• posted: Feb. 10, 2019
• Jim Zimmermann
• mortgage default,  tenant,  foreclosure

If you are given notice that your landlord’s mortgagee filed for foreclosure on the house or apartment building where you live, it is important that you know your rights as Read More

• posted: Jan. 10, 2019
• Jim Zimmermann
• background check,  employment

Bankruptcy is intended to give people an opportunity to make amends with creditors and move forward with a fresh start. However, as long as a bankruptcy appears on your credit Read More

• posted: Oct. 19, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• home ownership

Yes, you can still buy a house after a bankruptcy filing. Filing bankruptcy discharges your debt and can make you a better mortgage candidate. There is no law that prevents Read More

• posted: Oct. 05, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• tax return,  taxes

Yes, you can still file bankruptcy if you owe taxes. You will need to get your tax returns filed, but paying the taxes is not required before you can file Read More

• posted: Sep. 27, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• filing twice for Chapter 7,  multiple bankruptcies,  NJ law

Yes, you can file for bankruptcy two or even more times in New Jersey provided that a certain amount of time has passed since your prior filing has been resolved. Read More

• posted: Sep. 21, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• foreclosure,  reverse mortgage

Reverse mortgages are designed to allow you live off of the equity in your home. This type of loan pays off your mortgage, lets you live in the home "mortgage Read More

• posted: Sep. 07, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• 401k,  retirement accounts,  retirement planning

Your retirement accounts (401K, IRA, Roth-IRA) are totally excluded or "exempted" from your bankruptcy. In fact, the law is very clear that your retirement account "stays" yours in bankruptcy. Retirement Read More

• posted: Aug. 24, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• credit score,  money mortgage

Active judgments, collections accounts, charge offs and delinquent debts are reported to the credit reporting agencies. These will have a devastating effect on your credit score. Your credit score will Read More

• posted: Aug. 10, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• emoployment

You are not required to be employed to file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. In fact, depending upon your prior or future income, your period of unemployment may be the only Read More

• posted: Jul. 27, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• automatic stay,  eviction,  landloard,  tenant

A bankruptcy filing will stop or prevent an eviction. Upon filing, there is a "Stay" automatically/immediately imposed on all efforts to collect a debt or enforce a judgment. Since an Read More

• posted: Jul. 13, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• debt,  joint case,  spouse

You do not need the consent or participation of your spouse to file bankruptcy. The law allows you to file either a "Joint Case" with your spouse or an "Individual Read More

• posted: Jun. 29, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• child support

Yes, you can still file bankruptcy if you owe child support. Some mistakenly believe that owing child support is bar to filing bankruptcy. Not true. Domestic support obligations cannot be Read More

• posted: Jun. 15, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• exemption analysis,  exemptions

Bankruptcy laws are very specific in labeling assets that you can and cannot keep if you file a petition. Very often, you can keep your business when you file bankruptcy Read More

• posted: May 18, 2017
• Jim Zimmermann
• credit cards,  creditor

Yes, you can only keep your credit cards in bankruptcy if the creditor agrees to it, however this is rare. The filing of a bankruptcy discharged all of your debts, Read More

• posted: Oct. 10, 2016
• Jim Zimmermann
• federal exclusions,  hardship exception,  student loan discharges

In most cases, you cannot file bankruptcy on student loans in New Jersey because bankruptcy protection does not apply to student loan debt. A special federal exclusion means that those Read More

• posted: Oct. 03, 2016
• Jim Zimmermann
• medical bills

You can file bankruptcy on medical bills in New Jersey, because debt associated with medical expenses can be discharged. Unlike obligations such as taxes and student loans, medical bills are Read More