Law services allow ordinary people to understand complicated real estate issues like mortgages and foreclosure, partner at firm says

Chicago, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/18/2014 -- According to the National Association of Realtors, six out of 10 homeowners wish they had a better understanding of their mortgage terms or details. The Association also notes that six out of every 10 homeowners who are facing foreclosure do not know of the help their mortgage companies may be able to provide. With these facts in mind, David Chang, a partner at Chang and Carlin, LLP (http://www.changandcarlin.com/), announced his legal firm's real estate law services.

"Many people don't realize how helpful it can be to hire a real estate lawyer in Chicago (http://www.changandcarlin.com/real-estate/chicago-real-estate-attorney)," Chang says, "so they try to navigate dangerous legal waters on their own. This often leads to trouble with mortgages and other standard agreements. It's even worse when foreclosure looms. Houses can be lost thanks to a lack of understanding of mortgage terms, help available, and the legal requirements for a foreclosure to be approved by the courts."

"One of the problems we see is the idea that a real estate lawyer only handles big transactions or complex deals," Chang notes. "In reality, most people should hire a lawyer to read and demystify every real estate contract or mortgage before it gets signed. Doing this will save a person from running into unexpected trouble related to their legal agreements."

We then noted that sometimes, ads will appear claiming that people can avoid foreclosure by declaring bankruptcy. Since we were talking to a lawyer, we decided to ask if this is really true. "It's absolutely not true," Chang told us. "What really happens is that, when it comes to foreclosure, a bankruptcy declaration just postpones the inevitable. Collections are temporarily blocked until the case comes up in court, but then, the bank will get the court's okay to proceed with the foreclosure. We address these and other bankruptcy myths in the free ebook that we offer on our site."

This doesn't mean that bankruptcy isn't a solution to anything. Instead, it just means that a filing has some limitations. "To learn even more about bankruptcy filing, someone who is in debt should talk to one of our bankruptcy lawyers in Chicago. If it turns out that a filing is a good idea, our attorneys will handle the entire case. We'll also be sure to let the client know exactly what will be involved with the filing they are considering."

Finally, we noted that many people only hire lawyers if they have encountered some kind of trouble. "This is true," Chang said, "but it's not the best practice. It's usually worth it to have an attorney look over documents before they are ever signed. This way, clients can either move ahead with the deal or renegotiate as appropriate."

About Chang and Carlin, LLP
Chang and Carlin, LLP is a law firm that focuses on real estate law, bankruptcy, foreclosure services, and tax issues. It has served over 10,000 clients through its four offices around Chicago.

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Individuals Lack the Experience Required to Navigate the Complex Legal System

Chicago, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/09/2014 -- Bankruptcy filings in the United States continue to drop, falling 13 percent in 2013, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute. Business bankruptcies dropped by 24 percent, bringing them to their lowest level since 2006, yet many businesses and families continue to struggle with debt and find they need to consider filing for bankruptcy in Chicago Illinois. "When one feels they have no other options available to handle overwhelming debt, bankruptcy attorneys at Chang and Carlin LLP will be happy to assist the business or individual as they move through the legal process involved with the filing," David Chang of Chang and Carlin, LLP explains.

Although laws remain in place to protect consumers from creditor harassment, debt collectors often find ways to avoid these laws and continue the harassment, leading to additional emotional distress. Furthermore, federal bankruptcy laws take precedence in legal proceedings, yet each state enacts additional laws, which makes the bankruptcy filing process complex and not something the average person should take on alone. "Chang and Carlin, LLP handles bankruptcy filings across the state and offers four convenient locations to assist consumers looking for relief from their debt, while a free consultation helps individuals learn where they stand when it comes to obtaining this relief," Chang continues.

