2020 Best Invention
Attorney Amelia Niemi

Attorney Amelia Niemi

Bankruptcy Attorney

Amelia Niemi is an attorney licensed in Illinois. She received her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. At DePaul, she was a staff writer for the DePaul Journal of Art, Technology & Intellectual Property Law. Her legal practice includes multi-million-dollar international breach of contract cases, negotiating and drafting international licensing and manufacturing agreements, appellate litigation, and international intellectual property matters.


All ArticlesBankruptcy BasicsBefore FilingCarsChapter 13Consumer RightsDebtsDeciding To FileDuring Bankruptcy CaseProperty Exemptions

Articles written by Attorney Amelia Niemi

How to Find Out What Debt Collectors You Owe

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated February 10, 2022

If it feels like you’re drowning in a sea of debt, it can seem impossible to find a life raft, especially if the debt collectors have already started circling. Getting a handle on who you owe and how much money you owe them is an important first step in sorting out your personal finances. This article will give you some tips and tools you can use to climb aboard that life raft, grab a paddle, and start sorting out your financial life.

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Do I Still Owe After My Car Is Repossessed?

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated November 29, 2021

Unfortunately, having your car repossessed isn’t the end of the road on your car loan. Many Americans owe more on their car than it is worth and their loan is “underwater.” Here’s what you need to know about vehicle repossession and how Chapter 7 bankruptcy can offer some debt relief.

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What are preferential payments in bankruptcy?

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated October 2, 2021

This article will explore what constitutes a preferential payment and why it matters to you if you’re thinking about filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

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How Can I Repair My Credit Myself?

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated September 22, 2021

This article will explain how credit reports and credit scores work and provide some simple but effective steps you can take that will help improve your credit score. You probably won’t be able to go from a 550 to a 800 credit score overnight but there are definite steps you can take that will help you repair your credit by yourself, without needing to hire a credit repair company.

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Chapter 13 bankruptcy & Small Business Owners

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated September 3, 2020

Owning your own business has a lot of benefits. You’re the boss and you get to make the rules. On the downside, you take on a lot of risk, and you’re responsible for managing the books. This is doubly so when it comes to your bankruptcy filing. Read on to learn what you should know about business bankruptcy and Chapter 13.

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Unsecured Credit Debt

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated August 26, 2020

This article will help you understand what unsecured debt is, and how bankruptcy might be able to help you eliminate various unsecured debts. It will also discuss managing student loans, a type of debt that isn’t secured, but also usually isn’t dischargeable in bankruptcy.

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How can a trustee find out about an inheritance?

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated August 11, 2020

The Bankruptcy Code provides that an inheritance the filer becomes entitled to receive in the 180 days after their case is filed has to be turned over to the bankruptcy trustee so it can be paid to creditors. This article will explore why this rule exists, how it works exactly, and why it’s never a good idea to try and hide things from the trustee.

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Bankruptcy and Immigration

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated July 28, 2020

This article will address some common concerns that immigrants may have about filing bankruptcy, and illustrate that in the vast majority of cases, bankruptcy and immigration do not have an effect on one other. It will also explore the few situations wherein filing bankruptcy could have a negative effect on an immigration application.

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How Will Bankruptcy Affect My Professional License?

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated July 22, 2020

There are many benefits to filing bankruptcy, such as the automatic stay, which protects you until your debt is discharged. However, before getting the bankruptcy ball rolling, it’s important to consider how filing could affect other aspects of your life, including your career and professional qualifications. This article will discuss how bankruptcy will, and probably won’t, affect your professional license and what you should know before you file.

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Everything the Average American Consumer needs to know about Involuntary Bankruptcy

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated July 22, 2020

While no one ever wants to file bankruptcy, the vast majority of bankruptcy cases filed in the United States are voluntary bankruptcy cases. Voluntary bankruptcy cases are initiated when the debtor submits their voluntary petition to the bankruptcy court. It is possible, however, for creditors to initiate an involuntary bankruptcy case against someone.

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What happens if your debt goes to a collections company?

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated July 22, 2020

Most of us have a pile of “to-dos” that never seem to be done. For many people, this includes a stack of bills and debts that just keep getting higher. As much as you’d love to pay off that medical debt, there’s never quite enough to go around on payday. Having this debt hang over your head can be really stressful. A lot of people sit up at night, worrying about what will happen next to their debt. Read more to find out what debt collectors can – and can’t – do, how they might legally be able to claim that money, and how this might affect your credit history.

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What is a Proof of Claim in Bankruptcy?

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated July 22, 2020

A proof of claim is what creditors are required to submit to the bankruptcy court before they can receive any money from the bankruptcy trustee. It’s the creditors’ way of saying, “I’m owed money, and here is how much, and why.” The trustee and the person who filed bankruptcy are given an opportunity to review and may object to any proof of claim that is filed in the case. Let’s take a closer look at how this all works.

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How To File Bankruptcy for Free in New Hampshire

Written by Attorney Amelia NiemiLegally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated May 10, 2023

Filing for bankruptcy doesn’t have to be scary and confusing. We provide helpful tips and resources to help you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in your state without a lawyer.

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How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Wisconsin

Written by Attorney Amelia NiemiLegally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated May 10, 2023

Filing for bankruptcy doesn’t have to be scary and confusing. We provide helpful tips and resources to help you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in your state without a lawyer.

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How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Maine

Written by Attorney Amelia NiemiLegally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated May 17, 2022

Filing for bankruptcy doesn’t have to be scary and confusing. We provide helpful tips and resources to help you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in your state without a lawyer.

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How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Oregon

Written by Attorney Amelia NiemiLegally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated February 9, 2022

Filing for bankruptcy doesn’t have to be scary and confusing. We provide helpful tips and resources to help you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in your state without a lawyer.

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How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Missouri

Written by Attorney Amelia NiemiLegally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated February 9, 2022

Filing for bankruptcy doesn’t have to be scary and confusing. We provide helpful tips and resources to help you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in your state without a lawyer.

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Filing Bankruptcy in Charlotte, North Carolina

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated August 17, 2020

Please note that we don't operate in North Carolina yet but look forward to expanding into your state. You're welcome to keep reading - our content is free for anyone looking to learn more about bankruptcy & filing without a lawyer.

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Filing Bankruptcy in Charlotte, North Carolina

Written by Attorney Amelia Niemi
Updated August 17, 2020

Please note that we don't operate in North Carolina yet but look forward to expanding into your state. You're welcome to keep reading - our content is free for anyone looking to learn more about bankruptcy & filing without a lawyer.

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Y-Combinator

Upsolve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that started in 2016. Our mission is to help low-income families who cannot afford lawyers file bankruptcy for free, using an online web app. Our team includes lawyers, engineers, and judges. We have world-class funders that include the U.S. government, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and leading foundations. It's one of the greatest civil rights injustices of our time that low-income families can't access their basic rights when they can't afford to pay for help. Combining direct services and advocacy, we're fighting this injustice.

To learn more, read why we started Upsolve in 2016, our reviews from past users, and our press coverage from places like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.