Indiana Gets Lump Sum Trump Unemployment Relief

Indiana Unemployment Claimants to Receive $1800 soon.

On August 8, 2020, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order by Memorandum directing up to $44 billion from the DRF at the statutorily mandated 75 percent Federal cost share be made available for lost wages assistance to eligible claimants, to supplement State expenditures in providing these payments:

The Memorandum states: In exercising this authority, the Secretary, acting through the FEMA Administrator, shall, subject to the limitations above, approve a lost wages assistance program that authorizes the Governor to provide a $400 payment per week, which shall reflect a $300 Federal contribution, to eligible claimants from the week of unemployment ending August 1, 2020.

According to Indiana’s government website Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) funding will only cover the six-week period from the week ending Aug. 1 to the week ending Sept. 5. No LWA funding will be available to states beyond that time period. Indiana will make payments the week of Sept. 21, covering the period of Aug. 1 to Sept. 5, for those eligible.

It appears that Indiana will not choose to add $100 a week, in order to conserve state funds. Do those receiving this or any other unemployment benefit or supplement have to pay income tax on this $1800 payment? Yes, both federal and state income tax are due for those who make over the threshold for paying income tax, which is $12,200 for a single person under 65. See IRS publication 501 for your tax filing requirements.

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.

Come Visit Us in Aurora!

Spanish speaking consultations are available. We’re available Monday-Friday from 8:00-6:00 p.m. to meet you in person or virtually. Did you know you can schedule a virtual meeting with our LOCAL team?

Geraci Law is located right in Aurora! We’re at 1885 N. Farnsworth, Suite 6, Aurora, IL 60505. SE corner of I-88 & Farnsworth next to Shell. Exit I-88 Farnsworth South Between 59 & 31.

Spanish speaking consultations are available. We’re available Monday-Friday from 8:00-6:00 p.m. to meet you in person or virtually. Did you know you can schedule a virtual meeting with our LOCAL team?

Meet our Geraci Law Aurora Team!

Attorney Jason Kara

Attorney Jason Kara is a senior attorney at Geraci Law. He is responsible for reviewing over-median Chapter 7 bankruptcies.

He is originally from Cleveland and moved to the Detroit area during high school. Attorney Kara attended Law School at Michigan State University where he graduated Magna Cume Laude.

While attending law school, Attorney Kara served on the Journal of Business and Securities Law. He spends his free time with his wife and two small children. He enjoys just about any athletic activity and is active in his community.

Attorney Alex Wilson

Attorney Alex Wilson is a senior court attorney at Geraci Law. He is responsible for supervising cases assigned to Judge Janet Baer.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science from Brigham Young University. He went on to graduate with a Juris Doctor and a Master of Laws degree from John Marshall Law in Chicago. In his spare time, Mr. Wilson enjoys camping, hiking, and climbing.

Laura Gallardo

She started at Geraci Law in 2018 and is working toward her paralegal certificate!

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.

Better Credit Scores After Bankruptcy

A study by Harvard and the Federal Reserve found people who FILE for bankruptcy are generally in a better position financially with access to better credit than people who do NOT file an attempt to slowly pay down bills.

A study by Harvard and the Federal Reserve found people who FILE for bankruptcy are generally in a better position financially with access to better credit than people who do NOT file an attempt to slowly pay down bills. See https://peterfrancisgeracilaw.com/2020/08/05/chapter-9-is-bankruptcy-bad/

That’s right folks, filing a bankruptcy can be a GOOD thing. You eliminate your obligation to the balances with the opportunity to REBUILD. According to the Federal Reserve,

“[people who file bankruptcy] experience a sharp boost in their credit score after bankruptcy, whereas credit scores recover at a much slower pace for individuals who remain [in debt]. The credit score of bankrupt individuals exceeds the credit score of insolvent individuals by 40-80 points. In addition, those who go bankrupt open new unsecured accounts post-bankruptcy at a higher rate (by around 15 percentage points) than those who don’t file bankruptcy, while the number of inquiries is very similar across the two groups. This indicates a difference in access to credit, not demand for credit. [The Federal reserve] conclude[ed] from this evidence that the ability to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is associated with better access to credit, and while both insolvency and bankruptcy are forms of default, the debt discharge associated with bankruptcy leaves filers in a better financial position than individuals who become insolvent in similar circumstances.”

