Brandon, Fla. – Osenton Law Offices offers the Brandon and Tampa community with a free, informational bankruptcy seminar. The next seminar is on June 9 at 6 p.m. Many individuals and families need help to eliminate debt, maintain their home and savings, and halt foreclosure. The hour-long seminar will also cover alternatives to bankruptcy.

Reginald Osenton, the Brandon bankruptcy attorney at Osenton Law Offices, will go over the difference between the two different versions of bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.

“The seminars allow you to ask any question you have about bankruptcy and you can remain anonymous,” said Osenton, who has handled hundreds of bankruptcies for clients. “We know many people need an advocate on their side during a stressful time.”

With more than two decades of experience, Reginald Osenton knows how to help his clients preserve their integrity and create a better financial future. Every case gets personalized attention and he will determine what type of bankruptcy is most effective given a person’s situation. Debt is completely eliminated in Chapter 7, but for individuals whose income is too high to qualify, Chapter 13 can be the route to slash debt over time.

Osenton Law Offices is also skilled in foreclosure defense. When a mortgage lender is trying to repossess a client’s home, Osenton will counsel on how to keep the property in that individual’s name and minimize any deficiency that a lender might want to put on an individual’s credit.

“The seminars help people learn about their rights and how they can move forward with their finances and life,” Osenton said.

Reginald Osenton practices law in Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and before the Internal Revenue Service. Osenton Law Offices is also accomplished in probate, estate and trust planning, business, real estate, and taxation law.

For more information on the Osenton Law Offices Bankruptcy Seminar, call 813-654-5777 or email: info@brandonlawoffice.com as space is limited.

http://www.brandonlawoffice.com

Osenton Law Offices, P.A.
500 Lithia Pinecrest Road
Brandon, Florida 33511
(813) 654-5777

Brandon, Fla. – Osenton Law Offices is continuing to provide the community with a sought-after bankruptcy seminar. The next seminars are on April 28 and May 10 at 6 p.m., as part of the Osenton Law Offices Seminar Series. Many Brandon and Tampa area individuals and families need help to slash debt, keep their home and assets and stop the foreclosure process. Alternatives to bankruptcy will also be discussed at the hour-long seminar.

Osenton Law Offices started giving the free bankruptcy seminars in 2009. Given the success of the seminars, the firm recently decided to expand the program to other legal areas. For example, in June Brandon family law attorney Laurel Tesmer, who also practices with the firm, will give a free seminar on divorce, child custody, and other family law issues.

Reginald Osenton, the senior bankruptcy attorney at Osenton Law Offices, has handled hundreds of bankruptcy cases and will go over the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. “The seminars are free, and you can remain anonymous as you ask questions about all the factors of bankruptcy,” Osenton said. “We know many people need expert counsel during these tough times.”

Brandon bankruptcy attorney Osenton has more than 20 years of experience and gives every bankruptcy case personalized attention to efficiently and effectively help his clients have a fresh start toward a better financial future. Most clients prefer to file Chapter 7 so that monthly payments to a trustee are avoided and debt is wiped away. However, many clients are either forced under the law or choose to file Chapter 13. The top reasons that some clients file Chapter 13 are: their income is too high to qualify for Chapter 7, particular assets cannot be exempted, and the client is upside down on a first mortgage and can request the second mortgage to be dissolved.

Other individuals have dire needs for foreclosure defense expertise. As a mortgage lender is fighting to repossess a client’s property, Osenton Law Offices will push to keep the property in the individual’s name and minimize any deficiency that the lender might want to hit the client and their credit with. Because Florida is a judicial foreclosure state, the foreclosure goes through the litigation process. As the firm’s lead litigator, Brandon foreclosure attorney Laurel Tesmer handles many foreclosure defense cases.

“Every case is unique, so these seminars are a good way to learn about bankruptcy and how to uphold your rights,” said Osenton.

O. Reginald Osenton practices law in Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and before the Internal Revenue Service. Beyond bankruptcy, he is accomplished in probate, estate and trust, business, real estate, and taxation law.

For more information on the Osenton Law Offices Seminar Series and to sign up for the Bankruptcy Seminar, call 813-654-5777 or email: info@brandonlawoffice.com as space is limited.

http://www.brandonlawoffice.com

Osenton Law Offices, P.A.
500 Lithia Pinecrest Road
Brandon, Florida 33511
(813) 654-5777

To learn more visit, http://www.brandonlawoffice.com.

