Can you file bankruptcy while renting?
The majority of people who make consumer proposals or file personal bankruptcy with our office are renters. Most of those people have questions surrounding their current and future rental agreements. Here are some of the common questions we are asked: Will this affect my current rental agreement? Making a consumer proposal or filing personal bankruptcy does not affect your current rental…
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Surrendering Credit Cards In Bankruptcy
When you decide to file personal bankruptcy, you are required by law to give all of your credit cards to the trustee for cancellation. A common question that arises when I inform a client of this requirement is, “do I still have to surrender a credit card if it has a zero balance?” The answer…
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RESPs and Debt Settlement Options
Many people with children plan ahead for their children’s post-secondary education by investing in a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). Most people with RESPs who come into our office are concerned about what will happen with their RESP if they choose to file bankruptcy or make a consumer proposal. First of all, I’ll explain what…
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Bankruptcy and Co-signers
Many people who are in debt need a co-signer to sign loans, which is a great way for a debtor to build their credit score. The problem is, it might be hard to get a co-signer to sign your loan. That is because a co-signer is essentially on the hook and responsible for paying back…
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Debt Management Tips for Seniors
No one wants to spend their golden years struggling with credit-card debt. But, sadly, an increasing number of seniors are doing exactly that. For people living on fixed incomes, escalating debt can lead to financial ruin. Many of the debt-management options available to younger people — like getting a second job to pay off the…
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If possible, should you pay off your bankruptcy early?
Believe it or not, we have had several clients who have filed bankruptcy and then found themselves in financial excess. When this happens, clients often ask the question “can I pay off my bankruptcy and be discharged faster?” If you’re in the middle of a bankruptcy, and your financial picture starts looking rosy, it’s understandable…
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Bankruptcy and the Economy
Many people look at the statistics published by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada regarding the numbers of people filing for personal bankruptcy or making a consumer proposal as an indicator of the overall health of our economy and a bad omen for the stock market. The reality is that this is a trailing indicator of…
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Can a person have savings during bankruptcy?
The short answer is “Yes”. By definition, savings can consist of actual cash holdings, RRSPs and other investment products, pensions, and the cash surrender value of insurance policies. Your bankruptcy trustee will recover any non-exempt portion of your savings for the benefit of unsecured creditors at the time of filing. Your bankruptcy estate is also made up…
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Consumer Proposals and Student Loans
If your student loan is causing you financial hardship, it is a good idea to have an in-depth discussion with a bankruptcy trustee. Student loans through the Canada Student Loans Program can be included in a bankruptcy if they are more than seven years old. That is – if your end-of-study date is more than…
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The 411 on Consumer Proposals
Most, if not all people over the age of 18 have a pretty good idea of what bankruptcy is. If you don’t know someone who has personally filed bankruptcy, you have definitely heard of popular celebrities like Kim Basinger, Larry King, and Mike Tyson filing bankruptcy. Celebrities who have gone bankrupt aren’t the only bankruptcy…
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