Stephen H. Swift, Colorado Bankruptcy Attorney Many of you can immediately save yourself the time involved in reading the rest of this post: if you have unmanageable debt, you need a bankruptcy attorney. There is a wide variety of on the market, such as so-called ‘debt resolution’ agencies and ‘petition preparers’. For the most part,...Read More

Money may not buy happiness, but the lack of it can certainly inspire negative emotions. When we lack financial stability it often causes sadness, grief, and shame, but these are just the beginning when it comes time to file for bankruptcy. There is something about admitting defeat and formalizing that defeat in a court of...Read More

We’ve all heard the horror stories from friends, coworkers or family members who have gone through a nasty divorce. Few “life events” compare to divorce when it comes to financial security, not to mention the emotional toll it can take on a family and their quality of life. When Bankruptcy Meets Divorce Money is the...Read More

Any decent financial advisor will be careful to warn clients against the perils of taking on too much debt. Not only will a heavy debt load damage your credit score, it will put you at a much higher risk for bankruptcy, especially if you suffer a job loss. Bankruptcy presents some major challenges for individuals...Read More

We are grateful to be able to serve our clients, especially during these trying times.  We are also grateful that The Law Office of Stephen H. Swift, P.C. was recently selected as a Top Consumer 
Bankruptcy Attorney in Colorado Springs by Colorado Springs STYLE Magazine, for the fourth year in a row.  (We were also a...Read More

It makes sense that if you are filing for bankruptcy, you aren’t in a position to pay a fortune to an attorney to help you do it. Some people turn to a lawyer who will do it for a few hundred dollars, while others try to navigate the process on their own. But our Colorado...Read More

wooden gavel near document with child support agreement and glasses A Colorado bankruptcy can provide you relief from a long list of creditors. Our Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorneys know that this includes credit card bills outstanding medical balances and business debts. However, there are certain debts that are almost never dischargeable. Generally, those are going...Read More

Job numbers may be creeping back up, but so are gas prices. The fact that folks are getting back to work doesn’t necessarily mean that a personal financial crisis has been averted. In other words, trying to catch up sometimes is more of a challenge than going backwards. Whether you and your family are considering...Read More

As more and more people use electronic means to do their banking, pay their bills, or make purchases, many are becoming victims of identity theft. Once a hacker gets access to your personal information, such as your Social Security number, he or she can run up significant debt in your name, or worse yet, empty...Read More

One of the most disturbing trends in money management is overuse of debt consolidation loans. Sure, they may be the perfect solution for people who have gotten into unforeseen financial trouble, but debt consolidation loans are too often used to treat symptoms instead of addressing an underlying problem. One of the greatest myths about these...Read More

So many people call a bankruptcy lawyer expecting to file for bankruptcy next week, when in reality there is a process that must be followed. For example, you must receive credit and budget counseling from an approved credit counseling service within the 180 days prior to filing a petition. The credit counseling agency will review...Read More

Closeup of credit cards One of the top reasons people avoid bankruptcy like the plague is that they fear the impact on their credit score. Colorado Springs Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers won’t sugarcoat it and say there will be no affect whatsoever. However it’s worth noting that when you file for bankruptcy, the scoring algorithms...Read More

Experiencing a damaging credit event like a foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy doesn’t mean you will never be eligible for a mortgage again.  As you prepare to buy your next home, take a look at this useful chart to see typical waiting periods before you can be approved for a mortgage.  If you experienced extenuating...Read More

As a Colorado bankruptcy attorney, I am often asked if bankruptcy rates are going up or down, and if the demographic makeup of bankruptcy filers has changed. Over the past few years, as the U.S. has gradually emerged from the recession, the number of people filing for bankruptcy has decreased, but there are a few...Read More

If you’ve watched any late night television lately, chances are you’ve seen former U.S. Presidential candidate Fred Thompson out there pitching reverse mortgages. Many seniors are enticed by these very noteworthy spokespeople as they explain the process of cashing out their home equity. While it’s not necessarily a bad decision to do this, it is...Read More

Denver bankruptcy attorneys were not surprised to read that a 2011 national consumer complaint survey found that out of 1.8 million consumer complaints, debt collection trailed only identity theft for lead complaint category. In this two-part series on dealing with personal debt, Colorado debt-relief attorneys break down the numbers for common consumer complaints and offer tips...Read More

Colorado Springs foreclosure lawyers know that many people fell victim to the housing market implosion, whereby home values were grossly inflated, as were the homebuyers’ suitability for the loans to obtain them. However, it appears the negligence might not have ended there, as evidenced by a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of homeowners throughout...Read More

Toni Braxton has won six Grammy Awards – and filed for two bankruptcies. Our Colorado Springs Chapter 7 Bankruptcy attorneys understand that she intends to talk about her financial journey in an upcoming music television show. While some may view multiple filings as a sign of irresponsibility, the fact is that there are some situations in which...Read More

Despite reports that the U.S. economy is inching toward improvement, we now know that household incomes in the U.S. fell to levels we haven’t seen since 1989. In fact, Colorado Springs Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers understand that a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that median incomes fell by nearly 2 percent last...Read More

A new report from one of Denver’s largest human resources firms indicates that salaried employees in Denver are set to receive some of the largest pay raises in the country. Our Colorado Springs Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers know this is great news – but it’s important to note that it’s only going to affect a small number...Read More

Firefighter putting with the hose out the fire of the house and car at night accident As Colorado Springs residents continue to grapple with a massive, fast-moving wildfire that has already killed at least two people, destroyed more than 350 homes and damaged dozens more, many may have just been pushed over the edge to...Read More

Young frustrated man in formalwear looking at piece of cardboard with notice of needing job while sitting on staircase against architecture Those who have been unemployed for any stretch no the longer it lasts, the harder it is to land a new job.  Denver Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorneys have assisted numerous clients who were overwhelmed...Read More

For Colorado Springs debt-relief lawyers, a pair of competing headlines about statewide gas prices serve as a perfect illustration of just how complex, uncertain and stressful the economic recovery remains for many struggling families who are overwhelmed by debt and thinking about filing for Colorado personal bankruptcy. On March 18, the Denver Post reported that Metro Denver recorded the...Read More