Bankruptcy: Fact or Fiction?
Many people have an idea of what bankruptcy is and what it involves, but there are a lot of myths that people believe to be true. Make sure you are properly educated on all of your debt options before making a decision. If everything you know about bankruptcy has been through the grapevine, I have…
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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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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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Common Credit Score Myths
Credit scores are an area of personal finance that seem a lot more mysterious than they actually are. Many people believe that improving them is a matter of trial and error, and as a result there’s a lot of “credit score advice” floating around that can end up doing more harm than good. Here are…
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What will you lose if you file bankruptcy?
Many people hear the word “bankruptcy” and automatically think the worst. People assume that if they file bankruptcy, they will lose everything. In most cases, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Most people are able to retain most everything that they own. Every province has created a list of exemptions, meaning assets that are protected…
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