Owing taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is not easy. Unlike private creditors, the IRS has a lot more power to make sure that they get back what they are owed. But, just like with commercial

IRS Tax Debt Relief: Settlement with Offer in Compromise

One fine day when you pull up your credit report, your eyeballs almost pop out from their sockets. It&rsquo;s chock full of accounts in collections! There&rsquo;s medical debt collections, student loan debt c

Can you consolidate debt when it is in collections and save $?

Attention! OVLG has created a new marketplace that connects experienced attorneys with the clients that need them. Do you need expert legal help, quickly? Then you&rsquo;ve come to the right place.What OV

OVLG Marketplace - Find expert local bankruptcy attorneys

The coronavirus has devastated our lives, be it physically or financially. On October 5, 2020, about 426 new coronavirus deaths and 42,223 new cases were reported in our country.On the other hand, a C

How Can You Manage Credit Card Bills During This Pandemic?

Have you filed your income tax returns? Expecting a refund? If so, then you&rsquo;ve probably already planned how you&rsquo;re going to use that money. Whether you plan to repair your home, pay off credit car

When can debt collectors snatch your tax refunds, and what can you do about it?

The COVID-19 era has changed the perspective of Americans. Usually, Americans are well-known for their sensibility. But after the outbreak of COVID-19, sensible Americans have become deeply concerned 

How does the Price Transparency Act help people save money?

All of us are eagerly waiting to welcome and embrace 2021. We're counting the days to bid adieu to 2020. What a year it had been. Unemployment, pay cut, hour cut, death tolls, financial crunch, social

How to protect yourself when pandemic relief programs will expire

&ldquo;If you fail to please bankruptcy trustee, you&rsquo;ll fail to discharge debts&rdquo;Be it chapter 7 bankruptcy or chapter 13, you can&rsquo;t avoid meeting at least one person and that is Bankruptcy trustee. 

Bankruptcy Trustee: Role in bankruptcy and questions to ask a debtor

Calls from debt collectors can spoil your mood and jeopardize your financial life. However, learning how to handle these calls and what to say and not to say can help you avoid financial troubles, leg

Is that a debt collector calling you? What should you say to him?

Student loans are meant for undergraduates whereas home loans are given to first-time or second- time home buyers. But what about personal loans?
Personal loans are unsecured loans that you can get f

How to use a personal loan to pay off debt and in other ways

Can you be sent to debt collections without notice?

Problem:
Hi Stacy!
Last week when I pulled my credit report, I was shocked to see a cell phone bill of $3500 sitting in collections. I was not 

Can you be sent to debt collections without notice

Chapter 13 bankruptcy exemptions are like an &lsquo;emergency window&rsquo; which gives you the last chance to legally save as much as you can when paying back unsecured creditors.Chapter 13 bankruptcy and 7 

Chapter 13 exemptions - What nobody would ever tell you

If you see bankruptcy filing as the one and only way out of your debt dilemma, and if you are sure of doing it, the very next question that pops up is under which bankruptcy to file. For most people w

7 Reasons that compel you to opt for chapter 7 bankruptcy

We are in the second half of 2020, but the pandemic is still in its hyper-active mode. No one knows when this pandemic will have mercy on people, and leave this world. COVID-10 has created an unpreced

5 Ways lawyers did good for people during the pandemic

What happens to the employees of Chesapeake Energy after filing bankruptcy?
Chesapeake Energy has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy (also known as business bankruptcy) in the last week of June 2020 after i

What happens to the employees of Chesapeake Energy after filing bankruptcy?

It has been a while since the COVID-19 outbreak. Thousands of lives and jobs have been lost due to this viral pandemic. It's as if the whole world is fighting a bio war.Apart from the health hazards, 

Lost job and are still unemployed after COVID-19? Here's what to do

Debts are debts. No matter who owes whom, one needs to pay them off to regain peace of mind. Well, some debts are marked as &lsquo;priority&rsquo;. Do you want to know why? Let&rsquo;s find out.
Why debts are te

How bankruptcy treats Priority debts?

The economic situation in the country is horrendous right now. All thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak worldwide. Most companies are either shut down or employees are working from home. Economic growth ha

How Can You Get Instant Debt Relief Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic?

