Dan Cooke, Attorney at Law

03/25/2024

The U.S. Department of Justice has published new median, gross annual income data for use in bankruptcy cases filed on or after April 1, 2024. For Minnesota residents, the figures have increased, making it more likely that you will qualify for Chapter 7 relief. Here is how much the median amounts

03/23/2023

Updates to median income figures for April 1, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Justice has published new median, gross annual income data for use in bankruptcy cases filed on or after April 1, 2023. For Minnesota residents, the figures have increased, making it more likely that you will qualify for Chapter 7 relief. Here is how much the median amounts w

11/17/2022

Today, the U.S. DOJ announced new standards will be applied when considering applications to discharge federal student loans in bankruptcy.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that it will be using a new process to determine whether to oppose the discharge of federal student loans in bankruptcy.

03/22/2021

New Means Test Amounts announced; effective for bankruptcy cases filed on or after April 1, 2021.

https://dancookelaw.com/blog/2021/3/22/new-means-test-amounts-effective-april-1-2021

02/25/2021

Three steps to take today to resolve debt issues.

As a bankruptcy lawyer, I spend most of my workday helping my clients file for bankruptcy protection. But bankruptcy isn’t the only solution to all debt issues, and may not even be the right one. For anyone struggling with debt, I suggest you follow these three broad steps:

02/19/2018

A quick summary of federal student loan repayment options.

Americans owe over $1.48 trillion in student loan debt, spread out among about 44 million borrowers. Recent estimates put that at about $620 billion more than the total U.S. credit card debt. The average Class of 2016 graduate has $37,172 in student loan debt, up six percent from last year. As you

09/11/2017

What Happens to My Student Loans in Bankruptcy?

Current U.S. laws do not allow most student loans to be discharged in bankruptcy. So what can you do to deal with them? And what, if anything, happens to them if you do file for bankruptcy protection? It mainly depends on what kind of bankruptcy you file: Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter

01/17/2017

Hopefully you never have to deal with this, but here are a few things to be aware of if you are ever sued.

Getting sued is stressful. A sense of panic can set in after the process server or sheriff knocks on your door and hands you or someone in your home an envelope full of legal papers, or just leaves the envelope on your doorstep. But does a lawsuit mean you need to file bankruptcy right away to stop…

10/06/2016

Starting next month, it's going to get a little easier to qualify for Chapter 7 relief.

The U.S. Department of Justice has published new median, gross income data for use in bankruptcy cases filed on or after November 1, 2016. For Minnesota residents, the figures have increased, making it more likely that you will qualify for Chapter 7 relief. The new figures are available on the Means...

08/09/2016

There are a few things filers need to know about life after bankruptcy.

What will your life be like after filing for bankruptcy protection? You've probably heard the words "fresh start" before. But what do those words mean when it comes to the nuts and bolts of living with a recent bankruptcy on your credit reports? Here are some of the changes you can expect. YOUR CRED...