LiveScience conducted a study where the measured the overall happiness of the population of each state. They used various criteria including: overall evaluation of citizens’ lives, emotional health, physical health, healthy behaviors, and job satisfaction. Where did Missouri rank? The bottom six. Out of all 50 states, Missouri was ranked 44. Continue reading

Chapter 13 bankruptcy may just have been the thing Nic Cage needed to keep his homes from being gone in sixty seconds. Both of his New Orleans properties were sold at auction recently for between $2.2 and $2.3 million each. What caused him to lose his property? Cage owed $6 million in unpaid back taxes dating all the way back to 2007.

If I were licensed in the state… Continue reading

The time after a bankruptcy is often much more relaxing than the chaos that preceded it. Without the annoyance of creditor calls, stress of overdue notices, and fear that comes with debt, you can finally look at your life with a clear mind. Now, it is time to learn how to spend money again—the right way. The best way to take your first step back into the world of… Continue reading

The holiday season is upon us with Thanksgiving right around the corner. Many of us would like to think of the turkey as the main event but I like to remind my family of the true meaning of Thanksgiving. As I look back, I find that the cheesy lessons that my parents and teachers used to teach me still ring true and I am now telling them to my own children. After all, we do have a lot to be thankful for. Continue reading

The current recession is taking its toll on property owners. The economic boom in the 90s and early 00s gave a lot of people the confidence—and cash—to buy a few properties. Now, those very people are finding themselves upside down in their mortgages and unable to maintain their rental properties. In fact, more than 1/5 of the properties in foreclosure are rental properties, according to a study done earlier this… Continue reading

Receiving a notice that your home is going into foreclosure can be absolutely devastating. While debt is hard to move through, foreclosure makes you feel like you no longer have any moves to make. The good news is you’ve still got options after you receive a notice of foreclosure. So what is the most important advice I can give you after 15 years of experience? Don’t Wait.

I’m… Continue reading

Bankruptcy, for most, means getting back to the basics. Relieving your debt makes it easier to focus on the things that make you happy. If that includes church and God for you, then you may be wondering: Will I be able to afford to give back to my church?

Yes! Both chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy allow a debtor to include a certain amount for “charitable contributions.”… Continue reading

With many bankruptcy cases, I find that debtors are nervous about listing all of their possessions. They sometimes think, “Well, if I list it, do I have to give it up?” Not necessarily. A lawyer is, after all, there to protect the belongings that you want to keep. It is important to list all of your assets and debts because we have to get a snap shot of your… Continue reading

With incomes down and prices going up, it seems that it’s costing us a little bit more to maintain our lifestyles these days. With Thanksgiving and Christmas, two holidays that center on big meals, approaching, it is understandable that you may be worried about how much it is going to cost. In 2008, the price of a Thanksgiving meal rose 5.6%–which is a bigger increase than we’ve seen in… Continue reading