We are helpless before nature, no matter how much technologically advanced we are. Hurricane Irma reminded us of this harsh reality yet again.Hurricane Irma removed Barbuda island from the world map, 

How to deal with debt after Hurricane Irma - 5 Surviving tips

More and more seniors are filing bankruptcy nowadays due to various socio-economic reasons like expensive medical expenses, social security payments, and huge unsecured debts. .If you look at the numb

Here are the 4 money mistakes pushing seniors toward bankruptcy

Life doesn&rsquo;t end after filing bankruptcy. But yes, a few restrictions are definitely imposed on your financial life. Does that mean you can&rsquo;t apply for credit cards after bankruptcy?It isn&rsquo;t tha

Can you apply for credit cards after filing bankruptcy?

More than 22 million people receive Social Security benefits every year and the federal government pays almost Rs 64 million for this. Social Security benefits are of great help for the retired and di

What are the Social Security changes for 2020? Let’s dig in

With student loan debt going up day by day, millennials and Gen X generation are getting affected all alike. As per the debt clock, the total student loan debt in our country has already touched $1,6 

Does your credit score drop for deferring student loans?

The federal government&rsquo;s tariffs and the ongoing trade war with China are already creating ripples in the US economy and stock market. And, if the predictions of financial experts come true, then we

How to be financially prepared to tackle the next recession

Thanks to the Internet boom, almost everything can be done online. Now, the question is, can you file bankruptcy online? 
The honest answer is, you can file bankruptcy online. But it is far more comp

Is it possible to file bankruptcy online? How to do it

&ldquo;90% of my accounts went to collections a year back and my credit score dropped to 545.&rdquo; Amanda said it with a big frown on her forehead while sipping her favorite coffee at Starbucks last week. A

How to rebuild credit when your debts went to collections a year back

In plain and simple words, the IRS treats forgiven debts as your income. To be definite, the IRS considers &lsquo;cancellation of debts&rsquo; quite the same as your weekly or monthly paycheck! And, there is 

How IRS treats forgiven debts and what are the tax consequences

The federal government shutdown became the talk of the town in the last few weeks. It not only created emotional stress and financial chaos but also highlighted underlining financial problems in the c

The government shutdown: Time to learn these 5 money lessons

Recently, someone told me his credit score dropped after paying down debt. She was angry, dejected, worried, and frustrated. Her frustration is normal and justified. In fact, this is one of the top qu

Why did my credit score drop after paying down debt?

I got this question a few months back. This is a very common query and I feel it needs to be addressed. Problem:I have a court date without being served. Yesterday, I received a call from a law firm. 

Do you have to go to court if you are not served?

&ldquo;People should watch out for three things: avoid a major addiction, don&rsquo;t get so deeply into debt that it controls your life, and don&rsquo;t start your family before you are ready to settle down&rdquo;.

Burning debt with dollars: How to manage your family and life

&ldquo;The first step toward getting out of debt is to quit dang charging!&rdquo; - Steve Repak

America&rsquo;s credit card debt has increased from $11.2 billion to $1,022 trillion highlighting the confidence 

How to fix your debt problems in just 4 simple steps

&ldquo;Leaves are falling. Autumn is calling.&rdquo;

After the crazy summer vacations and expensive back-to-school shopping, most people enter the fall season with long credit card bills and a deep frown o

9 Exclusive tips to save money this fall

In the last few years, an increasing number of senior citizens and young adults are facing financial problems due to student loans. 



Young adults get a long time to pay off their student loans.

How to deal with student loan debt collections in 3 ways

The second biggest shopping season of the year has arrived. According to Forbes, back-to-school shoppers will spend $75.8 billion this year. But as per the new survey of the National Retail Foundation

Back-to-school shoppers are all set to spend $82.8 billion

When you&rsquo;re struggling to pay your bills - especially that expensive car loan, you might be wondering if bankruptcy could lower your car payments. Well, it&rsquo;s true that bankruptcy helps to reduce y

How to lower your car payments in bankruptcy

Well, we all have financial regrets. Some accept them in front of everyone whereas others curse themselves silently. It&rsquo;s a horrible feeling. Do you criticise yourself over your past financial mista

6 Practical tips to overcome your biggest financial regrets

Summer brings the much-needed warmth after long, dull, and raw winter. The branches shed the weight of the long deposited ice, small twigs try to wake up from their seemingly perpetual slumber and pee

4 Ways to minimize Summer hang-out costs

&ldquo;Your credit score isn&rsquo;t an indication you have money. It&rsquo;s an indication you have debt&quot; - Dave RamseyCredit card debt consolidation gives a new financial life to a nation grappling with $15,983

How does credit card consolidation affect credit score?