So your credit score could increase by 40-80 points! The money you are spending slow paying the minimums is money you can start SAVING or using to pay for essentials like groceries and gas instead of relying on the credit.  

It’s not time to wait. It’s time to handle your debt once and for all. Geraci Law is here for you. We’re happy to meet with you in office or virtually. It’s time to decide if you are ready to be DEBT FREE with a higher credit score and fresh start to reach your credit goals.

Read entire study here https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/pgoldsmithpinkham/files/dgy_bankruptcy.pdf  

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.

Happy Weekend From Geraci Law!

Want to discuss debt? Need some help with a budget? You can call us at 800 CALL PFG – we’re ready to help you even on Saturdays! Lots of helpful resources at http://www.infotapes.com.

Want to discuss debt? Need some help with a budget? You can call us at 800 CALL PFG – we’re ready to help you even on Saturdays! Lots of helpful resources at http://www.infotapes.com.

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.

Debt Blitz? Call Geraci Law!

Being nervous is 100% normal. If you are putting essentials like groceries, gas on a credit card every month because you are spending your cash paying minimums – then it’s time to call us. Admitting that you need help is difficult. But most of our clients feel RELIEVED they did.

Football starts this week. We hope you have your fantasy football lineups set! If you are struggling with debt, it may be time for a Hail Mary pass. The GOOD news that could be a consultation with a Geraci Law attorney.

Being nervous is 100% normal. If you are putting essentials like groceries, gas on a credit card every month because you are spending your cash paying minimums – then it’s time to call us. Admitting that you need help is difficult. But most of our clients feel RELIEVED they did.

Check out this balance calculator – https://www.bankrate.com/calculators/managing-debt/minimum-payment-calculator.aspx

Put in what your TOTAL credit card balance is. For an example, $20,000 in credit card debt at 18% interest with a minimum payment of $500 per month will take 411 months to pay off the balances. That’s OVER 34 YEARS. If you stayed on this plan, you would pay $29,423.50 for the original balance of $20,000! I imagine you could put $9,000 of money you are giving away to creditors to much better use.

Make a change. Call Geraci Law for a free consultation. If we cannot help you, we’ll tell you alternative options. We’re ready to help change your life for the better.

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.

Geraci Law in South Bend, Indiana

Geraci Law is taking Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases in South Bend Indiana!

Geraci Law is taking Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases in South Bend Indiana! If you are struggling with debt, we offer a FREE consultation with our experienced team to review your options!

We also handle cases in Elkhart, Mishawaka, and surrounding areas. We’re ready to help with debt and cheer on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish! Did you know South Bend hosts the one of the largest Dyngus Day celebrations outside of Poland?

SAD

Attorney John Sadler 

Attorney John Sadler is a senior court attorney and supervising attorney at Geraci Law. Attorney Sadler is admitted to the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Indiana, and the Southern District of Indiana. He has bar admissions in Indiana and Illinois.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice & Sociology and Juris Doctor from Indiana University. In his spare time, he enjoys camping, cycling, and other outdoor activities. He is a board member of a small non-profit cycling organization focused on raising money through cycling events for cancer research.

