The government released a new report that claims a half million people applied for jobless benefits the past month. This is not reassuring to anybody. It is the highest rate since the height of the recession. A lot of these hard working folks are going through a rough patch. But, it is not an impossible situation. In many cases, these people can be helped by a Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy.

A lot of people don’t realize that most people file for Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy because of unforeseen catastrophic circumstances that permanently change their lives, like losing a job, an expensive medical emergency, or a severe pay cut. These folks are put into debt for reasons entirely outside of their control. But, it’s possible to get a new start on things through a Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy. A St. Louis bankruptcy attorney can put an end to harassing creditor calls and offer your home protection from foreclosure, offer you credit card debt help, and offer your whole family a fresh start. You may even be able to find a job more easily if your debt worries were settled first.

If you would like more information on how Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy, or how to find the best St. Louis bankruptcy attorney, request a free copy of my Illinois and Missouri bankruptcy book, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”

A lot of people like Chapter 13 bankruptcy because it can offer them protection from foreclosure. But, what if you no longer want to keep your house? Can you still walk away from your home?

Yes, you can! An experienced St. Louis bankruptcy attorney may be able to help you surrender your home during a Chapter 13 bankruptcy if you don’t want to keep your house. As soon as you decide you want to walk away from your home, you need to tell your St. Louis bankruptcy attorney that you no longer want to keep it. Your Missouri bankruptcy lawyer will then amend your Chapter 13 payment plan.

A benefit to this is you won’t have to pay a deficiency if your home sells for less than your mortgage is worth upon your successful completion of your Missouri Chapter 13 payment plan. As long as you keep on making your Chapter 13 payments, you will be on the right track to credit card debt help, relief from harassing creditor calls and wage garnishments, and getting your fresh start.

How do you know you have the best St. Louis bankruptcy lawyer?

Always make sure that the St. Louis bankruptcy lawyer you are looking at provides you with a lot of free information on Missouri Chapter 13 bankruptcy laws before you ever go into the office for a free consultation. If you would like more information about Missouri Chapter 13 bankruptcy payments or how to find the best St. Louis bankruptcy lawyer, request a free copy of my Illinois and Missouri bankruptcy book, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know,” to find them out!

There are a lot of St. Louis bankruptcy attorneys who advertise the cheapest prices. But, before you pick a St. Louis bankruptcy attorney based on price, you should know one thing: St. Louis bankruptcy attorney’s fees are capped by the Missouri bankruptcy court.

So, what does it mean if you hire the cheapest St. Louis bankruptcy attorney out there?

There are three possibilities.

1. Inexperience. You’re hiring someone who is new to Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy law and doesn’t know how much to charge. Always ask a prospective St. Louis bankruptcy attorney how many cases they have successfully taken to discharge.
2. Misleading offers. Many less than honest St. Louis bankruptcy attorneys will advertise a cheap Missouri bankruptcy rate, but then hit you with hidden fees later.
3. You get what you pay for. Missouri bankruptcy fees are capped at $175 an hour. If someone is offering to file your Missouri bankruptcy for $300 that means they are doing less than 2 hours of work.

Even though you are looking into a Missouri bankruptcy, picking the right St. Louis bankruptcy attorney shouldn’t depend on the cheapest price. You need to find out as much information as you can about your St. Louis bankruptcy attorney before you hire her or him. Request my popular Missouri and Illinois bankruptcy book, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know,” for great information on how to find a great St. Louis bankruptcy attorney.

A lot of folks think that the courts are out to get people who file Missouri bankruptcy. That is hardly the case—its actually the opposite as the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed in the Hamilton v. Lanning case. The case is important in determining how much you. as a debtor, will be required to pay in your Missouri Chapter 13 payments.

In this case, Ms. Lanning filed for bankruptcy but had an influx of income for a short time because she was bought out by her former employer. Her creditors tried to use this abnormally high temporary income as the basis for her whole Chapter 13 payments. The problem was that it was way more than she could afford.

The court is also on the side of the debtor—which shouldn’t surprise you. Missouri and Illinois Bankruptcy exists to help working people who need some way to get out of debt. More often than not, people are forced into a Missouri bankruptcy because of situations outside their control—like medical emergencies, job loss, or pay cuts. This only goes to show how flexible Missouri bankruptcy can be.

If you are concerned about your Missouri Chapter 13 payments, or would like more information, request my free Illinois and Missouri bankruptcy book, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”

Many people seeking credit card debt help call debt management agencies that have flashy advertisements on T.V. promising to erase your credit card debt for pennies on the dollar. However, there are a few things you need to know about debt settlement before you rule out talking to a St. Louis bankruptcy attorney.

Debt management has only recently had regulation and the rules aren’t in effect yet. That means they don’t tell you the truth of their services.

The first thing you need to know is that debt settlement is not necessarily a legal process and it doesn’t mean that an attorney is working for you. An debt management firm may have agreed to try and negotiate your debts, but they don’t have any way to provide protection from foreclosure, completely erase your credit card debt help, or stop your creditors from taking action against you. Plus, they don’t tell you this, but you may even be able to negotiate your debt yourself.

Second, debt settlement isn’t going to stop creditors from harassing you or garnishing your wages.

Third, debt management usually has the same effect on your credit as a Missouri bankruptcy, but without all the benefits that a St. Louis bankruptcy attorney can provide.

