Carron Nicks

Attorney (Tulane University School of Law)

Carron Nicks started writing bankruptcy and consumer finance articles for Nolo as a freelancer in 2016. Her articles appear on Nolo.com, TheBankruptcySite.com, Lawyers.com, and AllLaw.com.

Education. Carron earned a B.A. (psychology) and an M.S. (counseling) from the University of South Alabama. She earned her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law (New Orleans), where she was inducted into the Order of the Barristers honor society, and served as an articles editor on the Law Review, while enjoying beignets, gumbo, and gallons of cafe au lait. 

Legal career. After law school, Carron served as law clerk to judges on the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. She has spent more than 25 years representing debtors, creditors, and trustees in bankruptcy court, and plaintiffs in consumer finance, credit reporting, and deceptive trade practices litigation. Carron’s favorite pro bono activity is answering questions from the public on the American Bar Association’s Free Legal Answers website. She is a member of the Texas Bar and maintains a bankruptcy practice in Dallas. Over the years, Carron has kept a number of Nolo self-help books prominently displayed on her office bookshelves. 

Other pursuits. Prior to law school, Carron worked for the bankruptcy court in her hometown and for a bank and a bankruptcy law firm as a paralegal. After law school, in addition to her law practice, Carron taught undergraduate legal studies and business students. She began writing for Nolo and other legal and consumer-oriented publications and websites focusing on bankruptcy and personal finance. She also homeschooled her two (now adult) children, taught in a homeschool educational co-op program, and served many years as Cookie Mom for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. 

Why Nolo? Nolo’s mission aligns with Carron’s vision of an accessible and consumer-friendly legal system. She has always enjoyed breaking down complex legal concepts so that nonlawyers can better understand how laws affect their lives and are better prepared to engage an often baffling and intimidating legal system.

Articles By Carron Nicks

Bankruptcy Chapter 7 Means Test
If you want to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must pass the means test. The means test looks at your income, and perhaps your expenses and debts, to determine whether you could afford to pay back at least some of your debts. If so, you might not you won't be allowed to use Chapter 7; instead, you could will have to use Chapter 13 if you want to file for bankruptcy.
Can You File for Bankruptcy If Your House Is in Foreclosure?
Learn how you can use a bankruptcy case to save your home from foreclosure.
Should I Repay Debts Before Filing for Bankruptcy?
Although paying off debts before filing bankruptcy may seem like the right thing to do, it is often not a good idea.
Should Senior Citizens File Bankruptcy?
When considering bankruptcy, seniors and retirees should weigh their options carefully. For many seniors, certain issues crop up relating to homeownership.
What to Do if You Can't Keep Up With Your Chapter 13 Repayment Plan
If you don’t make your payments to the Chapter 13 trustee on time, the court could dismiss your bankruptcy case. So what should you do if you cannot make one or more Chapter 13 plan payments?
What Happens to My Cosigner if I File Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
If you file Chapter 13 bankruptcy and you have debt with a cosigner, your bankruptcy could affect the cosigner.
How Is Joint Property Treated in Bankruptcy?
How will your bankruptcy filing affect your spouse and the property you own together? The answer depends on what type of case you file, whether you file alone or with your spouse, how you own your property, and the laws of your state about marital property.
Judgment Liens in Bankruptcy: Can You Get Rid of Them?
A judgment lien occurs when a creditor sues you, gets a judgment against you, and files a lien against your property to satisfy the judgment. Under the right circumstances , you can avoid judgment liens in a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
What Happens to Your Personal Property in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
When filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, many debtors are able to keep most or all of their personal property. What you’re allowed to keep depends on what property is deemed "exempt" by your state or the federal bankruptcy exemptions.
Can I Keep My Rental Property in Bankruptcy?
Do you own rental property? If you own a house, an apartment, commercial space, or a multi-unit building that you rent out to tenants, then you should consider how it will be affected if you file for bankruptcy.