Melinda Murphy Dionne

Bankruptcy Attorney

Birmingham | 205.453.1012
Tuscaloosa | 205.349.5911
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      • FAQ – Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
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      • FAQ – Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
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Use A Chapter 13 Bankr Case to reduce Debt You Owe on a Car

Written by Melinda Dionne, Esq., October 7, 2011, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Use A Chapter 13 Bankr Case to Reduce Debt You Owe on a Car How can that help you? Did you know that if you have owned a car for more than 910 days or, if you have refinanced the car since the original purchase, you can eliminate some of the debt you owe on the vehicle? Did you know that you can stop paying high interest rates on your car by filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case? The 910 Day Rule Prior to October 

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How Much Will My Chapter 13 Payment Be?

Written by Melinda Dionne, Esq., October 7, 2011, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, How Bankruptcy Works

The amount that you must pay in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case depends on several factors.  Those factors include the results from the means test (more about this later), how much disposable income you have, and how much equity you have in your assets. The Means Test One of the changes made to the bankruptcy code in 2005 was the inclusion of a “Means Test.”  The means test is theoretically designed to determine qualification for filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case.  Additionally, it is also 

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Can I file a Chapter 13 case if I am unemployed?

Written by Melinda Dionne, Esq., October 7, 2011, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Many people are facing long term unemployment and constant harassment from creditors.  People often ask if they can file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case if they are unemployed. Yes, You Can File a Chapter 13 Case if You are Unemployed The question that you need to ask when considering qualification for a Chapter 13 case is whether you have sufficiently regular and stable income to make your Chapter 13 bankruptcy payments.  The source of that income can be family support, unemployment compensation, disability benefits, or 

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How do I know if I qualify to file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

Written by Melinda Dionne, Esq., October 7, 2011, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

To file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case, you must be an individual. In addition, you must have sufficient regular and stable income to allow you to make the payments called for under your plan. The applicable code section in the bankruptcy code is 11 U.S.C. Section 109(e). Section 109(e) provides that: Only an individual with regular income that owes, on the date of the filing of the petition, noncontingent, liquidated, unsecured debts of less than $360,475 and noncontingent, liquidated, secured debts of less than $1,081,400, 

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What Do I Have To Pay to Get A Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Case Filed?

Written by Melinda Dionne, Esq., October 6, 2011, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

After the passage of the Bankruptcy Reform legislation in 2005, it became much more expensive for Debtors to file for bankruptcy relief.  The court filing fees increased and new requirements for credit counseling and debtor education (financial management) only added to the costs of filing a case. What is the minimum amount I will need to pay to file a Chapter 13 case? Every bankruptcy lawyer has a different way of approaching the initial costs of filing a bankruptcy case.  Some lawyers require the payment 

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What is the Difference in a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

Written by Melinda Dionne, Esq., October 6, 2011, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, How Bankruptcy Works

A common question asked by clients is what is the differences between a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy case and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy case. The simple answer is that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case is a type of liquidation while a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case is a type of reorganization. There are other differences also. What is a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case? Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases are the shortest cases lasting approximately 4 months. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case you must pay your fees and expenses 

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What expenses do you have to pay to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case?

Written by Melinda Dionne, Esq., October 6, 2011, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Expenses Must Be Paid Before Filing Expense #1 Credit Counseling Must be Completed Before Your Case Can Be Filed Prior to filing your Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, you must pay for credit counseling through a provider approved by the United States Trustee or the Bankruptcy Administrator. The list of approved credit counseling companies can be found on the websites for either the US Trustee or the Bankruptcy Administrator for the district in which you case is filed. The credit counseling must be 

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How do I Get a Free Credit Report?

Written by Melinda Dionne, Esq., October 5, 2011, Credit Score

Every consumer is entitled to obtain 1 credit report, free of charge, from each of the three major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) once every 12 months from www.annualcreditreport.com. AnnualCreditReport.com is the official web site to help consumers to obtain their free credit report via secure website, phone or mail. Therefore, you should carefully read the fine print on other web sites offering “free” credit reports. Many of them are only free for a short period of time and then you get charged, often 

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What’s in a number? – Understanding your credit score

Written by Melinda Dionne, Esq., October 5, 2011, Credit Score

What is a credit score? A credit score is a number, based on a snapshot of your credit report at a particular point in time, which summarizes your credit risk and helps a lender evaluate your credit report. The most widely used credit scores are FICO® scores created by FICO (Fair Isaac Corporation). The FICO® score range is 300-850®. What is in a FICO® score? There are five main categories of information that FICO® scores evaluate. These are Payment History, Amounts Owed, Length of Credit 

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Why Judgments Kill Your Credit Score

Written by Melinda Dionne, Esq., October 5, 2011, Credit and Bankruptcy

What is a judgment? A judgment occurs when a creditor takes you to court, sues you, and wins its case against you. The creditor must do this before the statute of limitations runs for the original debt. In Alabama, the statute of limitations for oral contracts, written contracts, and promissory notes is 6 years from the date of your last payment or the date the creditor sends you a demand letter, and the statute of limitations for open-ended accounts is 3 years from the date 

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Tuscaloosa Office | 2606 8th Street, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401 | Phone: 205-349-5911

Birmingham Office | One Perimeter Park South, Suite 100N, Birmingham, Alabama 35243 | Phone: 205-453-1012

Melinda Murphy Dionne represents clients in Central and West Alabama including Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Centerville, Fayette, Jasper, Moundville, Tuscaloosa County, Bibb County, Blount County, Fayette County, Greene County, Hale County, Jefferson County, Lamar County, Perry County, Pickens County, Shelby County, Sumter County and Walker County.

We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

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