Most people think about what will happen to their bank accounts, 401Ks, home, and their wedding rings when they pass away.

Gone are the days of keeping mementos in scrapbooks, photo albums, and boxes full of handwritten letters. After all the hours spent creating a Facebook profile and posts or eBay store, have you even thought about what will happen to your online identity in the afterlife? In our internet-overload world, imagine what could happen to your Facebook, Gmail, PayPal, iTunes, and many other accounts. Without proper estate planning, these accounts and even an individual’s finances could be in jeopardy.

People with access or malicious hackers could tap into your accounts and abuse or drain the debit or credit cards associated with them. Many heirs might not even think of this facet of estate planning in the aftermath of a loved one’s death. By the time the perpetrator is discovered it could be too late.

Finding an experienced estate planning attorney in your local area is a big plus. As physical assets and online ones change or accumulate, a good attorney can help an individual prepare for the distribution of assets and who should access chosen websites. Attorneys stay up to date with online tools to assist with convenient password transfers that a loved one wants to leave to a spouse, child, friend, or colleague. This way, digital assets are as safeguarded as life insurance policies, safety deposit boxes, and wills.

Many people will want to be remembered in special ways, so taking the time to think how you want to leave your Facebook, LinkedIn, Flickr, Twitter, or even a blog will benefit you and your family in the event of your death. And what if you had an active eBay, iTunes, YouTube, or PayPal linked site? Individuals would not want their monies, clientele, or reputation to be harmed. Proper planning for every facet of your online presence will ensure your legacy and financial security continues on with the right individual at the helm.

Death is hardly a fun subject to talk about, but in a recent New York Times article, it was estimated that 375,000 U.S. Facebook users die every year. Facebook touts 500 million people use the site worldwide, so this estimate is probably low, but it highlights the growing importance of how your digital assets are handled once you have died. Forward-thinking estate planning attorneys and online tools will have an individual name a digital executor that will receive all directions for what to do with online accounts. This even includes deleting certain accounts one might not want to linger after death.

Most websites, like Facebook and Gmail, will want a copy of a death certificate, proof of power of attorney, and will do their own verifications to ensure the account should be turned to memorial mode or all emails turned over to a designated individual. With so many social networking and online user-created sites, an individual’s identity and wishes for how it should be preserved in the digital age will be a key factor in estate planning for many years to come.

In Florida, for example, Tampa estate planning attorney Reginald Osenton helps clients with every facet of a modern estate plan to secure an individual and family’s health and happiness. He has more than 20 years of experience counseling clients at Osenton Law Offices regarding estate plans to make their wishes known and establish directives for their financial, personal, and health care decisions.

O. Reginald (“Reggie”) Osenton is the Owner and President of Osenton Law Offices, P.A. If you need a Brandon bankruptcy lawyer, Tampa bankruptcy lawyer, or Tampa bankruptcy attorney, call 813.654.5777 or visit Brandonlawoffice.com.

Brandon, Fla. – When a spousal bankruptcy adds another layer of difficulty to an upcoming divorce, it is best to get an experienced lawyer involved. If only one spouse declares bankruptcy it must be very clear who is responsible for which finances. Spouses who have most of the debts in his or her name can file more easily than if debts are in both names.

It is important to clearly know what belongs to each spouse and what is considered marital property. The divorce proceedings will outline which spouse is responsible for each asset, debt, bill and property. Many individuals have found that if they do not declare bankruptcy with their spouse, they could be responsible for some of these bills. And if any inheritances are expected in the near future, these must be factored into the bankruptcy.

“Bankruptcy can give the individuals a fresh start financially,” said Laurel Tesmer, Brandon bankruptcy and family law attorney. “Doing a bankruptcy before a divorce can make the process smoother and less expensive.”

Bankruptcy should be completed before a divorce and joint credit cards, homes and mortgages, and asset exemptions do increase by filing together. Bankruptcy will eliminate loans that are a big burden, such as car loans or home mortgages in real estate markets that are underwater.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy will eliminate unsecured debt in about 90 days and resolve debt issues. To qualify for Chapter 7, individuals must show they cannot make even partial repayments to creditors. On the other hand, Chapter 13 bankruptcy will make both spouses responsible for the repayment plan for a period of three to five years. It can prevent the division of assets some spouses would want by selling them.

