March, 2017 | Bowen Ten PC

Judge decides retirement funding during bankruptcy excessive

On Behalf of Bowen Ten PC | Mar 28, 2017 | Chapter 13

People in Virginia who are considering a bankruptcy will likely need to limit how much they set aside to fund retirement plans during the course of the bankruptcy. A judge in one bankruptcy court rejected a Chapter 13 payment proposal from a married couple because...

Some debts may be excluded from FDCPA protection

On Behalf of Bowen Ten PC | Mar 22, 2017 | Chapter 13

Virginians who file for bankruptcy in order to get their debts excused may not always be able to leverage consumer protection laws the way they may expect. In one case, the Ninth Circuit Court decided to dismiss a borrower's lawsuit against one of her foreclosure...

The rules of an auto loan cramdown

On Behalf of Bowen Ten PC | Mar 20, 2017 | Chapter 13

Virginia residents and those living elsewhere around the country that have negative equity in their vehicles may qualify for loan cramdowns. However, this option is available only to individuals who file for Chapter 13 bankruptcies and meet other requirements. It...

Divorce down for younger couples, up for older ones

On Behalf of Bowen Ten PC | Mar 13, 2017 | Divorce

People at or over the age of 50 in Virginia and throughout the country may be more likely to divorce than people in the 25-to-39 age group, and in 2015, they were getting a divorce at two times the rate they were in 1990. People at or over 65 are three times more...

Credit card debt on the rise

On Behalf of Bowen Ten PC | Mar 10, 2017 | Chapter 13

Credit card debt held by cardholders in Virginia and throughout the country is on track to grow to an all-time high of more than $1 trillion by the end of this year. This is accompanied by a nearly all-time low in charge-off rates. The fourth-quarter debt added in...

Helping kids through a divorce

On Behalf of Bowen Ten PC | Mar 7, 2017 | Child Custody

As difficult as going through a divorce is for an adult, children who have parents who divorce also suffer greatly. However, the way that parents act during a divorce and after a marriage has ended can help to reduce the negative effects on children. Some of the ways...

Good reasons to get a prenuptial agreement

On Behalf of Bowen Ten PC | Mar 1, 2017 | Family Law

Prenuptial agreements may be a practical way for Virginia residents or others to negotiate divorce terms before a marriage event takes place. While it may not seem romantic, it can provide a safety net in the event of a divorce, annulment or death. Statistics from the...