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Amy Carst

Amy Carst

Contributing Writer

Amy Carst is a writer, human rights activist, and speaker. She has written for US News & World Reports, Vice, and various Vermont news publications. She writes for multiple law firms and human rights organizations and studied law until she realized she’d rather write for attorneys than be one. Prior to her career in legal writing, Amy spent several years in insurance and finance. She lives in Vermont with three children and a pit bull called Chompsky.


All ArticlesBefore FilingChapter 7Credit Card DebtDebtsDuring Bankruptcy CaseHow To FileNondischargeable DebtsStudent Loans

Articles written by Amy Carst

Understanding the Brunner Test: Can You Discharge Your Student Loans in Bankruptcy?

Written by Amy CarstLegally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated August 7, 2025

You can discharge your student loans in bankruptcy if you can prove that repaying the loans is causing (and will continue to cause) “undue hardship.” To determine this, bankruptcy courts and judges use what’s called the Brunner test. The test involves establishing whether you: - Would be unable to maintain a minimal standard of living while repaying student loans - Are suffering from circumstances that will make repayment a hardship for the remainder of the student loan term (or permanently) - Have made good faith efforts to repay the student loan(s) The Brunner test is complex. In the past, courts had little guidance to define “undue hardship,” beyond the somewhat vague Brunner test. Late last year, the Department of Justice and Department of Education released new guidelines to clarify this process for federal student loan borrowers.

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6 Tips for Settling Credit Card Debt Before Going to Court

Written by Amy CarstLegally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated July 22, 2025

If you’ve been sued for credit card debt, you may still have time to settle your debt before you go to court. Follow these six tips to settle your credit card debt outside of a lawsuit: 1. Remember that the other side is motivated to negotiate. 2. Research the debt and decide what your best option is. 3. Negotiate a settlement. 4. Don’t ignore court papers. 5. Accept that you can’t win them all — have a plan B. 6. Watch out for debt settlement scams.

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3 Things You Should Know About Bankruptcy Course 2

Written by Amy CarstLegally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated May 5, 2025

Every individual seeking bankruptcy relief must complete two educational courses: The credit counseling course is completed before the bankruptcy petition is filed with the court. The second course, on the other hand, can’t be completed until after the case has been filed. Without completing both courses, a bankruptcy filer cannot get their bankruptcy discharge. Here are 3 things you should know about the personal financial management course, including how it's different from credit counseling.

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Upsolve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that started in 2016. Our mission is to help low-income families resolve their debt and fix their credit using free software tools. Our team includes debt experts and engineers who care deeply about making the financial system accessible to everyone. We have world-class funders that include the U.S. government, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and leading foundations.

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.