, can file a Motion for Relief from your Automatic Stay. If granted, an Order for Relief allows the creditor to contact and collect from you. In this blog, I will explain what types of creditors typically file Motions for Relief and what happens if an Order for Relief is granted.