Curtis Lee is a writer and co-owner at Marvel Hill Freelance. Curtis earned his Bachelor of Science in Business from Wake Forest University and his Juris Doctor (JD) from Villanova University School of Law. After graduating law school, Curtis had the honor of clerking for a state court Judge in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. Following the clerkship, Curtis spent several years in private practice engaged in civil litigation handling first party property insurance matters. Most of Curtis’ writing covers a wide range of legal topics, including bankruptcy, criminal law, family law, immigration law, insurance, employment, defamation, and personal injury. He also has experience writing about other subjects, including education, finance, disaster preparedness, and the U.S. armed forces.
Articles written by Curtis Lee, JD
How Do You Respond To a Debt Collection Lawsuit in New York?
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated August 15, 2025
If you get sued by a creditor looking to collect a debt, you’ll be notified of the lawsuit with a summons and complaint. In New York, you have 20 or 30 days to respond to (answer) the debt collection lawsuit. The time frame depends on how you were served notice of the lawsuit. In your response (answer) you’ll want to address each issue listed in the complaint and assert your affirmative defenses and counterclaims. Then, file your answer with the court and send the plaintiff a copy. This article walks you through the process and potential defenses.
Read More →Can I Keep Money I Receive From a Lawsuit When I File Bankruptcy?
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated August 13, 2025
If you bring a lawsuit or have the right to bring one against someone for a personal injury case, that's considered an asset during your bankruptcy case. Just like other assets, this may be protected by a bankruptcy exemption. If the potential personal injury reward isn't protected or fully protected by an exemption, the nonexempt portion of the award can be used to pay off your creditors as part of your bankruptcy case.
Read More →How To Deal With Velocity Investments
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated August 7, 2025
Velocity Investments LLC is a debt collector that specializes in recovering consumer debts, like personal loans, credit cards, medical bills, and utility bills. If you receive a call or letter from Velocity Investments, make sure they’ve validated the debt in writing. If the debt is valid, you can choose to dispute the debt, negotiate a debt settlement, or ignore the debt (not recommended). This guide goes over your options and the debt validation process.
Read More →How To Win Against Revco Solutions
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated July 22, 2025
If Revco Solutions tries to collect a debt from you, you have options and can fight back. The first thing you should do is have Revco Solutions validate the debt to confirm they have authorization to collect it. Then, verify that the debt is yours and the amount is correct. If you disagree with the debt, you can dispute it. If the debt’s details are correct, you can try to negotiate a settlement for less than what you owe. If Revco Solutions sues you, you can still negotiate the debt, but you must also respond to the summons and complaint. Otherwise, you risk them garnishing your paycheck or bank account.
Read More →How To Win Against MBA Law
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated July 22, 2025
If MBA Law contacts you to collect a debt or tries to sue you for a debt, you have rights and can fight back. To start, have them validate the debt. If they can validate the debt but you disagree with it, you can dispute it. If the debt is valid and you agree that you owe it, you can pay it off in full or try to settle the account for less than what you owe. These negotiations are common with debt collectors like MBA Law. If MBA Law sues you, it’s best to respond quickly, or you risk losing the lawsuit and potentially having your paycheck garnished.
Read More →How To Deal With Creditors That Contact You After You File Bankruptcy
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 15, 2025
If a debt collector contacts you after you've filed your bankruptcy case, you'll first want to make sure they know about your case. If it's been less than two weeks since you filed, they may not have been informed yet. If they weren't aware, let them know. If they indicate they know you filed bankruptcy but they refuse to stop trying to collect the debt, you can notify the bankruptcy court or speak with an attorney. Creditors aren't allowed to contact you after you file your case because of the automatic stay.
Read More →What Is Non-Exempt Equity?
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 12, 2025
In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, there are exemptions to protect some of the equity you have in your assets, like a home, car, or household items. If the exemption for a certain item doesn’t cover all the equity you have in it, you have non-exempt equity. Depending on how much non-exempt you have, the bankruptcy trustee may liquidate (sell) the item and give the proceeds to your creditors.
Read More →What Is the Presumption of Abuse in Bankruptcy?
