Call Us Today For a FREE Debt Consultation: (214) 760-7777

About Mark Rubin

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Mark Rubin has created 111 blog entries.

Five signs that you are living beyond your means

signs you're living beyond your meansBankruptcy is more common than most people realize… In today’s world, it’s far too easy to accumulate overwhelming debt and lose control. While an unexpected bump in the road (like an automobile accident or loss of a job) can lead to a bankruptcy situation, many times, people start down the road to bankruptcy because they are simply living beyond their means.

If you’re spending more money than you are making, you are living beyond your means. Society pushes for instant gratification and a “you only live once” mentality – but that’s not a great strategy for handling your debts.

It does not take much to start living beyond your means, and many times, it’s the beginning of a downward spiral that cannot be stopped. Once the debt starts to multiply, it is harder and harder to find your way out of the difficult situation you’ve put yourself in.

(more…)

By |2024-05-01T11:58:59-05:00September 28th, 2023|Bankruptcy|

Why do people delay filing for bankruptcy?

couple stressed out over bills and delaying bankruptcyWhether we are in a recession or not, it is not easy to earn enough to live comfortably in today’s world. You would be surprised to learn how many Dallas-area residents struggle on a monthly basis to simply make ends meed. Adding children or additional vehicle payments to the mix make a difficult situation even tougher. All it takes is one unexpected expense to send finances (and debt) spinning out of control.

Sure, many families put money aside for unexpected expenses, they rarely have enough to cover for whatever might happen. Whether it’s an accident, the sudden loss of a job, an illness, or even a natural disaster, it does not take much to deplete any savings. Before long at all, bills start to pile up and debt starts to grow to uncontrollable levels. (more…)

How old do you have to be to file for bankruptcy in Texas?

Dallas bankruptcy attorneyWe are seeing an increasing number of younger clients come in for free consultations and ask if they are old enough to file for bankruptcy. While there are government-set age limits for driving, voting, and drinking, you may be surprised to learn that there is no age restriction for bankruptcy.

In fact, the absence of an age limit for bankruptcy made the news back in 1998 when a 10-year-old in Maryland filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Yes, you read that correctly – a 10-year-old filed for bankruptcy.
(more…)

By |2023-07-31T09:04:19-05:00July 28th, 2023|Bankruptcy, Debt, Money Management, Texas Bankruptcy|

Busting 5 common bankruptcy myths

bankruptcy mythsWhen potential clients call us, they are usually stressed and scared. When you are drowning in uncontrollable debt, and you’re in danger of losing your car or your house, being afraid is understandable.

When you’re scared, believing just about anything you hear is easy. There are many myths and misconceptions about bankruptcy floating around, so we thought it would be helpful to dispel some of the more common myths. So without further ado, here is the truth behind the five most common myths about bankruptcy:

1) Only bad people file for bankruptcy

Bad things happen to good people all the time. It does not take much to start a downward spiral of debt – a sudden job loss, a salary reduction, or an accident with huge medical bills might be all it takes to cause your debts to spiral out of control. Bankruptcy laws were created to give good people a fresh start – you are definitely not alone! (more…)

By |2023-12-01T14:52:25-06:00June 29th, 2023|Bankruptcy|

Your Credit Score: What the Number Really Means (and What It Doesn’t)

Everyone knows that their credit score is important – but most Americans don’t understand how the scores are assessed or affected by their actions. Ideally, you want a credit score in the 700-800 range, but what does that really mean – and how do you get there?

Your credit score is calculated by one of the credit reporting agencies – EquiFax, Experian, and TransUnion. These agencies assign your credit score based on current and historical factors, and the score is an assessment of how likely it is that you’ll repay any debts that you accrue. The majority of the score is related to your past payment history and your current level of debt.

Lenders use your credit score to determine how risky it would be to lend you money. With higher credit scores, your loan terms and interest rates will be much better. If you have a lower score, you’ll be assigned a higher interest rate, since the risk is greater for the lender. If your score is low enough, you may not even be approved for the loan or credit card. (more…)

By |2023-06-01T09:51:08-05:00May 25th, 2023|Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Myths, Financial, Personal Finance|

Bankruptcy Do’s and Don’ts

bankruptcy tips for Dallas residentsIf you’re on our site, you’re either considering bankruptcy or in the process of filing. Don’t be intimidated – we help tons of Dallas-Fort Worth area families just like you with bankruptcy cases every year. It’s an unfortunate truth of life – sometimes bad things happen to good people.

