Tag: Lawyer

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Have you checked your credit report lately?

I recommend checking your credit report often, at least once per month. The three credit reporting agencies are Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. You can go directly to their websites to obtain your credit reports. You can also use www.annualcreditreport.com to try to obtain all three reports at one time. Generally you can get one free report per year, though during COVID many are allowing a weekly free report.

There are many free websites and apps to monitor your credit and notify you of any changes. One such services is CreditKarma (this is not an ad for them, just a mention). They pull from 2 of the 3 credit reporting agencies and provide updates as you set your preferences.

If you haven’t filed bankruptcy yet, getting your credit report will help you determine who you owe and what your bankruptcy will look like. You can just email the report to your attorney. You don’t have to print it.

If you have filed bankruptcy and discharged, checking your credit report can help make sure all the debt you got rid of in the bankruptcy is properly showing as discharged.

As always, if you have any questions at all, ask your attorney!

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Covid-19 and bankruptcy

Covid-19 has brought us so many questions about so many things. One question we get is “Can I still file bankruptcy?” The answer is still very much “Yes!” Then, it’s usually “Well how will that work? Will I have to go to the courthouse?” Here in West Tennessee, the answer for the foreseeable future is that you will not have to appear in person at the courthouse. While there may be exceptions, in person hearings are very rare right now.

I have had the privilege of serving along side case trustees, judges, and other court personnel this year on the Committee on Reopening the Bankruptcy Courts in West Tennessee. At the present time, there is not a hearing you will have to attend in person generally. If you file in Jackson, there is one telephone hearing you will need to attend. This telephone hearing is a conference over the phone with your case trustee, your attorney, and possibly creditor’s attorneys. Again, this is over the phone, so you no longer have to take off work to come to court. This also helps those who live far away from Jackson in not having to spend money on the gas to travel, and those who are concerned about being out of the house due to Covid.

There are other hearings that happen throughout your bankruptcy case that your attorney normally will still be able to handle without you having to appear. Attorneys are handling court electronically for now, as in person hearings are still only held in very rare situations.

If you are thinking about bankruptcy, or just trying to figure out how to handle the debt that Covid brought to your doorstep, don’t hesitate to reach out for a consultation. We enjoy speaking with people and talking through the options. If bankruptcy turns out to be a good option for your situation, we will cover every question you have so you can make the best decision for you and your family. Just give us a call at 731-424-3315, or visit us at www.tennesseefirm.com. We look forward to serving you!

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Small business owners whose customers owe money…..

As a small business owner, you may run into this more often than not these days. You contract with someone for a service with a specified price, and when you complete your task the customer asks if they can pay you next month, or maybe in installments. Because you like your customers, and you’d like customer referrals, you agree. But then the next month they ask to pay the following month. So what happens when they just stop answering the phone when you call, or do not respond to the letters you send? That might be the time to call your attorney, me, for some help.

What can I do as your attorney?

For starters, I can handle all aspects of the case for you, which gives you time to do what you do best — run your business! Once I receive all of the information on the file, I will take the appropriate steps to resolve the matter. What those steps are depends on how you want to resolve the case. There are generally several options available on how to handle the case. Based on your needs and goals, I can recommend the best step for you to take to reach those goals. Depending on the contract you have with your customer, your collection costs may be assessed against the customer.

In addition, with our experience as bankruptcy attorneys, we know how to help you recoup as much of your money as possible if your customer has filed bankruptcy, or may file bankruptcy in the future.

There are many laws that apply when collecting a debt. Be sure not to fall into a trap where you end up paying the customer because you did not follow one of those laws!

Do you have customers who need a little reminder that they need to pay you for your services? Give us a call and find out how we can help you collect what is owed to you and help your business succeed!

Contact Jackson, Tennessee attorney Alissa Gay at Teel & Maroney, PLC 731.424.3315.