Nowadays, many consumers fall prey to the debt trap and reach out to debt settlement companies only to find out later that they have been scammed. Today, we come across a lot of debt settlement scams 

Debt settlement scams: Oak View Law Group reveals some facts

Debt success stories are common these days. Every other guy out there has a story to share. Living below means, picking up a side hustle, paying more than the minimum, and blah-blah-blah. You&rsquo;ll fin

Money is Just a Tool. It’ll Take You Wherever You Wish

Do you need a spending fast to get rid of debt? Well, Anna Newell Jones says so.Who the hell is this Anna Newell?She is the woman who paid off $18,000 credit card debt in just 15 months with the &lsquo;sp

A spending fast - Is this what you need to get out of debt fast?

Does the topic of money make you nervous? Do you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about money? Are you worried how to pay off your bills? Do you get a panic attack thinking how to get out o

6 Tricks to reduce financial anxiety and stress

&amp;nbsp;&ldquo;Some debts are fun when you are acquiring them, but none are fun when you set about retiring them.&rdquo; - Ogden Nash&amp;nbsp;Managing finances while in debt is a difficult job. But, you have no ot

Debt Stacking - Best way to eliminate debt

Many people wonder what would be the best debt elimination strategy. Most people strive to find out the secrets of a debt free life. It's easier to spend money for several reasons and on different occ

The 4 Samurais of Debt Elimination

Does your credit card debt die with you? Does it enter your grave stealthily? Or, does it haunt your family?There is no simple answer to this question since lots of factors can change a scenario.Facto

Who needs to settle credit card debt when you die

&ldquo;Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success&rdquo;- Joyce Brothers Have you ever wondered why so many fail to get out of debt even after giving their best e

6 Things to do when you lose motivation to get out of debt

Ever seen that ad which promises to save you from a financial storm through debt settlement program? Well, these ads may fill your heart with a hope for a debt free life but it would be a mistake to b

Step-by-step instructions to pick the best debt settlement company

Are you struggling with debts? Are you wondering if it will be good to hire an attorney to settle your debts? If so, then don&rsquo;t hesitate anymore because there are several benefits of working with a 

Do you need an attorney to settle your debts?

Credit card debt consolidation can help you to get rid of your outstanding credit card bills gradually. However, if you plan on seeking help from a professional organization, you should research well 

Choose the right consolidation service to resolve credit card debts

Debts can be overwhelming. For this reason, paying off the your bills at the earliest opportunity is always recommended. If you&rsquo;re unable to manage it yourself, you can try to get debt relief throug

Debt Management Plan: How can it put your finances in shape

Have you finally decided to pay off your debts and make a fresh financial start? Well, in that case, take these 2 steps right now.Step 1 Calculate how much you oweLook at your credit card statements a

How to discharge debts you don't know in bankruptcy

The simple answer is you can check your credit report as many times you want, and this won&rsquo;t make a negative impact on your credit score. You can check your payment history, credit history, hard inq

How many times you should check your credit report

The festive season begins with Halloween. But many people flinch at the word &lsquo;halloween&rsquo; since they fear what&rsquo;s coming - long bills.This year, try something different. Instead of incurring huge 

Halloween: 10 Tricks to make money instead of spending it

In the post &ldquo;IRS guidelines to choose a tax preparer&rdquo;, I have talked about how you can select a good tax preparer for yourself. Usually, a tax preparer charges a fee on the basis of the complexity

Do you know you can file income tax for free?

It&rsquo;s not a matter of joke to achieve financial milestones in your 20s. You need to practice good financial habits and be proactive to attain financial success. Laidback attitude would take you nowhe

Turned 2016 Financial milestones you need to achieve now

It&rsquo;s time to meet your tax preparer and file your income tax returns. The tax return preparer can help you file your income tax returns properly and possibly can even help you get a refund. So it&rsquo;

IRS guidelines to follow when you’re choosing a tax preparer

When the question is to knock-off debt, there's no harm in trying out every alternate option. You never know - following tips as per your zodiac sign might be the most suitable option for you. Check y

Zodiac and Debt - Select your preferred get out of debt option

So, you&rsquo;ve made the most difficult decision of your life - that of filing bankruptcy in an effort to reorganize your finances! Your creditors and debt collectors will no longer call you demanding de

Bankruptcy meeting of creditors – What happens when you miss it?

The IRS loves to get a fair share of the money you earn by hook or crook even if it is only $20. If you find a $10 on the street and take it, you may have to pay tax to the IRS.Love it or hate it, you

Do you know you have to pay tax on these 12 items?

