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Bankruptcy Is Not Your Last Resort

By Cathy Moran

bankruptcy choice

Every personal finance guru intones that “bankruptcy is the last resort.” In my opinion, they have it wrong: bankruptcy is the big gun in getting out of a financial mess. But it shouldn’t be the last thing you try to get financially healthy. You shouldn’t mess around with lesser solutions if they don’t fit. Some […]

Filed Under: Considering Bankruptcy, Consumer Rights, Featured Tagged With: 2017

What’s So Scary About Bankruptcy?

By Cathy Moran

It’s Halloween and we indulge in make-believe scary moments and call it fun. In real life,  fear isn’t so fun. People up to their eyeballs in debt are scared witless by the thought of filing bankruptcy. It frightens them more than haunted houses, ghouls, and blood-soaked bodies. So really:  what’s so scary about filing bankruptcy? […]

Filed Under: Considering Bankruptcy, Featured Tagged With: considering bankruptcy

What Causes Bankruptcy?

By Cathy Moran

consider bankruptcy

I was playing in my head with a piece I was writing for consumers about the bankruptcy decision. I caught myself thinking about “whether the bankruptcy was caused by mortgage debt or ….” . And I hauled myself to a halt. How did the words “bankruptcy” and “cause” get linked in my head? In my […]

Filed Under: Considering Bankruptcy, Featured

The Difference Between Good Bankruptcy Lawyer and Great Bankruptcy Lawyer

By Cathy Moran

Finding the right bankruptcy lawyer may be the difference between a successful bankruptcy and a nightmare. Choosing a lawyer you can talk to is critical. You’ll be disclosing lots of information normally held confidential. But there’s more. It’s not just a lawyer you can tell your secrets to. You need to find a lawyer willing […]

Filed Under: Considering Bankruptcy, Featured, You & your lawyer

When Is The Right Time To File Bankruptcy

By Cathy Moran

when to file bankruptcy

It can be hard to know when it’s the right time to file bankruptcy. But I was blown away by the man who called my law office. Should I wait until all of my savings are gone to file bankruptcy?, the caller asked. And he didn’t mean, until my net worth is greatly reduced; he meant, until […]

Filed Under: Considering Bankruptcy, Consumer Rights

Should You Pay Your Creditors Rather Than File Bankruptcy?

By Cathy Moran

bankruptcy alternative

Is there an alternative to bankruptcy, my clients often ask. Can I realistically avoid filing bankruptcy? A fellow bankruptcy lawyer outlined what it takes to get out of debt without bankruptcy. make more money; spend less on today’s expenses; and use all your savings to pay off debt. If you could do all three,  for […]

Filed Under: Considering Bankruptcy, Consumer Rights

The Worst Reason To Choose Debt Settlement Over Bankruptcy

By Cathy Moran

The guy with an old debt asked if bankruptcy or debt settlement would cause greater damage to his “credit”. The money advice columnist gave the right answer to the wrong question. She got it backwards. She advised that bankruptcy was more damaging given that the nagging debts were already three years old and would drop off his […]

Filed Under: Considering Bankruptcy, Consumer Rights, Managing Money Tagged With: credit score

Is There Life After Bankruptcy?

By Cathy Moran

after bankruptcy

Is bankruptcy worth it? If you see filing bankruptcy to get a fresh start as painful or less than honorable, you might wonder what life is like, on the other side of bankruptcy. What’s the return on taking the big step? I got a report from the other side this week from a Chapter 7 […]

Filed Under: Considering Bankruptcy, Consumer Rights, Life after bankruptcy, True Stories

Debt Can Kill You

By Cathy Moran

Money is the single largest source of stress in the US. Other potent sources of stress include work, the economy, family and relationships.  As a bankrutptcy lawyer, I can’t offer a remedy for these stressors. But I do have a cure for debt troubles. On National Stress Awareness Day, the connection between money, stress and bankruptcy merits […]

Filed Under: Considering Bankruptcy

The Real Threat To Your Retirement Savings Isn’t Bankruptcy

By Cathy Moran

Your retirement accounts are safe from your creditors. California state law and federal bankruptcy law protect your savings for retirement held in recognized retirement vehicles from levy or lien. But retirement savings are at risk. Look in the mirror. You are usually the only person who can withdraw money from an IRA or take a […]

Filed Under: Considering Bankruptcy, Consumer Rights

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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

How Bankruptcy Works

The Biggest Lie About Bankruptcy

Read anything about Chapter 7 and you get, "Your possessions are sold in Chapter 7 bankruptcy." That is, flat out, the biggest lie about bankruptcy. It's a liquidation proceeding and your stuff will be sold to pay creditors, the lie goes on. No wonder people are scared off from getting relief from debts … Read more

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Phone: (650) 694-4700

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