Overall, a bankruptcy before the divorce can prevent costly and stressful delays. It is important to keep in mind that filing a bankruptcy before a divorce can have negative effects as well There is the potential that one spouse, if filing after the divorce, could meet the income requirements to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy which does not require a repayment plan. If both spouses are to file together then both incomes are counted and this often puts them into a joint Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Additionally spouses will have to consider that in filing a joint Chapter 13 bankruptcy, they will be committing to a joint Chapter 13 payment plan for the next five years.

Whichever version of bankruptcy is filed will grant an automatic stay that will guard against any collection activity, including harassing calls from collection companies, garnishments and foreclosures. An individual’s credit score will drop but with future years of being able to not have a mountain of debt and more savings can increase a credit score after bankruptcy. It is paramount to pay all bills on time after a bankruptcy and open up secured credit lines over time to re-establish credit.

“We are ready to advise clients on what is the best way to proceed from a bankruptcy to a divorce,” Tesmer said. “This is one of the most difficult experiences in life and individuals deserve to know all their options and how it will affect their future.”

O. Reginald (“Reggie”) Osenton is the Owner and President of Osenton Law Offices, P.A. If you need a Brandon bankruptcy lawyer, Tampa bankruptcy lawyer, or Tampa bankruptcy attorney, call 813.654.5777 or visit Brandonlawoffice.com.

“Lien stripping” has become very popular lately, as home values have declined. A competent bankruptcy attorney will be on the lookout for situations when lien stripping can be an effective tool in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Simply put, if you have two mortgages on a piece of real estate and the current value of the property is less than the balance due on the first mortgage, the bankruptcy court very well might be willing to strip the second mortgage off the property, leaving it with just the first mortgage attached. Of course, there are many details to consider, so you need an attorney competent in bankruptcy to help you with lien stripping.

At Osenton Law Offices, P.A., we have assisted many clients in stripping mortgages off of their property. As home values bottom out and start to go back up, the window of opportunity for lien stripping will close. As is true in so many situations, timing is everything.

Filing for bankruptcy can be a daunting task, to be sure. There will be lots of questions about how to actually file the paperwork, what type of bankruptcy will be best and what the lingering effects of this action will be.

First, it’s important to ask whether this is the answer to your financial problems. Filing for bankruptcy is a serious decision and should only be undertaken if there are no other alternatives. Having a bankruptcy on your credit file can affect buying a house or car in the future and will remain on your records for years to come.

“To file, the U.S. Bankruptcy Code also requires that a filer obtains some credit counseling from a court-approved counseling agency before submitting a bankruptcy petition,” said Reginald Osenton of Osenton Law Offices in Brandon, Florida.

The next step is to determine what type of bankruptcy is right for your situation. There is Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which offers immediate relief, but it is not available to all debtors under bankruptcy law. The other alternative is Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which is a restructuring of debt typically over a 3 to 5 year period.

While there are some people who file bankruptcy paperwork without the assistance of an attorney, this is highly discouraged. Bankruptcy is a serious and complex matter that can have ramifications for years to come. It is best to seek an expert attorney on this decision.

The lawyer should meet with you to go over your options and financial matters. If your initial meeting is with a paralegal or assistant, and not an attorney, you should seek another law firm. After discussing your situation, the attorney should inform you what the legal fee and court costs would be to proceed.

Once you retain a lawyer, refer all creditors to him or her. After you file the bankruptcy petition, the court will set the first meeting of creditors, which is a time for the bankruptcy trustee and creditors to ask you questions about your case. In most cases, this is the only time you will appear in court. The creditors then have a certain time period to respond to your request of a discharge or restructuring of debt.

Again, choosing to file for bankruptcy is a serious matter. “It is imperative to seek the advice and guidance of a competent attorney with experience in bankruptcy,” Osenton said.

To learn more visit, http://www.brandonlawoffice.com.

More than likely you probably know someone who has filed for bankruptcy. After all, in 2009 alone there were some 1.4 million people who sought a fresh financial start.

But what are the differences between the two different types of bankruptcy filings?

Usually when people talk about bankruptcy, they are specifically referring to Chapter 7.

Chapter 7 seeks to relieve someone from a debilitating amount of debt while liquidating as few of their possessions as possible. This is also called straight bankruptcy. Unsecured debts such as medical expenses and credit cards typically do not have to be paid back. Secured debt does, however, if the debtor intends to keep the asset securing the debt, like a car loan. This is accomplished through a reaffirmation agreement, a contract between the debtor and the lender for repayment of the loan in exchange for keeping the asset.

