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Best Of 2014 On Bankruptcy Soapbox

By Cathy Moran

Here are the ten posts that most intrigued readers of Bankruptcy Soapbox in 2014.

Some are new this year, and others are classics from earlier.

In reverse order, the ten posts that spoke to you.

Reasons Not To File Bankruptcy, Rotten & Wrong10.

Six Rotten Reasons Not To File Bankruptcy   Mortgage law attorney Bill Purdy walks through the misguided reasons his clients give for not filing bankruptcy, when it would help a lot.

 

9.

3 paper dolls b-wAre You Liable For Your Spouse’s Debts  Just because you’re married folks in California doesn’t make you personally liable for the debts of your mate.  Your community property is exposed to all debts, but it isn’t personal.

 

8.

jail cells-flickr derekskeyPay Your Debts To Stay Out Of Jail  The latest scam says there’s an arrest warrant out because you are behind on your debts:  send money to avoid arrest.  Neither the FBI nor the sheriff collect civil debts.

7.

fema-katrinaBankruptcy Trustees And The Short-Sale Racket  Judge slaps down bankruptcy trustee attempting a short sale of the debtor’s underwater house for a piece of the action from the secured lender.

 

 

6.

What's so scary about bankruptcy?What’s So Scary About Bankruptcy  We love being scared on Halloween for fun, but let fear of the unknown keep us from bankruptcy relief.  It’s another “what’s wrong with this picture” moment.

 

5.

weddingSeven Principles of California Community Property Separating truth from fiction, I walk you through the basics of community property applied to assets and debts.  What’s at risk from your spouse’s bills?

 

4.

condominiumFive Easy Ways To Avoid HOA Fees  Bankruptcy can discharge most debts incurred before filing but not HOA fees arising afterwards.  How to escape the HOA trap.

 

3.

tax magnifiedAvoid Paying Taxes On That 1099 Form, Legally  Just because the creditor sent you and the IRS a 1099 form doesn’t mean your tax bill goes up.  Ways to keep your tax from increasing.

 

 2.

empty pocketCalculating Insolvency For Cancellation of Debt Tax  Settle a debt or close a short sale and you have debt that’s forgiven.  It’s not taxable if you are insolvent.

1.

currency&taxreturnTax Deductions Hidden in Chapter 13  The most read post of 2014 concerned digging out deductible expenses from the payments made by the Chapter 13 trustee.  Mortgage interest, property taxes and business expenses all are deductible even if the trustee writes the check.

More from the Soapbox

  • Foreclosure Looms But The Bank’s Numbers Don’t Add UpForeclosure Looms But The Bank’s Numbers Don’t Add Up
  • How Long Til Foreclosure?How Long Til Foreclosure?
  • Earthquake In California Law Of Community Property And TitleEarthquake In California Law Of Community Property And Title
  • Why Rising Home Prices Will Sink Some HomeownersWhy Rising Home Prices Will Sink Some Homeowners
  • Debt DebilitatesDebt Debilitates

Filed Under: Newsworthy

About Cathy Moran

I'm a veteran bankruptcy lawyer and consumer advocate in California's Silicon Valley. I write, teach, and speak in the hopes of expanding understanding of how bankruptcy can make life better in a family's future.

Chapter 13 available to more

About The Soapbox

You've arrived at the Bankruptcy Soapbox, a resource of bankruptcy information and consumer law.

Soapbox is a companion site to Bankruptcy in Brief, where I try to be largely explanatory and even handed (Note I said "try").

Here, I allow myself to tell stories and express strong opinions on how I think law should work for the consumer and small businesses when it comes to debt.

Moran Law Group
Bankruptcy specialists for individuals and small businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area

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One of the cosmic ironies of our legal system is that it costs money to file bankruptcy. Bankruptcy gets you out of debt only if you have the money to file. The costs of bankruptcy include the filing fee collected by the court; the required credit counseling; and, if you're smart, an experienced lawyer to make sure … Read more

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