Sometimes, all it takes is one financial bump in the road – an unexpected job loss, a salary reduction, or a large medical expense – and you’ll be forced to file for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy laws were put in place for just this reason… Everyone deserves a fresh start.

You’ll definitely want to consult with your bankruptcy attorney once you’ve decided to file, but these are a few guidelines that can help you prepare for your bankruptcy. We’ve shared several tips to help you get ready to file, so you’ll have a better understanding when you discuss your situation with your attorney.

Things to do before filing for bankruptcy

1. Take a deep breath and try to relax. Filing for bankruptcy is a scary process, and most people are incredibly stressed out from the overwhelming debt and relentless calls from debt collectors. Your bankruptcy attorney is there to help you through the process. They’ll help explain the process so you understand what’s happening and what’s coming in the future. Take a deep breath and think about how much better your life will be once you have a clean slate. (more…)

By |2023-05-01T11:02:43-05:00April 20th, 2023|Bankruptcy|

US Credit Card Debt Hits All-Time High – What Does That Mean For You?

Credit card debt in the United States hit a record high at the end of 2022, topping out at almost $1 trillion for the first time ever. During the last quarter of the year, delinquencies were growing at a faster and faster rate. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released data that showed overall balances growing by $61 billion over the last three months of 2022 – with a grand total of $986 billion for Q4. This was the largest increase over a single quarter since the bank started tracking changes in 1999. (more…)

By |2023-12-01T14:54:35-06:00March 20th, 2023|Bankruptcy, Debt, Financial, Personal Finance|

Struggling with debt? Here’s how to avoid bankruptcy

avoid-bankruptcy
Debt is pretty much a fact of life for most Americans, especially in today’s post-COVID landscape. Most families do not teach their children how to responsibly manage money, which leads to problems down the road. The majority of today’s workforce has learned money management through trial and lots of error.

It is far too easy to get overextended on your finances, and most people do not realize that they are in trouble until it’s almost too late. When you are already stretching your finances to the limit, any unexpected bump can send you down the road to bankruptcy. (more…)

By |2023-03-20T14:42:15-05:00September 29th, 2022|Bankruptcy, Debt, Personal Finance|

Should I file bankruptcy?

should i file bankruptcyWe have helped many hundreds of Dallas-area residents with their bankruptcy cases over the years, and the most common question we hear first is “Should I file bankruptcy?”

When you are drowning in uncontrollable debt, you are inevitably stressed and scared – and bankruptcy seems like a huge step to take. That is why we offer free consultations. We want to help explain every step of the process and all possible outcomes, so you will be able to make the right decision for your situation.

Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of bankruptcy and ways to decide when bankruptcy might be the right decision for you.

What exactly is bankrtupcy?

The federal government established bankruptcy laws to allow individuals and businesses a way to get relief from debts that they are unable to pay back, in order to get a fresh start. The laws were created so that honest people who had unfortunate circumstances could get a clean slate and start over. (more…)

By |2022-09-01T09:07:21-05:00August 30th, 2022|Bankruptcy|

Recession 2022 – is it coming, and what does it mean?

The Great Recession hit America hard from December of 2007 to the middle of 2009, millions of US residents lost their livelihoods and homes. It was the worst economic downturn since the 1930s and the Great Depression, and it took almost a decade for the labor market to fully recover.

There are very few people still alive who remember the Great Depression, so the recession in 2008 is the only true recession that most Americans have experienced. Sure, we hit a downturn when COVID restrictions locked everything down in 2020, but that was not a true recession.

Because most people have only experienced the recession of 2008, all of the predictions of a “major” recession in 2022 have most of the population freaking out – but recessions are a perfectly normal part of business cycles. Many economists agree that a worst-case scenario is not likely in 2022. (more…)

By |2022-08-01T11:24:58-05:00August 1st, 2022|Bankruptcy, Debt, Financial|
Go to Top