The benefit of filing for Chapter 7 is that you are relieved from a large portion of debt in a speedy manner, while also benefitting from a court order that bars collectors from harassing you for payment over the phone, via e-mail or in person. The downside to Chapter 7 is that in some cases your valuables are liquidated.

To file for Chapter 7, one must pass the median income test. The median income test, and its companion, the means test, is a formula that is used to determine whether or not the person seeking to file has enough money to make small payments to creditors. If so, they must file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead of Chapter 7. These tests were added in 2005 when the bankruptcy code was amended to stop the onslaught of Chapter 7 bankruptcies.

If you “fail” the median income test and means test, you must file for Chapter 13, which is essentially a restructuring of your debt. The consumer works with the bankruptcy trustee on a payment plan, which usually takes place over a 3- to 5-year period. The disadvantage is that you are not immediately relieved of massive debt, but many people prefer Chapter 13 over Chapter 7 because it offers greater protection of your assets.

Whatever option is chosen, it is important to discuss these matters with an experienced bankruptcy attorney.

O. Reginald (“Reggie”) Osenton is the Owner and President of Osenton Law Offices, P.A. If you need a Brandon bankruptcy lawyer, Tampa bankruptcy lawyer, or Tampa bankruptcy attorney, call 813.654.5777 or visit Brandonlawoffice.com.

The number of U.S. bankruptcy filings is reaching new heights.

According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the total number of bankruptcies filed during the first half of this year jumped 14 percent over the same period in 2009. There were 810,209 filings from Jan. 1 through June 30 this year and 711,550 last year.

There have never been this many filings in the first half of a calendar year since the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 was created to form more stringent rules for filing.

“Bankruptcy continues to be the last resort for many Americans seeking financial relief from household debt, unemployment and the economic downturn,” said ABI Executive Director Samuel J. Gerdano in a statement. “The first half 2010 filings show that bankruptcies are on pace to surpass 1.6 million by year end.”

According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, filings by individuals or households with consumer debt increased 15 percent to 781,150 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2010, from the 2009 first-half total of 681,217. Consumers filing for chapter 7 protection increased 17 percent to 571,417 during the first half of 2010 from 489,128 during the first six months of 2009. Consumer chapter 13 filings increased as well, rising 9 percent as 208,778 consumers filed for chapter 13 in the first half of 2010 from 191,458 during the first half of 2009.

Conversely, however, business bankruptcy filings decreased 4 percent for the six-month period ending June 30, 2010. Specifically, the total number fell to 29,059 from the first-half 2009 total of 30,333. The biggest decreases came from Chapter 11 business reorganizations.

While business bankruptcies seem to be slowing, the increased number of consumer bankruptcies clearly shows that average individuals are still reeling from the economic slowdown.

There are many things to consider when contemplating filing for bankruptcy. It is best to talk to an experienced attorney about your options and the repercussions of taking such an action.

O. Reginald (“Reggie”) Osenton is the Owner and President of Osenton Law Offices, P.A. If you need a Brandon bankruptcy lawyer, Tampa bankruptcy lawyer, or Tampa bankruptcy attorney, call 813.654.5777 or visit Brandonlawoffice.com.

This seminar is for those considering bankruptcy and alternatives to bankruptcy. It is NOT for professionals such as realtors, attorneys, and short sale and loan modification processors.

Are you thinking about filing bankruptcy?

Are you unsure it is the best option for you?

If so, please come to a free seminar presented by Reginald Osenton, an attorney with 20 years experience, who has personally handled hundreds of bankruptcy cases.

Visit our Bankruptcy and Seminar website to learn more.

At our seminars, you may:

• Receive free information about the bankruptcy process.
• Determine if we may help you get rid of debt, stop foreclosure, and keep your assets.
• Become informed about Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases.
• Remain annonymous.
• Have an opportunity to ask about your situation, either during the seminar or after.
• Receive tools to help you with filing bankruptcy, if you so choose.

Learn more.

Osenton Law Office, P.A., has a network of affiliated attorneys practicing in other legal areas to ensure we can locate a competent attorney in nearly any area of the law for those who contact us. In addition, we have a network of other professionals, such as accountants, bankers, financial planners, mortgage brokers, and marketing specialists, who have affiliated with us to provide our clients with a complete team of professionals to completely and effectively address our clients needs, including those beyond the legal arena.