LAC

Attorney Lacey Faul 

Attorney Lacey Faul is a Senior Attorney at Geraci Law and has been with the firm since November 2009. She graduated from Purdue University in 2006 (Boiler Up!) with a major in Management and minors in Marketing and Human Resources & Organizational Behavior. She received her J.D. from Indiana University – Indianapolis in 2009 and joined Geraci Law soon after. She is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association – Bankruptcy Section, Indiana Bar Association, and Illinois Bar Association. She is licensed in the Southern District of Indiana and the Northern District of Illinois and has filed over 1,700 cases to help her clients become debt free. She takes pride in helping to ease her clients’ fears and loves to hear how relieved they are when their case is complete. In her free time she loves to relax with her dogs and husband and hopes to one day start marking places off her travel bucket list again!

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.

Chapter 10-What is the Real Price Difference Between Bankruptcy Lawyers?

An excerpt from Attorney Peter Francis Geraci’s “The Complete Book on Bankruptcy.” Learn more about misconceptions about bankruptcy!

You may be thinking about bankruptcy. You may have called a couple of law firms. Geraci Law can help you. Below is an excerpt from Attorney Peter Francis Geraci’s Complete Book on Bankruptcy about the REAL price difference between bankruptcy attorneys.

From Chapter 10 – What is the Real Price Difference Between Bankruptcy Lawyers?

I have found that there is very little difference in attorney’s fees. You can’t save more than a couple hundred dollars between lawyers’ fees for the same type of case. Some people like cheap doctors, and some people like cheap food. Some people pick attorneys by a $100 difference in price, not realizing that one deal your attorney makes can save or cost you thousands.

So, the cheapest lawyer in town is not necessarily the best. In other words, go for experience, not price, because there is not much difference in fees for consumer bankruptcies, but there is a big difference in the quality of the advice and service.

For instance, let’s say that 5 years later, a bill collector calls and says you left him off your petition, and he wants to be paid. Will you be able to call your attorney who did the Chapter 7, for advice, or will the telephone be disconnected? If it is Geraci Law, yes you can. 7 am to 7 pm and Saturdays until 1 PM. All your records are electronic. No voice mail either.

Usually, Chapter 7 fees can be paid in installments of as low as $100 a month. Chapter 13 Plans including attorney fees are as low as $95 biweekly. If you can’t afford $100 or $200 a month, you may have to ask friends or family to help you out.

In my opinion, anyone “shopping for fees” for a bankruptcy attorney, is not thinking clearly. If you can clear $10,000 in debt, tax free for $1500, it is a bargain. 10 payments of $150 or even $200 is a bargain.

Chapter 13 cases are even more of a bargain. In almost every state, the attorney fee is exactly the same. Most Chapter 13 cases get filed “no money down”, because it’s a repayment plan. Your attorney gets paid from your Chapter 13 payment, which takes care of attorney fees and all debt. Your Chapter 13 payment could be as low as $95 bi-weekly, or more depending on what debt you are paying back.

Geraci Law represents people on Social Security with low income, and people making over $100,000 a year. Anyone quoting the same fee for any case, on the phone, may be engaging in “bait and switch” tactics. But, if you are really were just looking for the cheapest lawyer in town, sadly for you, there are some poor lawyers at the bottom of their career that will work for free. You kind of get what you pay for.

Geraci Law is the largest filer of bankruptcies in Illinois Indiana and Wisconsin, and you will generally find that the largest law firms probably have the happiest clients, and about the same fees, when you get done, as the all-by-myself attorneys.

Lawyers that claim to be “cheap” can often end up costing you more! Beware of “cheap fee quotes on the phone”

In most Chapter 13 cases, you are saving a lot of money on interest, so the cost is less than paying the creditors at their contract rate of interest. However, Chapter 7 cases are usually cheaper than Chapter 13 cases in terms of total cost. Many “cheap” lawyers don’t know the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, so if you go there, you won’t know either.

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.

Don’t Labor Over Debt!

Don’t labor over debt this weekend – take a few minutes and go to http://www.infotapes.com and see what Geraci Law can do for you.

Don’t Labor Over Debt!

