Typically the people that sit across from me in my office, fall into one of two camps:
One camp tells me:  “I am up to date on everything right now, I just want to know my options, and I want to be Proactive.”
The other camp tells me:  “I should have been sitting here 2 years ago.”
For several years, during hurricane season, the housing crisis and the recession, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida was the Second busiest Bankruptcy Court of the 90 federal districts, in the nation.
Demographically, the Middle District of Florida contains thirty-five of Florida’s sixty-seven counties including several of Florida’s largest metropolitan areas (Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, Ocala, Daytona and Fort Myers).
Knowing when to fish or cut bait is difficult.  We are raised to do the right thing and pay our bills.  Many people liquidate their life savings, pensions, retirement accounts, children’s savings accounts and college funds.  They do not know what assets are protected in Florida. We hope things will turn around and sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t.  Making the decision to get educated is liberating and scary at the same time. Knowledge is power.  Power is control.  The more folks know and understand, the better off they will be. Timing and strategy is critical when trying to noodle through this difficult economy.
Knowing the consequences of a Foreclosure, Short Sale, Judgment, Summons, not paying a credit card or medical bill is critical. Others want to know what to do when their ex-spouse files a Bankruptcy and how will it affect them.  I receive a lot of calls from adult children and they tell me their Mother or Father can no longer afford their medicine or rent and what options are available to them?
I have been practicing Bankruptcy Law for 14 years.    I am seeing more Parent’s trying to help their children get out of debt after college.  Students are graduating from college with an enormous amount of student loan debt and many do not have jobs. They have used credit cards to pay for living expenses and books.  Many have had to move back home until they are employed. The parents will call me and bring in their Son or Daughter to go over their options.
All these issues can be confusing and extremely stressful.  Call me for a free consultation.
Visit my website at: Venice-Sarasota-Bankruptcy.com.