Blog | [[title]]

Can You File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy More Than Once?

2026-07-09 00:00:00

You can file Chapter 7 bankruptcy more than once, but there are rules about how long you have to wait between filings. Life does not always go according to plan, and financial hardship can strike more than once. If you went through bankruptcy in the past and are now facing serious debt again, you may still have options available to you in 2026. A Rockville, MD bankruptcy lawyer can review your situation and help you figure out the best path forward given your specific circumstances.

How Long Do You Have to Wait to File Chapter 7 for a Second Time?

Under 11 U.S.C. Section 727(a)(8), you cannot receive a Chapter 7 discharge if you received a discharge in a prior Chapter 7 case filed within the last eight years. The eight-year clock starts from the date your previous Chapter 7 case was filed, not the date it was discharged or closed.

Should a Struggling Small Business Close or File Bankruptcy?

2026-06-14 00:00:00

If your small business is struggling, closing down is not your only option. Bankruptcy is a legal tool that may allow a business to reorganize its debt, continue operating, or wind down in an orderly manner. Whether closing or filing bankruptcy makes more sense depends on your specific situation, how much debt you have, whether the business is still generating income, and what your personal financial exposure looks like. This is not a decision to make quickly or alone. If your business needs financial assistance in 2026, our Prince George's County bankruptcy lawyer can help.

What Happens if You Close a Business Without Addressing Debt?

If your business has personal guarantees on loans or leases, creditors can still come after you personally, even after the business shuts down. Closing does not make debt disappear. It just stops the income that was helping you pay it.

What Debts Must Be Paid in Full During Chapter 13?

2026-05-15 00:00:00

In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, not all debts are treated the same way. Some debts must be paid in full through your repayment plan. Others can be reduced or paid only partially. Understanding which debts fall into which category is one of the most important parts of building a Chapter 13 plan that actually works for your situation.

If you are planning to file a Chapter 13 in 2026, a Montgomery County bankruptcy lawyer can help you understand exactly what you owe, how it will be handled, and how to move forward with a plan that protects what matters most to you.

How Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Work?

Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to keep your assets while repaying your debts over a three to five-year period through a court-approved repayment plan. Unlike Chapter 7, which wipes out eligible debts quickly, Chapter 13 is a structured repayment process. The amount you pay each month depends on your income, your expenses, and the types of debts you owe.

How the Bankruptcy Means Test Determines Chapter 7 Eligibility

2026-04-14 00:00:00

The bankruptcy means test is what decides if you are eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The goal is to make sure Chapter 7 is available to people who genuinely can't repay their debts, not those who could manage a payment plan under Chapter 13.

If you're considering bankruptcy in 2026, understanding the means test is the right first step. Our Hyattsville, MD bankruptcy lawyer can walk you through exactly where you stand.

What Is the Bankruptcy Means Test?

The bankruptcy means test was codified in the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA) to prevent higher-income filers from using Chapter 7 to wipe out debts they could realistically pay back. Before BAPCPA, almost anyone could file for Chapter 7. Now, your income and expenses have to meet specific criteria.

How are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies different?

2026-03-13 12:16:19

If you're struggling with debt and wondering whether bankruptcy might help, you've probably heard of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. These are the two most common types of personal bankruptcy, but they work very differently. Choosing the wrong one can cost you time, money, and in some cases, your home.

According to the most recent report from the U.S. Courts, 59 percent of consumer bankruptcy cases were filed under Chapter 7 and 41 percent under Chapter 13, showing that both options are widely used. Before you file in 2026, find out how our Upper Marlboro, MD bankruptcy lawyer can help you figure out which path makes the most sense for you.

What Winning a Student Loan Discharge Case Actually Looks Like

2026-02-11 00:00:00

Student loan debt follows most people through bankruptcy, while credit card balances, medical bills, and personal loans get wiped out. As a result, most people believe bankruptcy cannot help with student loans at all. That is not entirely true. You can discharge student loans in bankruptcy, but you must prove something called "undue hardship.".