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 7, 2025
You need to meet certain eligibility requirements to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If your income is higher than the median income for a similar-sized household in your state, this flags the bankruptcy court of a "presumption of abuse." This doesn't mean you can't file Chapter 7 or that you've abused the system. It does mean you must do more calculations as part of the means test to prove that you don't make enough money to repay your debts and that you aren't taking advantage of the bankruptcy process.
Read More →Why Is the Trustee Asking Creditors To File a Proof of Claim?
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 24, 2025
If your bankruptcy trustee is asking your creditors to file a proof of claim, it’s likely because the trustee discovered non-exempt assets in your case. Most Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases are no-asset cases. But if you have non-exempt property or assets, the trustee can liquidate or sell them. The funds from the sale are then used to repay your creditors at least part of what you owe. If a creditor wants to recover money through the liquidation process, they have to file paperwork called a proof of claim.
Read More →New York State Wage Garnishment Laws: Your Complete Guide
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 22, 2025
Most creditors must get a court order to garnish your wages if you live in New York. Two exceptions are garnishments for public debts (like past-due taxes and family debts (like child support). The law limits how much of your weekly earnings a creditor can take through wage garnishment. These limits vary based on the minimum wage where you live and the type of debt you owe. Finally, an employer can’t fire you because you have a wage garnishment order against you.
Read More →How To Vacate a Default Judgment in New York: An Overview
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 21, 2025
If you get sued and you don’t respond to the lawsuit’s complaint and summons, the court can enter a default judgment. But you can have this judgment vacated or removed. To do so, you need to have a reasonable excuse for not appearing in court and a defense to the allegations against you. You also have grounds to vacate if the person suing you didn’t properly serve the required documents. You can speed up the process by using an Order to Show Cause form.
Read More →How Does Debt Consolidation Work?
Written by Curtis Lee, JD.
Updated April 17, 2025
Debt consolidation allows you to simplify your debt repayment by combining multiple debts with a consolidation loan or debt management plan. This way you only have to make one monthly payment on the consolidated debt. Both consolidation options allow you to lower your interest rate and monthly payment, which also helps make your debt more manageable. This can help you make on-time payment and avoid missing payments.
Read More →What Is a Debt Validation Letter and How Do You Get One?
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 17, 2025
A debt validation letter is a letter that includes basic information about a debt someone is trying to collect from you. If a debt collector is trying to collect an unpaid debt, they’re required by law to send you a debt validation letter before contacting you or within five days of their first contact with you.
Read More →Can’t Afford Your Car Payment? Here Are Your Options
Written by Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated February 18, 2025
If you can’t afford your car payment, you have options to either keep your car or let it go. You may be able to refinance your loan, work with your lender on a hardship program, or use bankruptcy to free up money for payments. If keeping the car isn’t feasible, surrendering it, selling it, or using bankruptcy to eliminate remaining loan balances are all options to consider. This article explains these strategies and their pros and cons to help you decide the best path forward.
Read More →How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Delaware
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer, Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated August 21, 2025
If you live in Delaware and are struggling with debt, Chapter 7 bankruptcy can help you erase many unsecured debts and get a fresh start — often without hiring a lawyer. This guide covers each step, from gathering documents and taking required courses to filing forms and attending a short trustee meeting. You’ll also learn about Delaware’s generous exemptions that protect your home, car, and other essentials. If your case is simple, you may even qualify to use Upsolve’s free filing tool to get started at no cost.
How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Washington D.C. Without a Lawyer
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer, Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated August 20, 2025
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.
How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Arkansas
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer, Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated August 19, 2025
Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Arkansas can help individuals eliminate unsecured debts like credit cards and medical bills without needing a lawyer. This step-by-step guide explains how to file on your own, from gathering documents and completing forms to submitting paperwork to the appropriate court. It also covers key requirements like taking two financial courses, passing the means test, and understanding property exemptions. Free tools like Upsolve and local legal aid resources can make the process more accessible for those who qualify.
How To File Bankruptcy for Free in California
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer, Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated August 14, 2025
Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in California can help you erase debts like credit cards, medical bills, and payday loans, giving you a fresh financial start. This step-by-step guide shows you how to file for free, from gathering documents and taking credit counseling to submitting your forms and attending the 341 meeting. It also explains how to protect your property using California’s bankruptcy exemptions. Each California district has its own rules, so the guide includes specific filing instructions based on where you live.
How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Oklahoma
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer, Curtis Lee, JD. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated August 5, 2025
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.
