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Have you received weird looking debt collection letters in the mail? Letters that say the debt is old and that the debt collector won't sue on it or report it on your credit reports? Also, do these letters say the debt collector wants to settle the debt with you even though it won't sue you or report it on your credit?

It is at about this time each year when advertising on television and radio increases by various companies stating they can help you if you owe back income taxes.
I am often asked if back income taxes can be discharged, that is gotten rid of, in bankruptcy and the answer is not always an easy one. BUT please remember that even if they are not dischargeable in a straight (chapter 7) bankruptcy case, you can include the tax debt in a chapter 13 reorganization and repay the what you owe over time.

 The IRS will generally issue most refunds in less than twenty (21) calendar days. However, many different factors can affect the timing of your refund after they receive your return. Even though the IRS issues most refunds in less than twenty (21) days, it is possible your refund may require additional time to process.

As the New Year moves ahead, many people around the country are looking out for their W-2’s or other tax forms so they can get a head start on filing their 2017 tax returns.  In this blog post, I’d like to spend some time discussing a common tax issue.

As I write this, I am well aware that my law partner, Ron Sykstus, wishes that I was writing this blog about a best-selling fiction novel that he has written! Unfortunately for him, that is not the case!

American households are carrying a good bit of debt these days according to a recent NBC News article. From what I’m seeing, no matter how you categorize the debt or spin the numbers, it’s not welcoming news to begin the new year. Still, there is no better way to illustrate a point than by staring at the cold, hard numbers, so I will break down a few.

I had the privilege of giving a Continuing Legal Education seminar on bankruptcy to Montgomery’s Legal Services of Alabama.  Currently, there are no attorneys trained in handling bankruptcy cases in the Montgomery office. Some attorneys have a general idea of how bankruptcy works but were reluctant to take on any cases without current training.

The largest oil refinery on the East Coast has filed for bankruptcy. Philadelphia Energy Solutions LLC is the owner of the biggest oil refinery that serves the New York Harbor diesel and gasoline market. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday, January 21.

So, you didn’t start off the New Year by winning any of the latest big lottery jackpots. However, two lone winners did. One winner from New Hampshire has yet to claim the $560 million Powerball jackpot. The other 20-year-old winner from Florida claimed his $450 million Mega Millions grand prize. He chose the one lump sum amount of $282 million.

I have seen a number of variations of what I broadly refer to as "seizure disorders" over the years of my SSA disability practice. Whether emanating from some malformation in the brain, a traumatic brain injury or epilepsy, etc., these ailments can have a devastating effect on a person's employability through no fault of their own.