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.
10.
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.
Are 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.
Pay 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.
Bankruptcy 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 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.
Seven 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.
Five 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.
Avoid 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.
Calculating 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.
Tax 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.