Grandparents who work and take care of children may qualify for earned income tax credit (EITC). So if you&rsquo;re working and looking after your grandparents simultaneously, then you could claim these c

Working grandparents are eligible for EITC - Here are the rules

Usually, couples rush into marriages. But thanks to the new tax law, some couples may rush to the courthouse for finalizing divorce agreements in 2019. Trump&rsquo;s new tax law has scrapped the 75 year o

2018 Tax Laws and Alimony - Higher Divorce Rates?

The official tax filing season kick-started on January 29, 2018. The last date to file income tax returns is April 17, 2018. Usually, the last date to submit income tax returns is April 15. But since 

Why should you file your income tax returns early this year?

&ldquo;The customer is always right&rdquo; - this is the cardinal rule of shopping. If you have purchased something and then regretted, then the merchant gives you a refund. But what if the merchant refuses t

When should you dispute credit card charges and how?

Debt becomes a pain for many of us when we can&rsquo;t handle it anymore. Here the term &lsquo;it&rsquo; means a lifestyle where we are living paycheck to paycheck, have no money for emergency expenses and strugg

Debt is nothing but the battle of lifestyle and thinking

Natural born spenders seek out the latest fashions, explore new restaurants, try out latest gadgets, and so on. They thrive on new things in life and for that, they are ready to pay their entire paych

How to pay off debt when you're a natural born spender

At last! We have stepped into the new year. It's the perfect time for giving shape to your financial resolutions for 2018. A good financial resolution can be anything from paying off your debts to inc

Best financial resolutions for 2018: Paying off debt tops the list

Ah, the new year is knocking at the door again. A time for celebration, reflection on how you fared in the previous year, and making new resolutions. One of the most common new year resolutions is pay

New Year - 8 Crucial steps to get debt free in 2018

Black Friday is the dream day for any shopaholic. It&rsquo;s the day to grab the best deals in town. It&rsquo;s the day to shop and save as much money as possible. Over the years, I have learned many tricks t

Black Friday shopping tips - How to snatch the best deals and save big

Proper planning can help you grab the best deals and meals on the Thanksgiving Day. If you love to celebrate Thanksgiving Day in the traditional way, then it&rsquo;s essential to know where to shop and wh

Thanksgiving Day - When to shop and where to eat

As amended by Pub. L. 109-351, &sect;&sect; 801-02, 120 Stat. 1966 (2006)
As a public service, the staff of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has prepared the following complete text of the Fair Debt Collec

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

You deserve a treat. Period.

You have worked hard throughout the year.


	January: Made financial resolutions and paid off your holiday debts.

	February: Saved money for the Valentine&rsquo;s Da

Go ahead! Treat yourself in 14 ways without spending a dime

Do you want to shift from fulltime to part-time before retiring finally? Are you planning to talk with your boss regarding it? Seems like a good move since many baby boomers prefer phased retirement n

How you can shift to part-time work before retirement

Don&rsquo;t have enough money to pay off your credit cards? Lost job or looking for a job? Unable to cover your household expenses?

Dude, you&rsquo;re in a big financial trouble.

Let&rsquo;s us talk about y

Filing bankruptcy - Why planning at the right time is crucial?

Money management is a Herculean task to me even after reading 100 articles on money saving tips in the last 5 years. No matter how hard I work, how much money I make, it isn&rsquo;t enough to fulfill my b

5 Common money management mistakes millennials should stop making

&ldquo;If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then Autumn would be the magic hour&rdquo; - Victoria Erickson

Do you remember your financial goals in 2017? You set them way back in January. With the festi

What should be your financial goal this fall?

What is the secret of becoming a wealthy person? Can you be a rich guy by making a lot of money? Not necessarily.

I have met 3 types of people in my life. 

The first type 

The first type of p

4 Things people with big bank accounts never do

Millennials have financial goals but they don&rsquo;t have any plan to attain them. 85% of the millennials are sure they will achieve their American Dream but only 49% of them have a plan to fulfill it.


