the Upsolve Team
Upsolve is fortunate to have a remarkable team of bankruptcy attorneys, as well as finance and consumer rights professionals, as contributing writers to help us keep our content up to date, informative, and helpful to everyone.
Articles written by the Upsolve Team
How To Take the Pre-Bankruptcy Credit Counseling Course for Free
Written by Ben Jackson. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated January 14, 2026
Before you can file for bankruptcy, you must complete a credit counseling course from an approved provider. The course usually costs $10–$50, but many people qualify to take it for free with a fee waiver based on income. You can request a fee waiver when you sign up by asking the agency if it’s available. If approved, you can complete the course at no cost and receive your required certificate.
Read More →What Is the Difference Between an EIN, TIN, and ITIN?
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 13, 2025
The acronyms EIN, TIN, and ITIN are used by the IRS to identify the different types of tax ID numbers. The main difference between an EIN and an ITIN or TIN is that an EIN is used for business entities while an ITIN is used for individuals. TIN is an umbrella term for the various kinds of taxpayer identification numbers.
Read More →Should I File for Bankruptcy for Credit Card Debt?
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated November 7, 2024
If you're overwhelmed by credit card debt, filing for bankruptcy may be a way to erase it and get a fresh financial start. Many people consider options like credit counseling or debt management first, but bankruptcy can be a powerful solution when other methods aren't enough. This article will help you understand if bankruptcy is the right choice for dealing with your credit card debt.
Read More →What Are the Texas Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated April 2, 2025
Texas has more generous bankruptcy exemptions than many other states. It also allows bankruptcy filers to choose whether they want to use the Texas state bankruptcy exemptions or the federal bankruptcy exemptions. In many cases, the state exemptions are more beneficial to bankruptcy filers who own a home or car. But unlike the federal exemptions, Texas doesn’t offer a wildcard exemption to protect personal property of your choosing.
Read More →How To Rebuild Credit After Bankruptcy
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated September 26, 2025
Rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy is possible — and many people do it successfully with the right approach. Bankruptcy gives you a financial reset, and by taking steps like using secured credit cards, paying bills on time, and monitoring your credit reports, you can start improving your score within months. It’s also important to avoid common mistakes, like opening too many new accounts or relying too much on credit in emergencies. With consistent habits and a clear plan, you can rebuild your credit and lay the foundation for long-term financial health.
Read More →What Debts Are Not Discharged in Bankruptcy?
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated September 5, 2025
Though bankruptcy provides real debt relief for folks who are struggling to make ends meet, not every debt is treated equally under bankruptcy law. Bankruptcy is a great way to get rid of credit card debt, medical bills, and personal and payday loans. But bankruptcy can’t wipe out recent income tax you owe, alimony, child support, or debt incurred from illegal acts (embezzlement, larceny, etc.). Though there’s a common misconception that student loan debt can’t be erased in bankruptcy, you can discharge, or wipe out, your student loan debt in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. You must prove that repaying it is causing undue hardship and that you’ve made good faith efforts to pay in the past.
Read More →Stop Unwanted Calls From 800-955-6600: A Step-by-Step Guide
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated March 15, 2026
Are you receiving repeated phone calls and voicemails from 800-955-6600? This number belongs to Northland Group, a debt collection agency usually working on behalf of Capital One. They're probably calling about an unpaid debt. If Northland Group contacts you, it's best not to ignore the calls, but you don't need to panic either. This guide will walk you through how to verify the debt, stop the calls, and resolve the situation in a way that protects your rights and financial health.
Read More →What Is Equity?
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Attorney Paige Hooper
Updated May 3, 2022
Your equity in a house or car (the dollar value that belongs to you, not the lender) is the current value of the property minus the amount you still owe on it. When you file bankruptcy, exemptions protect the equity you have in certain assets.
Read More →What Is a Co-Debtor and How Does My Bankruptcy Affect Them?
Written by Ben Jackson. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated December 18, 2025
A co-debtor is someone who took out a loan with you. In doing so, they agreed to be equally responsible for repaying the loan or debt. If you have debts with co-debtors and don't reaffirm the debt in a Chapter 7 case, your co-debtor will be solely responsible for repaying the debt if you get a bankruptcy discharge. If you file Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the automatic stay will protect both you and the co-debtor so long as you make the payments outlined in your repayment plan.
Read More →What Are Non-Exempt Assets in Chapter 7?
