When preparing for bankruptcy in Council Bluffs or elsewhere in Iowa, it makes sense to wonder, “Can I keep my house and car if I file for bankruptcy?” Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion surrounding what property a debtor can keep after filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 12 bankruptcy, especially if their property is necessary to run their…
Filing for bankruptcy may be considered a counter-productive move if you are looking for work. But bankruptcy filing could actually help you find a new job. When you are deeply in debt, you may fear that filing for bankruptcy would harm your chances of landing a job interview. However, filing for bankruptcy could actually assist you in your job search,…
When family farmers in Iowa struggle with debt, the prospect of filing for bankruptcy can be complicated and confusing for anyone who does not have specific knowledge of U.S. bankruptcy law. In particular, family farmers who want to remain in business while seeking bankruptcy protection often discover that Chapter 11 bankruptcy is too complicated and expensive for their needs, while…
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a type of “liquidation” bankruptcy that allows a debtor to discharge all debts that are dischargeable under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In order to have debts discharged, all of the debtor’s non-exempt assets are liquidated so that creditors can be repaid a portion of what the debtor owes. There are many different reasons that an individual…
Recent flooding in Council Bluffs and throughout the state of Iowa has been devastating for farmers and could force many to file for bankruptcy. The flood damage is some of the worst that Iowa farmers have seen in the last decade, and it is likely to cost farmers billions of dollars. Indeed, according to a report in the Des Moines…
About two years ago, Iowa medical malpractice law changed in a way that benefitted healthcare providers. The law, signed by the governor in May 2017, capped non-economic damages at $250,000, thereby restricting the amount of money that patients can obtain for the pain and suffering they experience as a result of medical negligence. Our firm represents patients who have sustained injuries resulting from medical malpractice.…
Dog bite injuries in Council Bluffs, Iowa can be devastating, especially when a young child is the victim of the animal attack. While many people assume that dog bites most frequently involve unknown dogs, the vast majority of dog bites actually involve a dog owned by a friend, family member, or victim. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), more…
Debt collection laws in Iowa are designed to protect consumers from unfair, fraudulent, deceptive, and harassing debt collection practices. While there are a number of laws that may be helpful to consumers dealing with debt, the Iowa Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) typically are the two laws that consumers turn to when…
Consumers in Iowa and across the country regularly face harassment by debt collectors. Regardless of whether you actually owe the debts for which you are being harassed, there are both state and federal laws in place to protect consumers from harassment and other unfair debt collection practices. Both the Iowa Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the federal Fair Debt…
Bankruptcy can be extremely complicated, whether you are filing for bankruptcy as a consumer or as a business. At Telpner Peterson Law Firm, LLP, we regularly assist clients with a wide variety of issues in consumer and business bankruptcy. Given our experience as bankruptcy lawyers, we want to provide more information about common bankruptcy questions and answers in Iowa. Q:…