Baran Bulkat is a former consumer bankruptcy attorney with extensive experience in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings as well as debt settlement. He has authored numerous bankruptcy and debt management articles on Nolo.com as well as other Nolo sites. He has also updated a previous edition of Nolo's book, How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.
In addition to his bankruptcy experience, Baran also worked as an analyst and compliance manager for a large financial planning firm where he obtained his Series 7, 24, and 66 securities licenses.
Baran received his undergraduate degree in business management from Georgia Tech and his law degree from California Western School of Law.
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Articles By Baran Bulkat
Congress created the “means test” to determine if you qualify to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Whether you qualify for Chapter 7 depends largely on what the means test calculates as your “current monthly income.”
Under certain circumstances, the bankruptcy trustee appointed to administer your case may challenge your right to receive a bankruptcy discharge. If the trustee believes that you should not be entitled to a discharge, he or she will file an objection with the court and ask the judge to deny your discharge.
If you are married but filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy without your spouse, the marital adjustment deduction can help you reduce the amount you pay back to general unsecured creditors.
Can you save your Chapter 13 bankruptcy case if the court dismisses it because you didn’t make your monthly plan payments?
In most cases, if you are behind on your homeowners’ association (HOA) dues, the HOA can place a lien and foreclose on your property. Whether filing for bankruptcy can help you keep your home will typically depend on whether you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. What Is an HOA Lien? In
Depending on the branch of the military you wish to join and your particular circumstances, you may need to meet certain financial eligibility requirements before you can enlist in the armed forces. In most cases, a bankruptcy filing will not automatically prohibit you from joining the military. But
When you reaffirm a debt in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you enter into a contract with your lender (called a reaffirmation agreement) that makes you personally liable for the obligation despite your bankruptcy discharge. Many debtors reaffirm secured debts in order to keep the asset pledged as collateral for
If you file for bankruptcy, most of your creditors will file a proof of claim -- a form that provides information about your debt -- in order to get paid. Sometimes a creditor doesn't file a proof of claim. In rare instances, you might want to file a proof of claim on that creditor's behalf. Here's why.
Whether you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you must attend a mandatory hearing called the meeting of creditors (also called the 341 hearing).
The bankruptcy court can dismiss your Chapter 13 case for many reasons. In most cases, you can file a new bankruptcy right away. But sometimes it can be in your best interest to appeal the dismissal order to a higher court for further review.