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The Third Time’s the Charm: Hershey and Bankruptcy in the Mankato, Minnesota Area

Easter has come and gone in the Mankato, Minnesota area, which means you’ve likely got a little extra candy on hand. Perhaps you love festive chocolate bunnies, or maybe Reese’s eggs and special caramel candies are your favorite seasonal treat. Regardless, many of the items in your basket this year have something in common: they’re made by Hershey.

Although Hershey is an incredibly successful company today, their history includes times of struggle and even bankruptcy. For the company, two bankruptcy filings were their best option on the path to success. So, grab your chocolate bar and settle in for a little Hershey bankruptcy history:

Milton Hershey opened his first candy store in Philadelphia. He had no formal education, and only a few years as an apprentice to prepare him for this venture, and it was ultimately unsuccessful. His Philadelphia company could not sustain itself, so Hershey was forced to file for bankruptcy.

Following this initial bankruptcy filing, Hershey took his remaining assets to Chicago and New York. He worked hard to expand his chocolate and candy company, but despite his new efforts, Hershey was forced to file a second time.

During his third go–around, Hershey refined his products to include a new caramel recipe. When he attempted his third store, it became a smashing success. Thanks to his two bankruptcy filings, Hershey was able to start fresh with two different ventures. As they say, the third time’s the charm!

Without bankruptcy, your basket may have been empty this Easter in the Mankato, Minnesota area! It can seem frightening or daunting to file, but in many cases like Hershey’s, bankruptcy is truly the best option.

Keep your basket full this Easter season. For further inquiries about bankruptcy, contact the professionals at Behm Law Group Ltd. today.

 

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Spring Ahead with Your Bankruptcy Timeline in the New Ulm, Minnesota Area

Last weekend throughout the New Ulm, Minnesota area and across the country, folks set their clocks ahead one hour. Time has been a topic of conversation throughout the last week as we’ve been adjusting to new times for daylight and nightfall and work to recover lost sleep.

When it comes to your personal bankruptcy filing, time is also an important topic of conversation. Do you know how long it takes to undergo a Chapter 13 filing or how many days you have to wait before initiating your petition?

In today’s post, we’ll examine a few important aspects of your personal Chapter 13 bankruptcy timeline:

180 Days: After going through a counseling session with an attorney, the credit counseling certificate of completion you receive is good for 180 days. If you don’t file within this 180 day time frame, the certificate of completion will expire and you will have to re-take the credit counseling course and pay the course fee again.

30 Days: Once bankruptcy has been filed, the first payment to your bankruptcy trustee will be due within 30 days.

45 Days: In about forty-five days, the court will hold a formal creditor meeting. This will be an opportunity for you to testify under oath about information regarding your bankruptcy filing.

Two Hours: This is the length of the required bankruptcy education course once your case has been accepted and discharged.

Three to Five Years: With Chapter 13 cases, this is the typical amount of time it takes to formally discharge bankruptcy. This is also contingent on the successful completion of the predetermined pay schedule.

Time is of the essence in the New Ulm, Minnesota area. If you’re considering a personal bankruptcy filing, or if you feel like Chapter 13 may be the best option for you, it’s important to understand the length of time required for such a case.

For further information regarding your bankruptcy case, or to learn more about the process of filing, contact the professionals at Behm Law Group Ltd. today.

 

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Dismissal Versus Discharge in the Worthington, Minnesota Area

In the Worthington, Minnesota area, going through the bankruptcy process can be a bit confusing. There are papers to complete, assets to assess, and numerous monetary concerns to consider. Which document means what, and how exactly does one get through the process with the most success? Where to begin a filing and where to end it?

Though the process can be troublesome, it’s important to make sure that you understand the language used throughout your personal bankruptcy filing, especially when it comes to the difference between “discharging” or “dismissing” debts.

In today’s post, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, we’ll examine the distinctions between these two separate processes, one of which is fittingly known as “the pot of gold.”

Discharge: This process is truly the pot of gold at the end of a bankruptcy filing. If your case is discharged, that means that all former debts are satisfied and creditors may no longer hold you responsible for past expenses. In this outcome, the filer is truly free of their debts and is clutching onto that pot of gold, successfully walking away from their bankruptcy case.

Dismissal: Dismissal is somewhat more complicated than discharge. There are three specific reasons for this:

  1. Dismissal means that the entire bankruptcy filing is deemed void.
  2. Dismissal can sometimes occur before, during, or after a bankruptcy discharge. This can yield different results depending on the personal situation and can be either a positive or negative outcome.
  3. Dismissal means creditors still have the ability to pursue past debts. This means that filers are not free of their debts.

Of these two options, those filing for bankruptcy typically hope for a discharge rather than a dismissal. Especially around this time of year, everyone is searching for a pot of gold!

In the Worthington, Minnesota area, your personal bankruptcy filing should be clear and easy to understand. For all your concerns regarding bankruptcy, contact the professionals at Behm Law Group Ltd. today.

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The Case for Discharging Student Loan Debt in the Mankato Minnesota Area

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been examining how to discharge student loan debt in the Mankato, Minnesota area. Bankruptcy is an option in specific circumstances, but does not always apply to every student. So, how are you supposed to know whether or not your case is valid?

This week, we’ll take a look at a few cases of student loan debt that arrived in bankruptcy court. Although some were more successful than others, each of these cases offers an important look into the world of discharging student loans through bankruptcy:

  1. Case One: This case involves a telemarketer working for $8.50 per hour. At fifty years old, barely making enough to get by, this person was released from their student loans through bankruptcy because they were trapped in a cycle of poverty and debt.
  2. Case Two: A part-time cellist and music instructor came to bankruptcy court after years of attempting to pay student loan debt. This person was denied their claim because, despite their college degree, they had chosen to accept low paying work. The courts ruled in this case that the individual could be capable of earning more money.
  3. Case Three: A married couple obtained a discharge through bankruptcy because they were both working part time jobs and paying private school tuition for their children. The courts ruled this couple could follow a future repayment plan for their student loans.
  4. Case Four: Generally speaking, if the borrower attended a school deemed fraudulent, or if their education was not ultimately beneficial to them, the courts often rule to discharge the borrower’s loans through bankruptcy.

There are a number of ways in which student loans can impact people in the Mankato, MN area. Whether you’re trapped beneath your student loans, or curious whether or not you may have a bankruptcy case, the professionals at Behm Law Group, Ltd. are here to help. Give us a call today.