Fields of Law

Here you will find an overview of the fields of law our attorneys practice.

Personal Bankruptcy Law

From stopping harrassing phone calls to appearing in court in NJ and NY, Carl Beckwith will represent you in all phases of handling your personal bankruptcy. Without question, some of the most emotionally-charged issues in all of law are created by debt problems. Are you having legal problems with credit cards, foreclosure, medical bills, lawsuits?  Carl Beckwith focuses on bankruptcy protection for individuals and families, so he can guide you through your issues with care and efficiency.  A more detailed overview of bankruptcy is set forth below.

Business and Real Estate Matters

We handle all types of business matters including formation, shareholder's agreements, contract preparation and review as well as personal and commercial real estate sales, purchase and leasing.

Estate Planning, Wills and Probate

Gerald Wolf has years of experience drafting wills, preparing estate plans, and handling probate matters in NJ and NY.  From a simple will to the complex large estate, he can advise you in the best strategies to preserve your estate for your heirs.

BANKRUPTCY OVERVIEW

When you're in a financial trouble and it seems like there is no hope, there may be a way to start fresh.  Filing bankruptcy is a way of legally telling everyone you owe money to that you cannot pay the debts that you owe. I have often heard clients express fear they will come home one day and find their belongings on the street and the locks to their doors changed.  By filing bankruptcy your creditors are stopped from attempting to collect money from you, taking your assets, or garnishing your pay.  They are stopped from making annoying and harassing calls. Generally, creditors cannot seize your car or home if you have loans against them as long as you are current or propose a plan of repayment to catch up any missed payments (Chapter 13) and usually you can  "wipe the slate clean" for unsecured debts like credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills (Chapter 7).

In most cases, people file for bankruptcy when they want to hold on to some or all of their property and protect it against creditors and get on with their lives without this crushing debt on their shoulders.  Most people want to pay their bills and feel guilty about the circumstances they find themselves in that are keeping them from doing so.  Whether your debt problems are caused by illness, lack of insurance, unemployment, or other reasons, bankruptcy often may let you get on with your life.  The emotional toll that comes from being in a financial hole, avoiding phone calls, the family tensions, often are greatly lessened by filing bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy is not without its downsides, however. First, bankruptcies remain on your credit report for 10 years. It can be difficult to get credit after a bankruptcy filing, but it is not impossible.  Second, not all debts can be discharged or wiped out. Alimony and child support; student loans; debts resulting from fraud; tax bills; and any debts you accrue after filing bankruptcy cannot be discharged.  There are very limited exceptions to this list, but generally, these types of debts do not go away by filing bankruptcy.

When you file for bankruptcy, you can usually keep your furniture and other household items, some jewelry, clothing, and work-related tools.  In New Jersey, you can also each keep up to $20,200 in home equity (value in your home after subtracting mortgages), $10,775 in personal property (household goods) and $10,125 in any personal property or bank accounts if you don't own a home. 

 In order to file for bankruptcy, you are required to have attended  a credit counseling program before filing. We will help you arrange this service.  You also have to consult such an organization after declaring bankruptcy. We are here to help you make the whole bankruptcy process as painless as possible. Contact Carl Beckwith for more information.

Do you have questions about our services?

Contact Carl Beckwith at 201-338-2833 or via our contact form.

Contact Gerald Wolf at 201-894-1223 or via our contact form.