This generation has turned into a microwave society. People want things done quickly, and repairing your credit is no exception. People get hyped up by guaranteed claims of repairing credit fast and easy. The truth is that is not the case. There are places called credit repair clinics that claim to be able to remove all negative information from your credit report. They also claim that your can credit can be wiped clean. Of course, there is a catch. You will have to pay a fee and it’s usually in the hundreds of dollars for their “services”.

Credit repair clinics are nothing more than a sham. You shouldn’t fall for them because they have no legal right to delete, repair or adjust your credit report. The onl

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As you might imagine, a debt consolidation lawyer like me who offers bankruptcy information in Indiana needs to read a lot, and I certainly do.  In addition to newspapers, magazines, and professional journals on financial planning and tax law, I need to know what decisions are being handed down in bankruptcy courts in Indiana and other states.  That helps me stay up-to-date, so I can help my clients file individual bankruptcy in Indiana.

Whenever a personal bankruptcy in Indiana happens at or near the same time as a divorce, things can quickly become even more complicated.  Now we’re dealing with two sets of laws: the new bankruptcy laws of Indiana, and Indiana divorce law.  A recent court case from Pennsylvania serves as a good example of what can happen when divorce and bankruptcy laws mix:

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Michael Vick is a nationally known name, a former (and some say still) football hero. As a longtime Indianapolis bankruptcy attorney, I’ve helped more than 30,000 debtors file personal bankruptcy in Indiana, in some cases coupled with small business bankruptcy in Indiana.  But all the cases handled through the four Zuckerberg bankruptcy law offices involve the debts of ordinary working people, not celebrities.

My reason for featuring, just two years ago, the story of Michael Vick filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy was to illustrate the principles underlying the bankruptcy process.

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There are many misconceptions about the possibility of obtaining credit after bankruptcy.  The truth is that improving your credit score takes time and vigilance.  If you are willing to commit your attention to rebuilding your credit, your score will improve dramatically and quickly by following three easy steps. 

First, immediately after your case closes (usually soon after you receive your discharge), obtain your credit reports from the three largest credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.  You can obtain an absolutely free credit report from each of these companies by visiting this site: https://www.annualcreditreport.com 

Review your credit reports for errors.  All debts discharged by your bankruptcy should be listed as “Discharged in Bankruptcy” with a “Zero Balance.” There should be no activity reported on these accounts after the date you file bankruptcy.  Each credit bureau is required to provide assistance in correcting errors on your credit report.  Once the credit bureau has corrected the erroneous information it will send you an updated report. 

Second, obtain new credit.  Many debtors are reluctant to take this step either out of fear of rejection or fear of abusing available credit.  The only way to improve your credit score is to demonstrate a responsible use of credit over time.  Approximately 1/3 of your score is based on your payment history; 1/3 is your available credit; and 1/3 is various items like types of credit and length of credit history. Obtaining new credi

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