When someone living in Arizona files for bankruptcy, they are often doing so because of costly medical bills, having been laid off from a job or simply having a large amount of unsecured debt. There are enormous benefits to filing for personal bankruptcy, but it is not without its costs. After filing, people may need [...]
A recent study reported that a quarter of the population has borrowed from their retirement accounts. Borrowing from a 401(k) at an attractive interest rate to pay off high-interest credit card debt could make sense, but there are disadvantages. One risk is the loss of asset protection for the 401(k) in case of a personal [...]
The struggling economy, unemployment and unexpected life changes have been the cause of financial challenges for many Arizona residents over the past few years. Meanwhile, many college students have struggled with credit card debt that has caused some of them to file for personal bankruptcy, particularly as they have dealt with tuition and diminished job [...]
Events leading to the simultaneous collapse of the real estate and mortgage markets in 2008 and 2009 left many homeowners with new financial challenges created by an economic recession, high mortgage balances and declining home values. Some homeowners who needed to stop foreclosure and obtain manageable payments were able to obtain the fresh financial start [...]
People in need of medical care in Arizona and other states might have difficulty finding a doctor in the future. Reports point to a 90,000 shortage in the number of doctors needed in the U.S. by 2020. For people now struggling with overwhelming medical debt, worries about a future shortage of doctors is just another [...]
The good news for Arizona homeowners is that foreclosure rates declined significantly. And according to reports, there are now fewer Arizona homeowners who are seriously late on their mortgage payments. The report considers houses that are not yet listed for sale, but that are more than 90 days delinquent on mortgage payments and in [...]
Many Arizona citizens are familiar with the general concept of bankruptcy, but are not sure exactly what the process entails. Federal law includes two different statutes that allow consumers to receive debt relief by filing for bankruptcy. These are called Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. A person's credit report will be affected for 10 [...]
Tax season comes every year, but the real work for the IRS begins as April 15 creeps closer and the flood of last-minute tax returns hits the system for processing. Arizona taxpayers who file an error-free return should get a refund within 21 days. There might be a delay in processing the refund if the [...]
Students who acquire student loans need to be aware of the ways in which student loans are differentiated from traditional loan products. Almost two thirds of the students in America, including those in Arizona, will take out student loans to finance their education. Many students are encouraged to do so. However, student loans are based [...]
When Arizona residents file for bankruptcy, one of their first concerns is how to repair their credit rating. One of the main goals of personal bankruptcy is to get people out of a bad financial situation, and eliminating debt can give people a clean slate. This is why it is essential for people to check [...]