Rogers Bankruptcy Law Blog

Two dead, teen accused of double homicide

On behalf of Andrew H. Hatfield of Hatfield Harris, PLLC posted in Violent Crimes on Friday, September 21, 2018.

Violent crimes can happen unexpectedly, even for those committing them. Some may strike out at someone as a way of defending themselves, while others may accidentally shoot someone or cause them harm during a burglary. It's worth hearing out the person responsible for injuries or deaths to determine if they were intentional and what provoked the violent act.

Take, for example, this unusual story out of Arkansas. It has been reported that a 19-year-old man has been linked to two deaths. The news report from Sept. 13 states that the teen was arrested in connection with a double homicide.

Medical debts often put consumers in a difficult financial spot

On behalf of Chris Harris of Hatfield Harris, PLLC posted in Medical Debt on Friday, September 21, 2018.

Medical bills are sometimes unavoidable. With the cost of medical care steadily rising and insurance companies including many procedures, conditions and medications on the list of things they won't cover, consumers sometimes find that things like a heart attack or an accident lead to an influx of overwhelming medical costs.

Unfortunately, there isn't too much you can do about medical debt that isn't going to impact your credit score. Paying the bills might not be possible because most people don't have limitless savings account holdings that they can draw from. Sometimes, medical centers will allow you to make payments on the bills, but even that might be difficult if you are on a tight budget.

Know what options you have when you face a DUI

On behalf of Andrew H. Hatfield of Hatfield Harris, PLLC posted in Drunk Driving on Tuesday, September 18, 2018.

Driving after drinking is a mistake. You might not have realized just how much the alcohol affected you when you got behind the wheel. The police officers who are patrolling the area might see some small signs that something is wrong and decide to pull you over. This is the start of a rough road for you.

We understand that you might not know what to do. If this is your first time facing criminal charges, it can all seem mystifying. This is one reason why we are here to help you. We know that you might need to have some questions answered. You may need to discuss your options. We can do these so that you can make informed decisions about your case.

How can you avoid drowning in debt?

On behalf of Chris Harris of Hatfield Harris, PLLC posted in Credit Card Debt on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

Credit-card debt isn't a new problem in America, and if you're in your 30s, then you're probably like many older millennials and have your own to deal with. In this group, many people struggle with student loans, and some have taken on credit-card debt while trying to find a place to live, a job and a stable income.

Credit-card debt has the potential to grow out of control, even if you're cautious about your spending. One missed payment could add $30 or more in fines to your debt, and the interest rate may increase. This extends how long you have to pay your debt and increases the amount you'll pay overall.

Get the fresh financial start you deserve

On behalf of Chris Harris of Hatfield Harris, PLLC posted in Personal Bankruptcy on Monday, September 10, 2018.

Filing for personal bankruptcy can help you regain your financial footing after you've had monetary setbacks that are too much to overcome any other way. These might come from situations that you can't control, such as having to get emergency medical care. When these bills start to mount up, you have to look at what is going on with the rest of your money so you can decide what to do.

Oftentimes, there isn't any other way out. No matter how much you try to scrimp and save to pay off the bills and keep up with other expenses, you might not be able to. At this point, you have to decide what you are going to do.

Planning a violent crime charge defense is a complex undertaking

On behalf of Andrew H. Hatfield of Hatfield Harris, PLLC posted in Violent Crimes on Friday, September 7, 2018.

A violent crime puts other people in danger, which is one of the factors that makes these cases so difficult for people to hear about. What some people don't realize is that there might be elements in the case that aren't being released that could make a difference in how the matter is handled. We know that it is frightening to have to face these charges. We are here to help you learn what you might do about them.

Oftentimes, detectives and prosecutors keep certain points of a crime close to the vest. They don't want to make everything public knowledge in the interest of preserving the integrity of the case. These points are likely going to come out during a trial. We need to work on finding out what these are so that we can address them accordingly.

Driving drunk in Arkansas has several penalties possible

On behalf of Andrew H. Hatfield of Hatfield Harris, PLLC posted in Drunk Driving on Wednesday, August 29, 2018.

Drivers on Arkansas' roads must be fully sober and able to operate the vehicle. When a driver is impaired, there is a chance that they will face criminal charges. These are serious matters because the penalties are strict. For almost all circumstances, finding another way home is a better idea so that you don't have to risk driving drunk.

There are two legal limits that you need to know if you are a noncommercial driver. People who haven't yet turned 21, the legal limit is .02 percent. For drivers over 21, the limit is .08 percent. These are determined by using a test to find out the blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

Can you get a business loan with bankruptcy on your record?

On behalf of Chris Harris of Hatfield Harris, PLLC posted in Chapter 13 on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.

You've wanted to open a business for some time, but you worry that you won't be able to get the capital you want. You're worried because of your past run-in with debt and bankruptcy.

You paid back your debts through a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which required you to pay a single lump sum each month for five years. You completed the bankruptcy and emerged free of debt. The trouble now is that you want to open a business, but even with savings, it's not enough.

Myths about Chapter 7 bankruptcy

On behalf of Chris Harris of Hatfield Harris, PLLC posted in Chapter 7 on Thursday, August 23, 2018.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is known as the liquidation bankruptcy because many of your assets are sold off to pay your debts. Even though this is a fairly common form of bankruptcy, there are still many myths that surround it.

One thing that you can't believe is that all your debts will be discharged. Some, such as student loan and tax debt as well as child support arrears, usually aren't able to be removed in a bankruptcy. You will still be responsible for all of these when your case is finished.

What are a few ways to eliminate credit debt?

On behalf of Chris Harris of Hatfield Harris, PLLC posted in Credit Card Debt on Friday, August 17, 2018.

Making a minimum payment on your credit card each month is the worst way to pay it off. While it does keep you current, it's likely to lead to many years of debt instead of making a clean payoff quickly. Interest rates add to your bill every month, making your minimums too low to bring down the principal balance much at all.

If you're living paycheck to paycheck and struggle to make payments above the minimum, there are some things you can do. Here are three tips that could help: