Dowling Law Office

02/18/2024

If you run a legal ma*****na business in the State of Oklahoma that is in financial trouble or has failed, then you have probably found out that the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts are closed to you AND your business. I have put together a State law alternative for a failed ma*****na/cannabis business that I think produces a better result for a failed Corporation or Limited Liaibility Company in Oklahoma than a traditional Chapter 7 Bankruptcy....

If you run a legal ma*****na business in the State of Oklahoma that is in financial trouble or has failed, then you have probably found out that the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts are closed to you AND you…

01/02/2024

The Sleepless Nights of Debt Fear --

What Debt Fear scared you awake during the holidays? Terrifying what our brains can dream up in the middle of the night, isn’t it. I may be able to shine some light on whatever debt has turned itself into the monster under your bed – because it isn’t silly, and you aren’t foolish – you are out of control. Let’s see if we can find a way to change that.

Elaine Dowling – 405-842-8005
[email protected]

09/04/2023

Business fails. You've done everything. It wasn't enough. What do you do now? And then, it gets worse. How do you shut it down? What do you do with the remaining assets? Then, the phone calls. How do you answer them? What do you say? Can you file for bankruptcy on a failed business? Will that solve the problems? Will it end the chaos?...

If you would like to talk, email me at [email protected] or call my office at 405-842-8005.

Business fails. You’ve done everything. It wasn’t enough. What do you do now? And then, it gets worse. How do you shut it down? What do you do with the remaining assets? Then, the phone…

03/13/2023

Every year people use their tax refunds to get caught up on their credit cards. That is great, except all too often it isn't enough. Sure, it buys them 30 days, maybe 60 before the car needs new brakes or the Fridge dies or somebody winds up in the emergency room with hundreds in co-pays. Suddenly, they are struggling to make the minimum payments again....

Every year people use their tax refunds to get caught up on their credit cards. That is great, except all too often it isn’t enough. Sure, it buys them 30 days, maybe 60 before the car needs …

02/17/2023

There are a ton of debt management companies out there that will promise to consolidate your debt, or reduce your debt or give you ONE, LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT! All too often, they don’t work. Bankruptcy does, and there are really good reasons for that. Remember two things. First, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is; and second, there is a huge difference between a contract between you and a private company and Federal Law enforceable by the U.S....

There are a ton of debt management companies out there that will promise to consolidate your debt, or reduce your debt or give you ONE, LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT! All too often, they don’t work. Bankrupt…

02/15/2023

I've been getting a lot of calls from people who have just gotten a wage garnishment on a repo'd car that they had completely forgotten about. In most cases, these repos were 20 years ago or MORE! Excuse Me!?! How Does that happen? The first time I got the call, I was as shocked as the person calling me. Twenty years is a seriously long time, and the worst part of it is that interest (at the contract rate and these don't tend to be low interest loans) continued to accrue for that entire time....

You can be garnished for really old debt.

02/06/2023

Evidently, hardship 401K withdrawals are at record highs right now. Raiding your retirement account to pay bills seldom works out well in the long run. I explain why here:

When should you take an early withdrawal from a retirement account? If you need to do that to buy groceries and keep the utilities on — then, you have to do what you have to do to take care o…

02/06/2023

People frequently tell me that they are afraid that they make too much money to file for bankruptcy. Hogwash. If you have more debt than you can pay, you are going to qualify for at least one chapter of bankruptcy -- the question is which one. Virtually everyone can file either a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy or a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. There is an income and expense qualifier for filing, generally called the Means Test; but it can't bar you from the Bankruptcy Court, and it is not just income, it also includes reasonable and necessary expenses....

People frequently tell me that they are afraid that they make too much money to file for bankruptcy. Hogwash. If you have more debt than you can pay, you are going to qualify for at least one chapt…

01/26/2023

Before you talk to a bankruptcy attorney, you should consider the following: The type of bankruptcy that may be appropriate for your situation (Chapter 7 or Chapter 13) Whether you qualify for the type of bankruptcy you are considering How much you will have to pay to file for bankruptcy How you can afford the cost of the bankruptcy process…...

Before you talk to a bankruptcy attorney, you should consider the following: The type of bankruptcy that may be appropriate for your situation (Chapter 7 or Chapter 13) Whether you qualify for the …

09/13/2022

I spent this morning arguing at the Oklahoma Supreme Court. https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-turnpike-case-supreme-court/41197817?fbclid=IwAR0K9-2X5pEIgyRrXrP8FAPyP7xfJIy8fRn-dmzE0qqgqvpEyaPsmsDtYEA

Groups are trying to halt a series of new turnpikes in Oklahoma.

05/31/2022

If you don’t know where to start or what to ask about filing for bankruptcy, start here. First of all, if you have more debt than you can pay – you are probably eligible for some form of bankruptcy protection. Second, that last sentence used the term, “bankruptcy protection”, because the idea that people who owe more than they can pay need to be protected from their creditors is at the very heart of the bankruptcy process....

Bankruptcy basics