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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


PR Log (Press Release) – Feb 09, 2010 – Angel Van Wieren, daughter-in-law of famous former announcer for the Atlanta Braves, Pete Van Wieren, announces the opening of Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC, specializing in Atlanta Bankruptcy Law. Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC began operations in Atlanta in the Fall of 2009, specializing in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy matters.

Angel has experience in successfully representing small business owners, single mothers, college students, real estate investors and the elderly in bankruptcy matters. She regularly attends continuing education classes to ensure she is current on the most recent developments in consumer bankruptcy law and Atlanta bankruptcy cases.

Angel grew up in Sarasota, Florida and moved to Atlanta in 2003. She graduated from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School (J.D., 2008), Florida Gulf Coast University (B.S. C.L.S., 2000), and Manatee Community College (A.A. Pre-Med., 1998). Angel maintained full-time or part-time employment during her college studies, and now lives in Atlanta with her husband, Jon Van Wieren.

During law school, Angel interned with the Federal Public Defender, and the Honorable Judge Brenda Cole, State Court of Fulton County. In addition, she mentored first year law school students with legal research and writing as a Dean's Fellow, and was a research assistant to Professor Jeffrey Van Detta on Labor and Employment issues.

Angel was recognized by Atlanta's John Marshall School for her Outstanding Service to College and Community. Angel was recognized by the Atlanta Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section as an Outstanding Labor and Employment Law Student of the Year. Angel was also recognized by Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL) as an Outstanding Law Student of the Year, and with the Visionary Award.

Angel is a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, and National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

For more information about Atlanta bankruptcy or Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC and their services, visit http://www.vanwierenlaw.com/ or call 404.680.7010.

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Van Wieren Law specializes in Chapter 7 & Chapter 13 bankruptcy law for clients in the Atlanta metro area. They have successfully represented small business owners, single mothers, college students, real estate investors and the elderly regarding bankruptcy matters. Angel Van Wieren offers her clients respect and unparalleled compassion, while working hard on their behalf to represent them in bankruptcy matters. For more information about Atlanta bankruptcy or Van Wieren Law Firm , LLC and their services, visit www.vanwierenlaw.com or call 404.680.7010

http://prlog.org/10526416

What If I Forgot To List A Creditor In My Bankruptcy Petition?

As part of supplying the necessary documents to your bankruptcy attorney in Atlanta before your case is filed, you will be asked to get a copy of your credit reports.  (We always suggest that you try to obtain free credit reports from http://www.annualcreditreport.com/)  You have an obligation to the Bankruptcy Court to disclose all of your debts in your petition, regardless of whether you want to continue to pay a debt after filing (ex: house or car payment).

It is crucial to critic your credit reports for accuracy before supplying them to your bankruptcy attorney.  Did you know that each credit report may not list same debts?  The reason is because a creditor pays a credit reporting agency (Equifax, Experian, Transunion) to list a debt on the report.  Every creditor may not pay each reporting agency to list a debt.

If one of your creditors slips through the crack, and is not disclosed in your petition you can add that debt to your petition provided that the debt was incurred before your case was filed with the Bankruptcy Court.  As you can expect, the Court charges a fee to add the creditor, and your bankruptcy attorney in Atlanta will also likely charge a fee.  Therefore, it is in your best interest to ensure all your debts are disclosed in the petition before it is filed with the Bankruptcy Court.

Please give me a call if you would like to schedule a FREE consultation (404) 680-7010.

Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC - your Atlanta bankruptcy attorney.
http://www.metroatlantabankruptcy.com/

I Need Help But I Don't Want To Hurt My Credit Score.

Let's put things into perspective.  Your credit score is a number that tells your creditors whether you are in a position to incur new debt based on the amount of debt you have outstanding, among other factors.  If you don't want to incur new debt, then why are you so hung up on your credit score?

To be blunt, your credit score is going to take a serious hit after you file for bankruptcy protection.  OK, so you won't be able to incur new debt immediately (which actually isn't a completely true statement, more on that later in another posting), but you will be out of debt, your check will no longer be garnished, all of which means you have financial freedom!  The financial freedom to save money, and buy things that you want with cash instead of on credit.  Shhhh, the credit reporting agencies will not be happy to hear that!

You are reading this because you are dealing with financial hardships.  Let's fix those problems and ignore the social mantra, "what about my credit score?"

Call me today to schedule a FREE consultation. (404) 680-7010

Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC - Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyer
http://www.metroatlantabankruptcy.com/

Can I Keep My Tax Refund If I File For Bankruptcy Protection?

It's that time of the year when people use their tax refunds to file for bankruptcy protection, or to get ahead after their bankruptcy case has been discharged.

Whether you can keep your tax refund depends on questions that you should be prepared to answer before your case is filed with the bankruptcy court in Atlanta.

WHEN DID YOU RECEIVE THE REFUND?

CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY

If you received the refund before your case was filed, then use the refund to pay your normal monthly expenses and your bankruptcy attorney. If any portion of your tax refund remains after you pay those expenses, see the discussion below about exemptions.

CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY

If you received your refund before your case was filed, you should be able to keep the refund. However, if you received the refund after your case was filed the IRS will likely send that refund to your Chapter 13 Trustee. The Chapter 13 Trustee will then apply that refund to your case.

HOW MUCH IS THE REFUND?

CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY

During the preparation of your bankruptcy petition, you will itemize all of your personal property that has value. Each piece of your property is then protected with "exemptions." The available exemptions are limited. For example, the motorized vehicle exemption in Georgia is $3,500 for a single filer. What happens if you have more than $3,500 of equity in your motorized vehicle? We would use the "wild card exemption," which is $5,600 for a single filer. There is no specific exemption for a tax refund, so we would use the wild card exemption to protect your refund. If your refund is less than $5,600, then the refund should be protected from the Court's control. If your refund is above $5,600 the Chapter 7 Trustee will likely take your refund for the benefit of your creditors. As you can imagine, there are many exceptions and caveats to this general explanation. Contact us for more information.

CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY

If you received your refund after your case was filed, your refund will go directly to the Chapter 13 Trustee.

You deserve a fresh start! Use your tax refund to make 2010 a debt free year! Call Angel today for a FREE consultation (404) 680-7010.

Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC - Atlanta Bankruptcy
http://www.metroatlantabankruptcy.com/

Can I Still Get Student Loans?

If you are receiving, or expect to receive, student loans from the Federal Government, such as Stafford Loans, then bankruptcy should not affect your ability to receive loans. One result of filing for bankruptcy protection may be that you have to complete another FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. You should get in touch with your financial aid counselor at your school to determine what steps may be necessary to continue to receive Federal Government loans after you file.

If you are receiving, or expect to receive, credit based student loans, such as Grad Plus Loans, then you will likley need a co-signer to receive future loans. The reason for this extra requirement is because your filing will be reflected on your credit reports.

Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC - Atlanta Bankruptcy
www.metroatlantabankruptcy.com

Where Is The Bankruptcy Court Located In Atlanta?

If your bankruptcy case is filed in Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, or Rockdale County, your 341 Meeting of Creditors Hearing ("Hearing") will take place in the Richard B. Russell Federal Building located 75 Spring St., SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 in downtown Atlanta. All Hearings are conducted on the third floor of the Courthouse. (Please note that construction will be taking place on the third floor starting in February 2010. During the construction, all Hearings will be conducted on the Plaza Level (Spring Street level entrance).)

DIRECTIONS TO RICHARD B. RUSSELL FEDERAL BUILDING AND COURTHOUSE


HEARING ROOMS
Currently, there are three Hearing rooms for Chapter 7 cases and one Hearing room for Chapter 13 cases. Your Hearing room is assigned at the time your case is filed and is disclosed on the Notice the Court sent to you, and in the email you received from Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC shortly after your case was filed. Inside the Hearing room there is a table for the Trustee and approximately 10-15 chairs for you to wait until your case is called. The Hearing rooms are not private, but are normally filled with people waiting for their case to be called by the Trustee. When your case is called, we move to the table where the Trustee is seated.

For more information about what questions to expect from the Chapter 7 Trustee in Atlanta, follow this link: http://vanwierenlaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/questions-you-should-expect-from.html

Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC - Atlanta bankruptcy.
www.metroatlantabankruptcy.com
P: (404) 680-7010

How Do I Value My Personal Property?

During the preparation of your bankruptcy petition, you will be required to value your personal property, including clothing, household goods, hobby equipment, books, computer equipment, among other personal property. The custom in valuing your personal property is to use garage sale value or pawn shop value.

The custom for valuing your clothing is garage sale value. For example, if you put all of your clothing outside on a Saturday morning, how much would you get for all of it during a garage sale? That is the value you use on Schedule B of your bankruptcy petition.

The custom for valuing your jewelry is pawn shop value. For example, if you take all of your jewelry to the local pawn shop, how much cash will you walk out of the store with? That is the value you use on Schedule B of your bankruptcy petition.

Once the value of the property is disclosed, we will use the allowable exemptions under Georgia law to protect as much of the property as possible. In most situations, your clothing, household goods, hobby equipment, books, computer equipment, among other personal property will be exempt, or protected from court liquidation.

Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC - Atlanta Bankruptcy
www.metroatlantabankruptcy.com
P: (404) 680-7010

What Debts Can I Exclude From My Filing?

The short answer is none.

When we attend your 341 Meeting Of Creditors Hearing in downtown Atlanta, the bankruptcy Trustee will ask you under oath if all of your debts were included in your bankruptcy petition.

Just because a debt is included in your petition does not mean you cannot continue to pay on that debt. For example, if you have an auto loan, that creditor must be included in your petition. The disclosure of the debt does not mean you cannot keep the car. If you continue to make timely monthly payments, the creditor likely will continue to recognize the pre-filing contract and allow you to keep the car. This is likely the same result with a mortgage loan.

In summary, all of your debts must be included in your bankruptcy petition before it is filed in the Northern District of Georgia, including student loans, auto loans, mortgage loans, medical bills, and any other debts you are legally obligated to pay.

Please call us today to schedule a free consultation (404) 680-7010.

Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC - Atlanta Bankruptcy
www.metroatlantabankruptcy.com

Bankrupty and Holiday Credit Card Spending

If you are considering filing for bankruptcy protection, here are some considerations to think about before you use your credit cards to fund your holiday spending.

Credit card charges made before filing for bankruptcy protection may raise a presumption of fraud. Your creditors may object to the discharge of those credit card charges. If a creditor does successfully object, those charges will survive your bankruptcy discharge and you will be responsible for that debt.

Any cash advances or use of credit card convenience checks made before filing for bankruptcy protection may also raise a presumption of fraud. Your creditor(s) also have the right to object to the discharge of these types of debt.

The lesson here is if you are planning to file for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, stop using your credit cards now. If you are suddenly facing the prospect of bankruptcy, and have made recent credit card charges or cash advances, all hope is not lost. It just means you need to develop a strategy with an experienced bankruptcy attorney.

Schedule a free consultation today to develop a strategy to deal with these types of scenarios. (404) 680-7010

Van Wieren Law Firm, LLC - Atlanta Bankruptcy
www.metroatlantabankruptcy.com