Geraci Law wishes everyone a Happy (and Safe) Labor Day weekend! It’s the workers both essential and nonessential that keep us going. Sometimes, even the hardest working need help.

Geraci Law is here if your hours are short, if your furlough becomes a lay off or if you are just in over your head.
Our attorneys are ready to consult if bankruptcy is an option for you to eliminate or consolidate your debt.

This weekend, check out http://www.infotapes.com. You can read some of our 30,000 positive reviews from REAL clients or ready about bankruptcy and how it can change your life for the better.


Celebrate safely this weekend! We’re closed on Monday but you can schedule online @ (SITE) or give us a call 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.

Free Consult In Evergreen Park

Come over to our Geraci Law Evergreen Park office – we’re offering FREE attorney consultations!

Free Consult In Evergreen Park

Come meet us in Evergreen Park for a FREE consultation regarding your financial options. We’re located at 3560 W. 95th St. Evergreen park is 2 minutes West of Western, 4 blocks West of Kedzie, 4 blocks East of Pulaski. Easy Parking int our Lot next to the building.

You can meet with any of our experienced Geraci Law Staff:

MMAAttorney Mario Arreola 

Mario M. Arreola is a highly respected Chicago based injury and bankruptcy attorney. He is a graduate of Mt. Carmel High School, University of Illinois, and the John Marshall Law School. He was born in 1958 in the neighborhood of South Chicago on the Southeast Side. The son of immigrant parents and father to four children and grandfather to eight.

Attorney Arreola has worked with Geraci Law, for more than 25 years and helped more than 20,000 clients solve their financial problems. For most of these years he has been the cornerstone of Geraci Law on the South Side of Chicago. Many of his clients simply know him as “Mr. Mario.”

TARAttorney Tarek Khalil 

Attorney Tarek Khalil is a senior attorney at Geraci Law. He is beloved by his clients. Attorney Khalil is one of the well-reviewed attorneys at Geraci Law. His clients call him, “overall great person,” “pleasant,” and “personable.”

He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from University of Illinois at Chicago. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law. He is fluent in Arabic and is a board member for American Muslims for Palestine in Chicago.

Support Staff to Make the Process Hassle-Free!

Isaac Bell

IZK

 

 

 

 

Steven Serrato 

SER

 

 

 

 

 

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 25,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.

Behind on Your Mortgage? Call PFG. 

The number of serious delinquencies is at a 10 YEAR HIGH – if you are behind on your mortgage, call Geraci Law.

Behind on Your Mortgage? Call PFG.

After the housing bubble burst in 2008, millions of Americans faced foreclosure on underwater properties. Over a decade later, homeowners are facing a new battle – job loss as a result of COVID-19.

Federal protections like the CARES Act halted foreclosure and eviction actions. But those protections ended on 7/31/2020. According to Black Knight – a mortgage/home data company, the number of SERIOUS delinquencies meaning a homeowner is at least 90 days behind is at a 10 year high.

The GOOD news, bankruptcy can help in most cases. If you are behind on your mortgage, filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy with Geraci Law can STOP the foreclosure. You are in a repayment plan to get current with your mortgage.

Chapter 13s are court supervised repayment plans. Once a chapter 13 case is filed, you are under bankruptcy protection from foreclosure or collection effort from your creditors. The BETTER news, Geraci Law can file a case in as little as ONE DAY to stop the foreclosure. We routinely file Chapter 13s for no money down.

If you got behind and you can afford your house – do not wait! Call Geraci Law for a free consultation to figure out a solution to keep your shelter in place.

Dial 1-800-CALL-PFG for a free phone mini-consultation, or make an appointment online 24/7 at www.infotapes.com.  Bankruptcy laws are in place to help you.  Who knows bankruptcy like Geraci Law?  Geraci Law has 30,000 5-star reviews 5starsince November 2016!

Read ALL ABOUT DEBT RELIEF at www.bankruptcybookbypeterfrancisgeraci.com.