Waverley Madden is featured in the May 2012 issue of Black Enterprise Magazine in an article about bankruptcy, debt forgiveness, and other related topics. Read the article here: www.onlinedigitalpubs.com/display_article.php?id=1031864.
Radio Court Appearance – Bankruptcy
On Sunday, March 18, 2012, Waverley Madden, once again appeared on Radio Court with Dean Weitzman and David M. Rappoport. Various issues were discussed but the salient issues were bankruptcy law and the effects of foreclosure, personal injury suits in bankruptcy, and what happens if your landlord files bankruptcy. It was an exciting show.
Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) Faculty Member
On October 27, 2011 Attorney Waverley Madden was a faculty member at the 16th Annual Bankruptcy Institute. She taught on the subjects of Meeting the Client and preparing the schedules and statements.
Radio Court Appearance – Bankruptcy
On October 9, 2011, Attorney Waverley Madden was a special guest on Radio Court in Philadelphia with Dean Weitzman and David M. Rappoport where the topic of discussion was bankruptcy law. Discussion topics included discharging student loans in bankruptcy, mortgages, the role of the bankruptcy trustee, and personal injury claims in bankruptcy among others. Listen to the show here at http://rnbphilly.com/audio/deanwietzman/bankruptcy-october-09-2011-audio/
Naturalization Ceremony – Keynote Speaker
Attorney Waverley Madden was chosen by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) as a keynote speaker at a naturalization ceremony held on January 20, 2011 at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The ceremony was presided over by the Honorable Cynthia M. Rufe of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Honorable James T. Giles, former Chief Justice (retired) of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, currently Of Counsel at Pepper Hamilton LLP was a Distinguished Guest Speaker. The Chancellor-Elect of the Philadelphia Bar Association, John E. Savoth, also spoke to the more than 100 new citizens, plus family and friends in attendance. An article about this event appeared in Philadelphia Bar Association’s official newspaper (The Legal Intelligencer) dated Wednesday, January 19, 2011 (p.370).
Waverley Madden Joins the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Minority Bar Committee in Community Outreach
On Sunday, September 26, 2010, attorney Waverley Madden will join the Pennsylvania Minority Bar Committee in a Law Expo where she will discuss Financial Planning and Bankruptcy Law. You and the Law – Program Outline
Attorney Waverley Madden Appeared on Radio Court (www.wrnb107.9.com)
Attorney Waverley Madden appeared on 107.9 FM with Dean Weitzman of myphillylawyer.com to discuss consumer bankruptcy law. Listeners called in and asked questions about some of the following topics:
1. Question: Can a creditor collect after the discharge of a bankruptcy case? Answer: Absolutely not. A bankruptcy discharge order officially wipes away debts listed in the person’s bankruptcy documents. A bankruptcy debtor can file with the Bankruptcy Court for sanctions including punitive damages against any creditor who attempts to collect debts discharged in bankruptcy.
2. Question: Can taxes be completely discharged in a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? Answer: Yes. The rule of thumb is to always file your taxes on time. Once a personal tax bill is 3 years past due it may be discharged in bankruptcy, if certain other conditions are met. Any delay in filing income tax returns affects whether the tax debt can be discharged. It is also important to note that employment withholding taxes are not generally dischargeable in bankruptcy.
3. Question: Is a co-debtor or an authorized user on a credit card liable if the other co-debtor files bankruptcy? Answer: Yes. Never sign a credit card (or anything else) for another person. You will be liable if they stop paying or file bankruptcy. If a person is just an authorized user on the account they may be liable if they have actually used the card.
4. Question: Can a person file for bankruptcy with $20,000 worth of credit card debt, they owe no taxes, they are renting their home, and they own a car but are not behind on payments? Answer: Yes. Absolutely. Provided that they pass the Means Test, and their income is around the median for the neighborhood in which they live, they can even file for a straight Chapter 7 liquidation without having to pay anything back to their creditors.
5. Question: If a person is already in bankruptcy will their debts be discharged before they complete their Chapter 13 Trustee payment plan? Answer: No. A bankrupt person’s debts are discharged in Chapter 13 only after successful completion of their Trustee payment plan, and only after the Bankruptcy Court Judge signs a discharge order. In a chapter 7, since there is no trustee payment plan, debts are discharged once the Judge signs the order.
6. Question: How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report? Answer: Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Bankruptcy can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years. However, for those who file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy credit reporting agencies may, and usually do, remove if after 7 years. If they do not remove it you can write a letter to each credit agency (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) and request that they remove a Chapter 13 bankruptcy after 7 years. The goal is to get people to pay something on their debts. So, as a “reward” those who make payments under Chapter 13 get their credit report cleared up quicker.
7. Question: How long before I can file bankruptcy again? Answer: A person who files a Chapter 7 bankruptcy must wait at least 8 years before they can file Chapter 7 again. A person who files a Chapter 13 bankruptcy must wait at least 2 years before they can file Chapter 13 again or at least 6 years after the Chapter 13 bankruptcy discharge before they can file Chapter 7.
Madden Law Firm, P.C. – Philadelphia Immigration and Bankruptcy Attorney
The primary mission of Madden Law Firm is to provide superior client services to its clients. Clients receive hands-on one-on-one contact with their attorney.
