If you’ve made the decision to take responsibility for your debt by filing for Illinois or Missouri bankruptcy, let me first offer you my congratulations. But once you’ve filed, it is important to make the most of your fresh start.

Usually the best way to do this is to find a steady job (or keep the one you already have). But with more and more employers running credit checks these days, how should you approach the topic with them?

You may think the first rule of Bankruptcy Club is like Fight Club (i.e. don’t talk about it) but that’s not right. The first rule is actually not to lie about it. As you know, a bankruptcy will appear on your credit report, so it’s important that you aren’t caught in a lie if a potential employer asks you to disclose your financial background. It’s important to remember that many of our clients actually see their credit score improve after discharge (plus it looks better on your report than a foreclosure or repossession would).

The second rule is just as easy to follow: think about what led to your Illinois or Missouri bankruptcy. I have never heard of an interviewer throwing away an application as soon as they discover a bankruptcy (1.4 million people filed bankruptcy in 2009–and it looks like that number will be higher for 2010, so it would be hard for them to do that), but sometimes a brief explanation can clear up any concerns.

And I do mean brief. In a lot of cases, people file bankruptcy due to unforeseeable circumstances, like medical issues, a lay off, or other catastrophic event. If your employer tells you they’ll be pulling your credit report, explain your situation. Keep it simple, and focus on the fact that you have taken the responsible steps to protect your family’s future. Then move on.

Now, you know bankruptcy can be a fairly intricate process, and everyone has different circumstances–so why keep your explanation so short? Because the days of letting debt control your life are over. After all, what was the point of filing Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy? Acknowledge it, and move on to showing your future employer what they should really be evaluating you on: your experience and ability to do the job.

You may still have questions. After all, reclaiming your life is a process. You can find more of the information you need by requesting a free copy of my Missouri and Illinois debt relief guide, “Get Out of Debt: Secrets Your Creditors Don’t Want You to Know.”

If you think Chapter 7 bankruptcy is for deadbeats, think again. A lot of people believe that there is a stigma attached to filing Chapter 7. That is absolutely not true. In fact, bankruptcy laws weren’t written yesterday. In the United States, bankruptcy laws were adopted around the time of the U.S. Constitution, in 1800. Bankruptcy laws in Missouri and Illinois have evolved over the years. Just in the 25-year period between 1980 and 2005, bankruptcies in Missouri and Illinois increased six-fold. That said, people’s opinions on bankruptcy have not shown signs of changing with the times. (more…)

Opening up a bank account after Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Missouri or Illinois is often the first step people take to rebuild their credit. The idea that you cannot open a checking or savings account after bankruptcy is one of the most widely prevalent bankruptcy myths. It’s simply not true. In fact, getting a new account is a great way to start feeling normal and responsible again. It is an important step toward rebuilding your credit and erasing your debt.

However, there are some secret tips to choosing the right bank and getting the right account.

• Choose a federally insured bank: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is an independent agency of the U.S. government. Basically the FDIC protects you against losing your deposits if an FDIC or insured bank or savings association fails. FDIC insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. What this means is if you open a bank account with an institution that is not federally insured, you could lose all your money if that business goes under. So it is extremely important that you verify the bank you choose is federally insured at FDIC’s Web site.

• Choose an account with low or no minimum balance and overdraft protection: It would be in your best interest to get an account with low or no minimum balance to ensure that you are not charged unexpected fees. Also, be sure to get overdraft protection to avoid steep fees and bounced checks. Overdrawing your account is one of the first signs that you are having money troubles. So, it is important that you steer clear of overdrawing after bankruptcy.

Watch out for debit card fees: As you shop around, you’ll see that some banks actually charge a fee to use a debit card. Make sure you read all the terms and conditions clearly before getting or using a debit card. It is also critical to make sure that these debit cards have overdraft protection. Overdrawing can happen just as easily with debit cards.