Winning a student loan discharge case is difficult but not impossible. In 2026, more bankruptcy attorneys are taking on these cases as student debt continues to crush borrowers who have no realistic way to repay their loans. Success requires strong evidence, careful preparation, and an understanding of exactly what courts look for when deciding these cases.

If you have been struggling with student loan debt for years with no end in sight, understanding what a successful discharge case looks like can help you decide whether pursuing this option makes sense for your situation. Our Bowie, MD consumer bankruptcy attorney can give you more information.

How Does a Cramdown Work in Bankruptcy?

2026-01-13 00:00:00

If you owe more on your car than it is worth, bankruptcy may offer a solution called a cramdown. A cramdown allows you to reduce what you owe on certain loans to match the actual value of the property. This powerful tool can save you thousands of dollars and make your monthly payments much more affordable.

Understanding how cramdowns work can help you decide whether Chapter 13 bankruptcy is right for you in 2026. Our Montgomery County consumer bankruptcy attorney has more than 20 years of experience helping people reduce their debt and get a fresh start. Call us today.

What Is a Cramdown in Bankruptcy?

A cramdown is a legal process available in Chapter 13 bankruptcy that lets you reduce the principal balance on certain secured debts. A secured debt is a loan where the lender has a lien on specific property, like a car loan or furniture financing. If you stop paying, the lender can repossess that property.

How Chapter 7 Could Affect Maryland Professional Licenses

2025-12-17 00:00:00

When you are in the midst of filing for bankruptcy, how it could affect your professional credentials may be one thing you did not consider. Many licensing boards, especially those for healthcare workers, real estate agents, contractors, and financial professionals, require self-reporting of bankruptcy and may investigate any type of conduct that leads to insolvency.

While filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy can stop wage garnishments and help you get a fresh financial start, you could be shocked and dismayed to receive a notice from your licensing board weeks later demanding documents, financial explanations, or notice of compliance. Even worse, a Chapter 7 filing can delay renewal and trigger disciplinary action.

It is crucial that you fully understand the potential risks to your professional license. A knowledgeable Greenbelt, MD bankruptcy lawyer can help you determine whether bankruptcy will affect your professional license before you file.

What Income Is Exempt in a Maryland Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

2025-11-14 00:00:00

When a person files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Maryland, one of the biggest fears is often the fear of losing everything – including the income relied on to survive. Fortunately, bankruptcy law does not take into account every source of income. Both federal and Maryland exemption laws protect specific types of earnings and benefits from being seized by the bankruptcy trustee.

If you are wondering whether all your income will be taken in bankruptcy, it can be beneficial to speak to a knowledgeable Greenbelt, MD Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney. Your attorney can help you determine whether filing for Chapter 7 is correct for you.

Understanding Income in a Maryland Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Case

Those who file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy must pass a means test in Maryland. This is used to determine whether the debtor’s income is low enough to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, following a two-step process. The initial step requires the calculation of current monthly income (CMI) by averaging all sources of your gross income over the six months prior to filing.

Maryland’s "Tools of the Trade" Rule for Gig Workers

2025-10-15 00:00:00

Many Marylanders filing for bankruptcy today are not nine-to-fivers, factory workers, or farmers. This new group of workers works in the gig economy, driving for Uber, writing, editing, or creating websites from laptops at home, delivering DoorDash food orders, or managing any number of online side businesses.

Some use gig work as a supplement to their "regular" income, while others depend on this type of work to fully support them. Yet when these debtors file for bankruptcy, they depend on the same basic protections that once applied only to carpenters and tradesmen. This is the "Tools of the Trade" exemption under Maryland Code Section 11-504(b)(1).

In this modern era of remote work, self-employment, gig work, and digital hustles, what counts as "tools of the trade" is changing quickly, and Maryland courts are beginning to take notice. If you are a gig worker considering bankruptcy, you must speak with an experienced Silver Spring, MD consumer bankruptcy attorney.