Millennials - Confident to attain American dream but are directionless

&ldquo;Gender equality is not a woman&rsquo;s issue. It&rsquo;s a human issue. It affects us all&rdquo;

Women&rsquo;s Equality Day is celebrated on August 26 to commemorate the 19th Amendment which granted women the r

4 Ingenious tips to celebrate Women’s Equality Day

I am back again with yet another post for parents. My last post was on - Final back-to-school financial checklist: Countdown begins. I hope all of you have read and liked it. This post is also on the 

6 Helpful tips to alleviate back-to-school stress

This post is again dedicated to all the parents. Oh please, don&rsquo;t think that I have become a parent, and I&rsquo;m overwhelmed with paternal feelings. It&rsquo;s just that when I was writing about Is it hig

4 Money moves you should make when your kids move out

Summer is over. Vacation, lazy days and outdoor games are out of your life. Now is the time to get ready for the back-to-school season. It&rsquo;s time to review your finances and be ready for the educati

Final back-to-school financial checklist: Countdown begins

This post is for both the newbie and would be parents.If you ask me, every day is a parent&rsquo;s day. Parents have no holidays. They work 24*7 only to help their children get the best life. Besides, bei

Parent’s Day: Is it high time to teach personal finance to preschoolers?

Paying off debt is a sprint - How far do you agree with this statement?

A person in debt will understand it better. You can run at a full speed over a short distance; that is, you can save the maxi

Paying off debt is like completing a marathon: How to be successful

Are you a patient person by nature? I&rsquo;m asking this because I don&rsquo;t have a patient bone in my body. You can criticize me as much as you want. But this is how I am.

When I finished my college, I

3 Small tricks to be patient for attaining financial freedom

Investing for retirement doesn&rsquo;t always provide guaranteed return on investments. Do you know why? The reason is most of the baby boomers (would-be retirees) commit certain pre-retirement blunders t

Pre-retirement blunders: Commit them to break your nest egg

Is debt the worst thing that can happen to anyone? Probably yes! As far as I think, debt is one of the worst things on the earth one can have. Not only it ruins one's finances, but also it changes the

Can debt change the way you look at things? Find out how

You know you&rsquo;re in trouble when the bank calls you regarding a suspicious activity. Recently, my cousin sister got a call from the bank and was informed that her husband called for an online transac

How to safeguard your funds in your bank account

Common sense suggests that you should avoid retiring with debt. But, Americans are seemingly ignoring this wisdom, according to the recent report released by the Michigan Retirement Research Center.


When you can retire with debt without frowning

&ldquo;It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.&rdquo;-- Richard ThompsonMemorial Day has become synonymo

Memorial Day is to salute the soldiers not to waste money

NO one likes paying taxes - the ones earning in billions hate it the most. For retirees, taxes quite seem like nightmare. Since you&rsquo;re looking for ways to generate some tax-free income during retire

3 Incredible tips to generate tax-free income in retirement

Hi,

Not many people know that 1st May is celebrated as the Law Day in the country. Instead of talking about the contests and events that will take place on that day, I have decided to discuss about

Divorce debt and bankruptcy - What does the law say?

&ldquo;Rather go to bed without dinner than to rise in debt.&rdquo; - Benjamin FranklinBeing in debt is not at all sexy. Maxed out credit cards, high interest rates, debt collection calls and poor credit scor

Is It Too Tough To Live Frugally When You Are In Credit Card Debt?

According to a new study, at least a quarter of the roughly 8.7 million student loan defaults during the Obama administration and before is because of the housing crisis.

The housing collapse durin

Collapse in home prices during Great Recession increased student loan defaults, study finds

&ldquo;If the only way you can build an emergency fund is to pay the
 minimum due on your credit card, that is what you need to do&rdquo; - Suze Orman
 

8 Powerful strategies to spare cash for an emergency fund

The title sounds a bit awkward, right? Make little sense, no? Or, no sense at all?
You cannot fight debt with debt. If you do, you won&rsquo;t be able to get out of the vicious cycle. For many personal f

When Paying Debt with Debt Makes Sense

Misunderstandings can be expensive especially when it comes to taxes. It can create a false picture in the mind of taxpayers and lead to horrible mistakes. Here are the 4 common tax misunderstandings 

4 Tax misunderstandings that lead to costly mistakes

Owing huge medical debts is not uncommon, especially when medical costs are soaring day by day. Emergencies can come up any time and you might end up owing a huge medical bill that you are unable to p

What are the collection rules for medical debts?

Last year, my cousin sister Emily got a debt collection letter from the hospital where her mom was admitted for several days in Texas. The hospital has charged her $80,000 for the long-term medical co

Is there any law that compels children to pay parent’s debt?

A dream wedding costs a lot. When I say &ldquo;a lot&rdquo;, it means a lot of emotions, feelings, time and money are involved. The celebrations begin with the bachelorette party and end with the &ldquo;honeymoon

Stacy B Miller

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