Law Offices of Nicholas Gebelt

06/02/2026

Am I Required To Report A Raise To The Bankruptcy Trustee?

That’s an interesting question because things are a little vague here. In theory, yes, you should keep the Chapter 13 Trustee appraised of what is going on. But remember that each year that you’re in bankruptcy, you are required to send copies of your tax returns to the trustee no later than 10 days after you file them.

Learn more here: https://www.goodbye2debt.com/what-happens-if-you-get-a-raise-or-bonus-during-chapter-13-in-orange-county-ca/

05/20/2026

Are Annual Bonuses Treated Differently Than Base Salary Increases?

Any annual bonuses will be reflected on your income tax return. A Trustee may assert that you must share an annual bonus with your creditors unless you’re already in a 100% repayment plan. It may be that by the time the Trustee finds out about the annual bonus, you’ve already spent it, but a bonus is certainly something a Trustee will be very interested in.

Learn more here: https://www.goodbye2debt.com/the-impact-of-bonuses-on-your-chapter-13-bankruptcy-case-in-los-angeles-county/

05/11/2026

What Qualifies As A “Material Change” In Income?

Now we’re in a vague realm. What is “material?”? There aren’t any posted standards and there’s no case law that states “this amount is material and this amount is nominal.”

However, I do remember attending a continuing legal education program conducted by the Chapter 13 Trustee in Orange County, a nice guy named Amran Cohen. Someone in the audience posed a similar question. In response, he stated that if there were a roughly 25% income increase, then he would ask the judge to increase plan payments.

Learn more here: https://www.goodbye2debt.com/how-income-changes-impact-your-chapter-13-orange-county-bankruptcy-case/

04/27/2026

What Exactly Is Debt Settlement, And How Is It Marketed To Orange County Residents?

A company that does this sort of thing will tell you, “We’ll work things out with your creditors. We’ll negotiate with them so that you can come into a program that’s manageable. You’ll be able to pay your debts, perhaps at a reduced amount over time, and this will take care of all of your problems.”
Learn more here: https://www.goodbye2debt.com/the-hidden-dangers-of-debt-settlement-in-orange-county-ca-what-most-companies-wont-tell-you/

04/15/2026

How Secured And Unsecured Debts Are Handled In California Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Explains Lawyer

Watch here: https://youtu.be/LBhdXetVmEc

http://www.goodbye2debt.com/Law Offices of Nicholas Gebelt15150 Hornell StWhittier, CA 90604(562) 777-9159Including both secured and unsecured debts is not o...

04/02/2026

What Happens When You Exceed Your Debt Limit During Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Explains Attorney –

Watch here: https://youtu.be/NgBChdkUWzY

http://www.goodbye2debt.com/Law Offices of Nicholas Gebelt15150 Hornell StWhittier, CA 90604(562) 777-9159Debt ceilings go into effect the day you file your ...

03/24/2026

State And Federal Debts For Filing Chapter 13 Bankruptcy In California Explained By An Attorney –

Watch here: https://youtu.be/espqxBAlPdo

http://www.goodbye2debt.com/Law Offices of Nicholas Gebelt15150 Hornell StWhittier, CA 90604(562) 777-9159The debt limits in California are actually federal,...

03/16/2026

Still Hesitating About Chapter 13 Bankruptcy In California? Key Advice From An Experienced Attorney –

Watch here: https://youtu.be/ogKjpIJrZeA

http://www.goodbye2debt.com/Law Offices of Nicholas Gebelt15150 Hornell StWhittier, CA 90604(562) 777-9159My goal with my clients is to separate misinformati...

03/02/2026

How To Rebuild Your Credit Score After A Chapter 13 Bankruptcy In California, Explained By A Lawyer –

Watch here: https://youtu.be/lQi1n5EGuNU

http://www.goodbye2debt.com/Law Offices of Nicholas Gebelt15150 Hornell StWhittier, CA 90604(562) 777-9159As I stated above, the theory is that you can start...

01/09/2026

The Impact Of Chapter 13 Bankruptcy On Credit Scores Explained By California Lawyer Nicholas Gebelt

Watch here: https://youtu.be/dA6UI3biZs4

http://www.goodbye2debt.com/Law Offices of Nicholas Gebelt15150 Hornell StWhittier, CA 90604(562) 777-9159While Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is primarily meant to el...