Ideally, we’d like to be able to plan out when we are going to incur big costs; but life’s little surprises rarely leave us a moment to catch our breath. Medical emergencies are among the worst of these surprises. If a life is at stake, cost is usually the last thing on our minds. We are a society focused on the value of an individual life, which often leads us to make any effort, no matter the cost, to save a life. And while any life is certainly worth saving, we tend not to think about the financial situation that will result for the injured party. A very appropriate example of this is the cost of an air ambulance. An article on MSNBC reported that about 550,000 patients are flown by helicopter or a small airplane to get medical treatment for heart attacks and car accidents, among other things. What is the cost of these flights? It could be anywhere from slightly less than $12,000 to $25,000 per flight.

It’s no wonder that health care is such a hot button issue for congress right now. The cost of getting serious medical treatment is only rising-and so is the number of folks filing chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy in Missouri and Illinois. After 15 years as a St. Louis Missouri and Fairview Heights Illinois bankruptcy attorney, I’ve seen a lot of people that need to be protected from foreclosure, to find a solution to credit card debt, and to get rid of harassing creditors after a medical emergency. Medical bills can be eliminated through bankruptcy, keeping families safe and protected in their homes and without the burden of debt looming over them.

Bad things happen to good people-but bankruptcy can protect those people from losing more than they already have. If you are in a similar situation and wondering “Should I file bankruptcy?” take a look at the information available to you from reputable St. Louis Missouri or Southern Illinois bankruptcy attorneys. Many of these attorneys provide basic descriptions or even bankruptcy FAQ on their websites. The best bankruptcy attorneys in Missouri and Illinois, however, will provide you with articles, blogs, and possibly even free publications before you set foot into his or her office. Make sure that any attorney you want to hire for your chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy case is willing to offer you these “extras” before hiring him or her.

Latin super star Shakira has seen unbelievable success. With several singles out right now and a long resume of international hits, it seems that she is one of the biggest stars of all time. In a recent interview with CNN, however, Shakira revealed that her roots are very modest. When she was only 8 years old and living in Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira’s parents filed for bankruptcy. In the interview, Shakira explained that it was hard for her to understand what her family bankruptcy truly meant.

Her parents took it upon themselves to show Shakira what life could be like had they not filed bankruptcy. They showed her a park where families who had been turned out to the street after not getting protection from foreclosure or help with any of their debt. “They wanted to show me another reality that was much worse than mine to make me gain perspective on things,” said Shakira of the experience. And it was that very experience that inspired Shakira to be the success she is today. She has even started her own foundation to help poor children in Colombia get an education and became a UNICEF goodwill ambassador because of the experience.

What 8 year old Shakira didn’t see is that her parents knew when to file bankruptcy. They took responsibility for her and themselves by getting protection from foreclosure, credit card debt help, and relieving themselves from the stress of creditors. It is this brave act by her parents that showed Shakira the protection that bankruptcy can provide and the opportunity it can give you to be a great success.

Now, as a Missouri and Illinois bankruptcy attorney at a St. Louis law firm, I can tell you that the rules for bankruptcy are much different than they were years ago (and on another continent!) but the feeling of being in overwhelming debt remains the same. The protection for other families in this situation has only improved and many other famous people who have filed for bankruptcy will agree that their filing was only a beginning for their future successes.

Where can you find more information on bankruptcy and how it can help you? Many attorneys offer free consultations but the best offer all the free information you need before you even walk in the door. Make sure that any attorney that you are thinking or hiring to help you get out of crushing amounts of debt is prepared to offer you free articles, blogs, and publications full of the information you need to decide if bankruptcy is something to consider.

Many things run through your mind after a Missouri or Illinois auto accident. And with the rising rate of car crash deaths in Missouri and Illinois, who can blame you? You are probably thinking: Am I or one of my passengers hurt? Is my vehicle damaged? Who should I call? The period directly after an accident is often confusing and scary-and that is why it is important to keep in mind the true role of the insurance adjuster.

