personal bankruptcy
Personal bankruptcy related posts written by a Licensed Insolvency Trustee.
How Did Canadians Become Debt Slaves?
Introduction – Why Do Responsible Canadians Need Debt Relief? I am what is called a Licensed Insolvency Trustee. People come to me when they need help with debt relief. If they have little in assets or income, they’ll usually file for personal bankruptcy. If they have significant assets or income, they’ll usually settle with their creditors by a legal proceeding called a consumer proposal. Regardless of the proceeding chosen, a debtor is required to undergo something called Insolvency Counselling. So what is it? In colloquial terms, Insolvency Counselling is when the LIT sits down with a debtor and examines where she screwed up and teaches her how to adopt better…
Preparing for the Next Recession – A Guide For The Canadian Middle Class
As a CPA and Licensed Insolvency Trustee, I had a front row seat during the Great Recession of 2009 – 2011. I saw the devastating impact it had on the lives of ordinary Canadians. These were everyday people who were for the most part honest, hard working, and played by the rules. Yet they found themselves on the short end of the stick when the Great Recession started 10 years ago: some lost their jobs, some had their financial portfolios decimated, some lost their homes and quite a few experienced losing all three. It’s been over 10 years since the onset of the Great Recession and Canadians are more indebted…
Filing bankruptcy with gambling and substance abuse problems
A readers asks First and foremost I’m a gambling addict and also have problems with substance abuse. I have accumulated so much debt that I have fallen into a deep depression and I just beat myself up daily because I did it to myself. My debts: $3,000 of credit card debt, $11,000 line of credit, $11,000 in payday loans (the worst I know). I pay around $380 a month just on interest charges; pretty much my debts are not going away. I have personal loans from friends of $6.500 and a student loan of $5,000 – I haven’t made a payment since around 2008. I also have a payday loan…
Transferring a Home Before Bankruptcy
A reader asks: My father fell critically ill earlier this year. As a result, he is unable to pay his credit cards as he is not working. The bills are very large. He has no financial assets other than his a commercial property (owned outright). What options does he have? In relation, can the property be sold to my brother and/or proceeds transferred to him (inheritance), then my father proceed to file bankruptcy without repercussions? Here is a breakdown of his finances: $1.2m – commercial property – owned outright Approx 60-80k in credit card debt only Zero income stream from any source, sadly. My father is not a future planner.…
20 Year Old Considering Personal Bankruptcy
A reader asks: I messed up big time but I’ve learned a lot of lessons. I earned just a hair shy of $200,000 in my first year as a real estate agent at 20 years old. I was way too immature to have that kind of money, and blew most of it without saving. I invested my tax savings in growing my team which I thought would have been an easy pay back. Lost it all. No worries though just sell more houses. Depression strikes, mother gets very sick, I took on an expensive apartment and car. Not emotionally mature enough to handle these things like an adult yet. Hemorrhaging…
Understanding the bankruptcy discharge (Video)
Summary Vincent has decided to file for bankruptcy. His Licensed Insolvency Trustee outlines what debts will be discharged in a bankruptcy and how long the process takes. Meet Vincent, a father of two young children. A recent separation has left him unable to meet his financial obligations. After having his options explained by a Licensed Insolvency Trustee, a professional whose duties are regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada, Vincent has decided that bankruptcy is the most appropriate solution to his financial troubles. The trustee explains that after fulfilling his bankruptcy obligations, his debts will be discharged and he will be free to start over financially. The…
Bankruptcy and surplus income (Video)
Summary Stephanie has discussed filing for bankruptcy with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee. The trustee explains how Stephanie’s income requires her to make payments during her bankruptcy. Meet Stephanie, the mother of a young son, James, who is just about to enter primary school. Recently, Stephanie has overextended her credit and, despite her best efforts, is unable to pay her bills. Realizing that she needed to speak to an expert, Stephanie found a Licensed Insolvency Trustee located in her area and has gone to meet with her. After speaking to the trustee, Stephanie has determined bankruptcy was the most appropriate option for her. After explaining the bankruptcy process and looking more…
What to expect if you file for bankruptcy (Video)
Summary After talking with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee, David and Julie decide that bankruptcy is the most appropriate option to handle their debts. The trustee explains the way their creditors will be paid and what they will need to do during the bankruptcy process. It’s been a tough time for David and Julie —David has been laid off, credit card payments have slipped and the other bills are also falling behind. Thinking bankruptcy may be an option, he sits down and begins an online search to get information about the topic. He finds the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada, the federal organization that licenses and regulates Licensed Insolvency…
Discussing your options with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee (Video)
Summary Richard is unable to pay his bills and unsure what to do. He talks to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee to explore the different ways he can deal with his debt. This is Richard. Unable to pay his bills, he is unsure what to do. On the advice of a close friend, he contacts a Licensed Insolvency Trustee, a professional who is licensed by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada. While Licensed Insolvency Trustees can and do handle bankruptcies, they can also offer information about other possible options. These might include reworking his budget, consolidating his debts, selling his assets, or offering a proposal to his creditors. Whatever…
How To Deal with Credit Card Debt
In theory, the process for paying off your credit card debt is rather simple: Review the annual interest rates on all of your credit cards. Focus your financial resources on paying off the credit card balance with the highest rate of interest while maintaining the minimum payments on your other credit card balances. Once the credit card balance with highest interest rate has been paid in full, repeat step 2 for the credit card balance with the next highest interest rate. Repeat this process until all your credit card balances are paid in full. What if you don’t have the financial resources to do this because your income is too…
