Foreclosure Fraud: 10 Fake Petitions and a Dead Guy

Quick Answer: Four individuals in Georgia filed fake bankruptcy petitions using a dead person’s identity to delay foreclosure proceedings, with Emanuel Clark, Charles Freeman Jr., Patrick Iverson, and Jacquelyn Duffy submitting four separate fraudulent filings. The U.S. Trustee Program prosecuted the case after discovering the petitions were filed in the name of someone who had …

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Bankruptcy Court: What the Judge Will Ask You

Quick Answer: In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, most filers never see a judge but instead attend a “341 Meeting of Creditors” where a bankruptcy trustee questions them under oath about their petition’s accuracy and completeness. The trustee’s role is to verify proper disclosure of all required information, and creditors rarely appear at these meetings.“Dear Steve,I’m nervous …

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Debt Relief Orders: What They Mean and What to Do

Quick Answer: Debt Relief Orders are a UK tool that allows consumers with under £15,000 in unsecured debt and no assets to eliminate debts through a simplified online process via credit counselors. The debts become uncollectable immediately, with final discharge granted after one year, avoiding traditional bankruptcy court procedures.An interesting new development in the UK …

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Value City Furniture: Is It Gone for Good?

Quick Answer: Yes, Value City Furniture is gone for good after filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy and liquidating all 66 remaining stores. The discount retailer, founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1917, cited declining consumer spending, tighter credit markets, and inability to stock merchandise profitably.Our business strategy is quite simple. We fill our stores with a wide …

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