After you get into an auto accident, you will be contacted by an agent from the insurance company called an adjuster. His job is to gather the facts and evidence from you, other witnesses, police reports, and hospital records to report back to his employer. The facts and evidence that he gathers are used to negotiate how much money you can receive when you turn in your claim for damages and injuries.

And the most important part of his job is to make sure the insurance company has to pay you the least amount possible.

This may not come as a shock to you now, but when you receive a check for not even a fraction of what you need for help with your medical bills and to replace your lost wages, you may change your mind. So, what can you do to make sure you don’t say or sign the wrong thing? The best decision is to get information from an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer. Whether it is a few aches and pains or a serious drunk driving injury, you’ll want to make sure that you get the car accident settlement you need to get back on your feet. You may not even need a lawyer but an accident lawyer in Missouri will certainly be able to help you figure out if you do. Find an accident attorney who offers free publications, articles, and frequently asked questions to help you determine what your next move should be.

We are well into the information age-a time where you can find any little factoid from the name of that actor on the last episode of “The Office” to the number of cities in Montana. Research for things like your financial future, however, may require a little more care. After all, just because it is posted on the internet doesn’t mean that it is true; there are plenty of bloggers out there with no credentials telling you whether bankruptcy is right for you or not. And misinformation may be more dangerous than you think.

For example, I came across an article just the other day on a “Bankruptcy Home Equity Loan.” After reading through it, I discovered that not only did the author mistake a bankruptcy process called a “motion to incur debt” for a “bankruptcy home equity loan,” he also provided the wrong facts about it and forgot to address any possible outcomes or downsides. I only knew that his information was wrong because he was discussing my industry. Had he discussed some other subject, I may have not had such an easy time figuring out that it was the wrong information.

So, how can you tell fact from fiction? Be more selective with who you believe. Take information from sources you know and trust, like your lawyer or a government website. (You can identify government websites by their “.gov” ending) When reading any information, check the credentials of the author. If he or she doesn’t have any information to offer about how they got the knowledge they are so eager to share with you, it may not be trustworthy information. I have written a book on getting help with your debt that could also help you avoid being the victim of misinformation. After helping more than 30,000 families break free from their crushing amounts of debt, I’ve put together the ultimate guide to handling your debt. Request a free copy by visiting us on the web!

If you are in debt, wage garnishment is a common tactic used by creditors in Missouri and Illinois to make you pay up by taking a portion of your paycheck. How do they get permission to do something like that? Very often, creditors are able to get a garnishment by obtaining a judgment from a court to collect money that you owe. Usually, such garnishments have a time limit, but creditors will often get them renewed until the debt is completely paid off.

In Missouri and Illinois, there are specific laws relating to wage garnishments. A creditor is basically allowed to take up to 25 percent of your income. This amount is limited to 10 percent if you are the head of the household or the sole wage earner in the family. However, these minimum percentages do not apply to all debts. In some cases, especially where it involves child support payments, creditors can shave off up to 65 percent of your paycheck. Wage garnishment can be embarrassing because your employer will be made aware of your financial travails as well.

Fortunately, there are ways by which you can stop wage garnishment. The immediate route you can take is to file for bankruptcy (Chapter 7 or Chapter 13) right away. You can do so even in alimony and child support cases. In fact, a bankruptcy process can actually help you recover some of your garnished wages through what is known as a preference. According to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, a “preference” is defined as “a debt payment made to a creditor in the 90-day period before a debtor files bankruptcy that gives the creditor more than the creditor would receive in the debtor’s Chapter 7 case.” What this means is that the wage garnishment amount that was collected by the creditor 90 days prior to the bankruptcy filing can be returned to you.

If your wages are being garnished, you would be well-advised to contact a Missouri or Illinois bankruptcy attorney immediately. It is extremely important for you at this point to begin examining your legal options and stop the wage garnishment. The best bankruptcy law firms will not only offer free and comprehensive consultations but article, blogs and books filled with FREE information even before you contact the attorney.