Rhode Island Bankruptcy Information Center

Most people do NOT need to appear before a judge in order to complete their bankruptcy in Rhode Island. But they do need to attend a Section 341 Meeting of Creditors, which is run by a bankruptcy trustee (not a judge) who has been appointed to administer their case. Typically, the trustee will ask for […]

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People who are considering filing bankruptcy with me often ask what to bring for our first meeting. (If you’re interested in scheduling a free initial consultation to see if bankruptcy is a good option for you, call my office at 401.738.3030 today.) The purpose of this first meeting is to ensure that we’re […]

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It is rare for someone who is represented by a bankruptcy attorney to lose their property (home, personal possessions, retirement plans, etc.) as a result of a bankruptcy filed in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island statute dealing with what you are allowed to keep or “exempt” in spite of a bankruptcy filing has some particularly […]

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A Rhode Island bankruptcy filing can be used to get rid of many types of debt. Filing under Chapter 7  may allow many types of debts to be wiped out completely:

credit card debt
electric, gas, water, and other utility bills
medical, dental, and vision bills
personal and unsecured bank loans
automobile loan obligations remaining on a repossessed vehicle
mortgage loan […]

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According to a recent study, the typical Rhode Island house lost 25% of its value last year.  For many homeowners, the only alternative to losing a home to foreclosure may be to modify their mortgage.  Fortunately, current bankruptcy laws allow for many Rhode Island homeowners to dramatically reduce their monthly mortgage payments.
If your house is […]

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Yes, in many cases you can. In Rhode Island, you can keep vehicles you own outright up to $12,000 under the state’s “motor vehicle” exemption. Even if your vehicle is worth more, you could potentially hold on to a vehicle valued up to $17,000 by also claiming the state’s $5,000 “wildcard” exemption.
If a creditor has […]

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Yes — in many cases filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy can stop a home foreclosure sale from proceeding. Over the years, many Rhode Island homeowners have used this type of bankruptcy filing to prevent foreclosure and allow themselves to get caught up on their mortgage payments and keep their house.

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With a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, many types of debt can be eliminated completely. However, not everyone is eligible to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Multiple factors (such as your income level, family size, medical bills, etc.) determine whether you are eligible for Chapter 7. A Rhode Island attorney experienced with bankruptcy should be […]

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After the new bankruptcy law was passed in 2005, the number of bankruptcy filings in Rhode Island declined significantly.
Now the number of bankruptcy filings is rising. In the first quarter of this year 583 Rhode Islanders filed for bankruptcy, according to court records, which is nearly double last year’s filings.

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