A St. Louis bankruptcy attorney can not only stop creditor calls and protect your wages from garnishment, but they may also be able to get your home protection from foreclosure, help you erase credit card debt, and get rid of medical bills. The best St. Louis bankruptcy attorneys are going to provide you with plenty of free information about Missouri bankruptcy before they ask you to come into their office. If you would like a guide on how to pick the best St. Louis bankruptcy attorney, read my free  Missouri and Illinois bankruptcy book, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”

The new credit card reform act puts a lot of good new protections for consumers. One of them makes it more difficult for young adults to get credit cards. The new rules prevent anyone under 21 from getting a credit card without proving adequate sources of income or having a parent or guardian co-sign.  While these new protections may be helpful, what should you do to help your children build their credit?

First, you can authorize your child on your credit card. As long as you make your payments on time and have a responsible amount of debt, your child’s credit score will benefit. You will be ultimately responsible for whatever purchases that your child makes; therefore, you need to set clear guidelines before your son or daughter begins using your credit card.

Second, you can co-sign a credit card for your child. This means the credit card will be in both of your names. And while it is your child’s credit card, as a co-signer you will be responsible for their debt if they happen to default.

Is your bad credit holding your children’s future credit back? You might want to consider ways to get credit card debt help. A Missouri chapter 7 bankruptcy may be able to erase your credit card debt. You should make sure to contact a St. Louis bankruptcy attorney to determine if a bankruptcy is right for you. For more information, be sure to read my  Missouri and Illinois bankruptcy book, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”

Debt settlement agencies have been a problem for a few years now. They make flashy advertisements that claim they will settle your debt for pennies on a dollar. The problem is that many debt settlement agencies are scams.

Luckily, the FTC passed new rules that will regulate them. The rules strike at their most common predatory practices. They will no longer be able to charge upfront fees, the will not be allowed to use misleading advertising, and they will be required to disclose negative consequences of debt settlement (like the possibility of it affecting your credit.)

Many people considering debt settlement are led astray because of their manipulative advertising. However, a lot of those same people can get better solutions from a St. Louis bankruptcy law firm. A Missouri bankruptcy lawyer has the ability to reduce or even eliminate your debt. If you would like more information on how a Missouri Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be right for you, request a free copy of my Missouri and Illinois bankruptcy book, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”

Here’s the thing: you really can’t.

A debt settlement agency is not a St. Louis law firm. They are not going to have lawyers working there. They don’t practice the law. And all they will most likely do is attempt to negotiate with your creditors to have your debt reduced. They don’t have many options beyond that.

However, you do need to be careful because many debt settlement agencies are simply scams. In July, a Florida debt settlement agency ripped off 13,000 people.

But, debt settlement is not the only option you have if you need credit card debt help. St. Louis bankruptcy attorneys exist to provide legally binding services that can get you out of debt. Creditors are required to follow certain rules and restrictions involved in Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 Missouri bankruptcy cases. While a debt settlement agency can’t do much more than talk to your creditors, a Missouri bankruptcy lawyer may be able to get you legal protection from foreclosure. If you want more information on how to pick out a good St. Louis bankruptcy attorney, and more information on the legal options available for you, request a free copy of my Illinois and Missouri bankruptcy book, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”

A new study argues debt hurts every aspects of life it touches, from your marriage to your productivity at work. Debt can even cause health problems.

Less than 20% of those interviewed said that debt did NOT hurt their relationship with their partner. Moreover, many people with debt hide the fact: one out of three admitted that their spouse did not know how bad their money problems were, and one out of five said their friends did not know. Even more shocking: half said that debt hurt their health.

According to Dr. Alan Manevitz, stress is a feeling of constant alarm, and during this your body releases hormones that, “increase your heart rate, blood pressure, breating pace, muscle tension, and inflammation, and dumping fuel (glucose, fats) into the bloodstream.” These symptoms are often the result of a disease called debt stress syndrome.

Dr. Manevitz gives three pointers to resolve debt stress. First, he says, don’t deny it. Second, you must be proactive. If you feel like your debt burden is too high you might want to consider finding more information about a Missouri or Illinois Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Third, get help. Look for a financial advisor or a St. Louis bankruptcy attorney who can help you deal with your debt. A Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy can be a good way to protect your home from foreclosure and to get help paying credit card debt.

It is very important to educate yourself on every possible option available. Before simply turning to an attorney, look for free information on a Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy. You can also find free information on a Missouri Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in my free Illinois and Missouri bankruptcy book, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”

One of the biggest lenders in America has only approved 4% of loan modifications. In response, Obama crafted HAMP, the Home Affordable Modification Program. Has it helped the millions in need of protection from foreclosure?

The administration set a goal of helping 4 million families with expensive mortgage payments. Recent reports show that many more borrowers had canceled than were approved for a permanent 5 year plan. Cancellations went up by 21% and are getting even worse.

Many people who have canceled will soon discover that they are at risk of foreclosure.

It seems that since the last time I wrote about loan modifications in Missouri, the industry hasn’t changed much. It remains a less secure choice for protection from foreclosure. Luckily, loan modification is not the only option available. If you are in danger of losing your home, a St. Louis bankruptcy attorney could help you save it.

A Missouri or Illinois Chapter 13 bankruptcy can offer you protection from foreclosure. With the help of a Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy lawyer, you can arrange a plan and budget that will allow you to repay your debts and get a fresh start. Not only can a Missouri or Illinois Chapter 13 get you protection from foreclosure, but it can also prevent your creditors from taking any more action against you and help you finally get back on your feet.

Protecting your family should be your number one priority. If that means getting protection from foreclosure, you should do what you need to get it. Get the information you need to keep your family safe and sound in your home by requesting a free copy of my Missouri and Illinois bankruptcy book, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”