Illinois put into place laws concerning real and personal property exemptions, one area which tends to confuse many individuals considering bankruptcy. For example, individuals may use the Illinois homestead exemption to protect up to $15,000 in equity in the home of residence and this exemption applies to each person, while the motor vehicle exemption works to protect $2,400 of value of one motor vehicle. "Consumers often mistakenly believe they lose everything when they file for bankruptcy, but this isn't the case as the federal and state governments have put exemptions into place to help these individuals," Chang goes on to say.

The above mentioned exemptions are only two examples of protections put into place by the government for individuals wishing to file bankruptcy. Many others exist, including the tools of the trade exemption and the wild card exemption. "When one meets with an attorney from Chang and Carlin, LLP, he or she protects their financial future while having their interests properly represented. Whether one is facing bankruptcy or foreclosure or is in need of assistance with tax and IRS issues, the attorneys at Chang and Carlin, LLP will be more than happy to help navigate the legal system to get the matter resolved quickly," Chang declares.

About Chang and Carlin, LLP
Chang and Carlin, LLP handles thousands of bankruptcy and real estate matters, representing real estate transactions and debtors along with IRS and tax related legal matters, gathering the experience needed to provide legal representation to clients.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Chicago's Unemployed Tops Los Angeles For Dubious Honor Of Highest Unemployment

Chicago, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/22/2013 -- While much of the nation is seeing drops in the joblessness rates, the city of Chicago continues to report in at 9.1, or two percentage points higher than the national average. The situation is worse in the city where 10.3 of the residents were jobless and looking, according to statistics released by the Bureau of Labor. These numbers, for the third straight month, beat out Los Angeles for the highest unemployment amid the top metro areas in population. With these high unemployment numbers in mind, David Chang of Chang and Carlin LLP, a Chicago Bankruptcy law firm, says Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy are often the answer for those who've lost one or both of their family's incomes, to re-structure their debt.

Says Chang, "Bankruptcy laws in Illinois are designed to help individuals and families struggling with debt stop harassing creditors. A bankruptcy attorney in Chicago can help you decide which bankruptcy option may best suit your needs. For many families who've lost one of their jobs, keeping their home is their primary concern. If one of them still has a job, filing for Chapter 13 may be the best option. If you're struggling with mortgage payments and foreclosure is looming on the horizon, you may want to turn to Chapter 13 Bankruptcy to save your home. Filing for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy allows a debtor to make payments on outstanding debt, including mortgage payments, over a period of up to 60 months. Successful admittance into Chapter 13 also halts the foreclosure process in its tracks."

Chang goes on to explain about the other personal bankruptcy option, Chapter 7, saying, "It's sometimes referred to as liquidation, and is a way to eliminate unsecured debt when you're in over your head with your monthly payments. A bankruptcy trustee liquidates your unprotected assets to pay part of your bills, and the resulting discharge can take care of money owed on credit cards, medical bills, personal unsecured loans and many other types of unsecured debt. However, while Chapter 7 can erase your mortgage debt, it won't eliminate a lender's lien or legal claim on your house. That means the lender still has the right to foreclose. Thus, Chapter 13 may be a better option if you're trying to save your home through bankruptcy."

Chang advises any homeowner or those who are facing insurmountable debt but are renting to call Chicago Bankruptcy Laywers sooner, rather than later, saying, "The first thing you want to do is stop the harassing creditors and bill collectors from calling you daily, reducing the stress in your life so you can get your life back on track. They can also help you to find the best path to build a financially stable future. With flexible payment plans and reasonable attorney fees, you should feel confident and comfortable having an experienced lawyer on your side throughout the process."

About Chang and Carlin
Chang and Carlin, LLP offers personal, confidential and efficient legal experience in the areas of bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, residential real estate for the Chicago, Illinois area, foreclosure services, and tax and IRS legal issues. They are committed to offering aggressive representation and a one on one legal experience for a very reasonable fee. The Chang and Carlin bankruptcy attorneys and real estate lawyers have been involved in thousands of bankruptcy matters, representing debtors. They have the experience to provide the legal representation clients deserve in a bankruptcy case.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm