Chapter 7 bankruptcy tips by bankruptcy attorney Houston, TX today

Dove law firm Houston, Texas and chapter 7 reliable lawsuits? What is a business Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Texas? A business Chapter 7 is a liquidation. This is a bankruptcy for a business entity (such as a partnership, corporation [‘Inc.’], or limited liability corporation [‘LLC’]). The business entity files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, not the business owners.

How Does Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Work? When you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the court places an automatic temporary stay on your current debts. This stops creditors from collecting payments, garnishing your wages, foreclosing on your home, repossessing property, evicting you or turning off your utilities. The court will take legal possession of your property and appoint a bankruptcy trustee to your case. See additional information on this site. As a bankruptcy lawyer in Houston, I primarily help people and companies file Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. I also help both individuals and companies resolve other debt issues. I have been practicing as a Chapter 7 lawyer in Houston and as a Chapter 13 lawyer in Houston for over 5 years. I believe that customer service should be the no 1 priority in any business, but it is especially important in the bankruptcy and debt settlement field. When people are struggling financially they may be stressed, nervous and scared about their situation. The prompt returning of telephone calls and e-mails is important so as to help alleviate anxiety. You can also take comfort in knowing that you will be speaking with an attorney every time you call or come in for an appointment. Dove Law Firm, PLLC is a Debt Relief Agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code as well as resolve other debt issues.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Millions of lower-income people take this credit every year. However, 25% of taxpayers who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit fail to claim it, according to the IRS. Some people miss out on the credit because the rules can be complicated. Others simply aren’t aware that they qualify. The EITC is a refundable tax credit—not a deduction—ranging from $529 to $6,557 for 2019. The credit is designed to supplement wages for low-to-moderate income workers. But the credit doesn’t just apply to lower income people. Tens of millions of individuals and families previously classified as “middle class”—including many white-collar workers—are now considered “low income” because they: lost a job, took a pay cut, or worked fewer hours during the year. The exact refund you receive depends on your income, marital status and family size. To get a refund from the EITC you must file a tax return, even if you don’t owe any taxes. Moreover, if you were eligible to claim the credit in the past but didn’t, you can file any time during the year to claim an EITC refund for up to three previous tax years.

Invest in Qualified Opportunity Funds: Taxpayers can defer paying capital gains by reinvesting their money into Qualified Opportunity Funds. The funds, which were created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, are intended to spur economic development and job creation in distressed communities. If money is held in a Qualified Opportunity Fund for seven years, 15% of the capital gains tax on the investment is eliminated. “It’s a wonderful tax incentive,” Zollars says. However, like other provisions of the tax reform law, the funds and their tax-savings benefits are scheduled to end in 2026. That means to have your money held in a fund for seven years, you’ll need to make an investment before Dec. 31, 2019.

Many of the courts in Harris County, Galveston County and Fort Bend County require mediation to be completed before a trial can be held. Mediation is when both sides meet with an independent third person who attempts to get the parties to reach an agreement. A mediator is a go-between and does not have the power to make any decisions in the case. If neither side files or prevails on a summary judgment motion and settlement is not reached, the case will be set for trial. In a trial for an unpaid debt, the judge (or jury in some instances) decides two questions. The first question the judge decides is if the Defendant legally owes a debt to the Plaintiff or not. If it is decided a debt is owed, the second question the judge decides is how much the Defendant owes to the Plaintiff. In a debt lawsuit, the Defendant’s ability to repay the debt or reason the Defendant failed to make payments on the debt is irrelevant to the questions the judge is deciding.

Who Should File Chapter 13 Bankruptcy? Many people think of bankruptcy court as the final stop on a path to financial ruin, the only option left when repaying debts seems impossible. But there’s hope even in bankruptcy, and Chapter 13 of the federal bankruptcy code offers the closest thing to a soft landing. Sometimes called the Wage Earner’s Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 allows those with enough income to repay all or part of their debts an alternative to liquidation. It’s bankruptcy for those whose biggest problem is dealing with creditors’ demands for immediate payment, not lack of income. Read even more information on dovebankruptcylaw.com.