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 13, 2026
When you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, any property you own that isn't fully protected by an exemption is considered a non-exempt asset. If an item has non-exempt equity — meaning its value exceeds the exemption limit — the trustee may be able to sell it to repay your creditors. Most people don't lose anything in bankruptcy because their property is fully protected, but if you do have non-exempt equity, you may have options to keep the item. These include negotiating with the trustee, converting to Chapter 13, or disputing the trustee’s valuation.
Read More →What Is the Presumption of Abuse in Bankruptcy?
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated November 3, 2025
You need to meet certain eligibility requirements to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If your income is higher than the median income for a similar-sized household in your state, this flags the bankruptcy court of a "presumption of abuse." This doesn't mean you can't file Chapter 7 or that you've abused the system. It does mean you must do more calculations as part of the means test to prove that you don't make enough money to repay your debts and that you aren't taking advantage of the bankruptcy process.
Read More →What Are the Illinois Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated January 6, 2026
Illinois bankruptcy exemptions help protect the essential property you need to live and work if you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The state doesn’t allow you to use federal bankruptcy exemptions, but it does offer generous protections for things like your home, car, personal items, wages, and retirement accounts. Starting in 2026, many exemption amounts will increase, giving added protection to homeowners, workers, and people with modest assets. These exemptions can help many Illinois filers keep everything they own during the bankruptcy process.
Read More →Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: What’s the Difference?
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated February 17, 2026
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy are the two most common types of personal bankruptcy filings. Chapter 7 bankruptcy can wipe out unsecured debts like credit card debt and medical bills in just 3-4 months. Though the filing can stay on your credit report for 10 years. You must pass a means test and meet certain criteria to qualify for Chapter 7. Chapter 13 takes longer — usually 3-5 years — because filers are on a repayment plan. After the plan is up, any remaining unsecured debt is discharged. Chapter 7 can stay on your credit report for up to 7 years. Some filers choose Chapter 13 because they don’t qualify for Chapter 7 or because they own certain assets they want to protect. Even though there are differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy, each one grants the filer a fresh financial start in the form of a bankruptcy discharge — a court order that relieves you of your debt and bans creditors from trying to collect from you on this debt.
Read More →What Is Credit Counseling?
Written by Attorney Tina Tran. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated June 10, 2024
Credit counseling is a great starting point for people who need help figuring out the best way to deal with their debt. Nonprofit credit counselors review your income and debt and help you develop a personalized plan to repay your debts. They’ll go over several potential debt relief solutions, including budgeting, starting a debt management plan, consolidating your debt, or filing bankruptcy.
Read More →What Is Bankruptcy?
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated June 5, 2025
Bankruptcy is a legal process that helps people eliminate or reorganize their debts and get a fresh start. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy are the most common types of personal bankruptcy. Chapter 7 wipes out your eligible debts, including credit card debt, medical bills, and more, in a matter of months. Chapter 13 requires a multiyear repayment plan but can help you catch up on past-due car or home loan payments.
Read More →What Are the Colorado Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated April 28, 2025
Bankruptcy exemptions help bankruptcy filers protect the property they own so they don't have to start over with nothing after their debts are discharged. Colorado has opted out of the federal bankruptcy exemptions, so residents must use the state exemptions instead. Fortunately, Colorado has generous bankruptcy exemptions, including a $250,000 homestead exemption (for filers under 60) and a $15,000 motor vehicle exemption.
Read More →Upsolve's Commitments to Our Users
Written by the Upsolve Team.
Written October 30, 2024
Upsolve is here to empower you. We understand how stressful it is to navigate debt, low credit scores, and bankruptcy on your own. You deserve support that helps you regain control of your financial health. Here's what you can expect from us.
Read More →Your Credit Score Is Not Ruined Forever After a Bankruptcy Filing
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Written August 16, 2021
Bankruptcy is a useful debt relief tool. It can give you a fresh start when unpaid debt becomes unmanageable. Sadly, many people attach a stigma to filing bankruptcy and fail to see its advantages and benefits. Instead, they focus on the notion that bankruptcy will forever ruin their credit. But this is just one of the many myths of bankruptcy. It often causes people to put off filing, which only delays bankruptcy’s benefits. While your credit score is affected by bankruptcy in the short term, we’ll discuss how your credit score is not permanently ruined by filing bankruptcy.
Read More →Wage Garnishment in Georgia
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated April 14, 2025
A wage garnishment order allows creditors to take money directly from your paycheck. Most of the time, this is only possible after a court has entered a judgment. Here's how Georgia regulates wage garnishments.
