Latest Tips

Married couples often assume bankruptcy is an all-or-nothing decision, but California law does not force every couple into a joint filing. This article explains when spouses may file together, when one spouse may file alone, how community-property rules affect the strategy, and why the better option depends on who owes the debt, what property is involved, and what the case actually needs to accomplish.

A reaffirmation agreement can sound like routine bankruptcy paperwork, but it changes something fundamental: it keeps a dischargeable debt alive after Chapter 7. This article explains what reaffirmation means, why it usually comes up with car loans and other secured debts, what federal law requires, and why debtors should not sign one without understanding the risk of keeping personal liability after bankruptcy.

Student loans are still not automatically erased in bankruptcy, but the federal process is not the same as it used to be. This article explains what actually changed, why borrowers still need an adversary proceeding, how the undue-hardship review works, and why student-loan debt should be analyzed as part of the larger bankruptcy strategy rather than in isolation.

California homeowners often assume bankruptcy means losing the house or, just as dangerously, assume the house is automatically safe. Neither shortcut is reliable. This article explains how California's homestead exemption works in 2026, why the 703 and 704 exemption systems matter, how equity is calculated, and why the right bankruptcy strategy depends on real numbers rather than guesses.

Being served with a debt lawsuit in California starts a clock. In most cases, you have 30 days from the date of service to respond. Missing that window allows the plaintiff to request a default judgment, which can lead to wage garnishment or bank levies.

What you do in the months before filing bankruptcy in California can significantly affect your case. Transferring assets to relatives, paying back loans to family members, running up credit card balances, or making large purchases can all trigger trustee scrutiny or be reversed.

A bank levy and wage garnishment are two different enforcement tools available to California judgment creditors. A bank levy targets funds already in your account, while wage garnishment takes a percentage of each paycheck going forward.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows California homeowners to cure mortgage arrears over a three-to-five-year repayment plan while keeping the home. The missed payments are folded into the plan, and the debtor must also keep up with ongoing mortgage payments going forward. This is one of the few tools that can give a homeowner a structured path to keeping the property.

The 341 meeting of creditors is a required step in every bankruptcy case. Despite the name, creditors rarely appear. The meeting is conducted by the bankruptcy trustee and typically lasts five to ten minutes.