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Lawyer John Coble

Lawyer John Coble

Bankruptcy Attorney

John Coble has practiced as both a CPA and an attorney. John's legal specialties were tax law and bankruptcy law. Before starting his own firm, John worked for law offices, accounting firms, and one of America's largest banks. John handled almost 1,500 bankruptcy cases in the eight years that he ran his own law office. John has spent the last few years developing software and working on select data science projects. John holds a second law degree (LLM in Taxation) from the University of Alabama School of Law and a Data Science Certificate from Microsoft. John has worked on other graduate-level education in the fields of business and economics.


All ArticlesAfter BankruptcyBankruptcy BasicsCarsChapter 7Consumer RightsCredit IssuesDebtsDeciding To FileHow To FileMeans TestNon BankruptcyProperty ExemptionsTaxesWage Garnishment

Articles written by Lawyer John Coble

Do I Still Owe the Bank After a Mortgage Foreclosure?

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated August 7, 2025

The proceeds of a foreclosure sale don't always cover the total balance that a homeowner owes their lenders. When this occurs, the remainder owed is referred to as a deficiency balance. State law dictates when and how a lender may hold a borrower responsible for a deficiency balance. Borrowers may proactively work out a repayment arrangement with their lenders, they may seek to have the balance forgiven via bankruptcy, or they may be held responsible for repayment of the balance via a deficiency judgment.

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Can I Walk Away From a Mortgage?

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated August 7, 2025

If you’re struggling financially and can’t make payments on your mortgage loan, you may be wondering what to do. If you owe more on your house than what it's worth, it could make sense to quit making payments and walk away from your mortgage, but it's good to keep in mind that there are consequences to walking away from a mortgage. There are also other options available to you for making your mortgage payment more manageable. Read on to learn about what you can do if you're upside down on your mortgage loan.

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4 Facts About Child Support and Garnishment

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated August 7, 2025

If you’ve been ordered to pay child support, you probably have a lot of questions. How did the court determine that you should pay this amount? What happens if you fall behind on payments? Could you go to jail or lose your license for not paying child support? What can you do if you can’t afford to make the payments you’ve been ordered to make? All these questions and more are covered in this article.

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Is the Money I Make From Self-Employment Considered Business Income, and How Will This Affect My Bankruptcy?

Written by the Upsolve TeamLegally reviewed by Lawyer John Coble
Updated July 30, 2025

If you're self-employed (as a sole proprietor, gig worker, or independent contractor) and you're struggling with business or personal debt, you can file personal bankruptcy like Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. If you have a separate business entity like an LLC or corporation, you also have the option to put your business into bankruptcy.

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How (and Why) To File Back Taxes if You Haven’t Filed in Years

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated June 30, 2025

If you haven't filed a tax return in years, you may be wondering how to get back on track. The best way to make up for missed filings is to go back and file your old/missed returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Late or missing tax return filings can lead to penalties and possible legal trouble. If you have missed any tax filings in previous years, gather your old tax forms and file as soon as possible. You can file old tax returns online, in person at a local IRS office, or by mail.

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Rebuilt Title Car Loans Explained

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated June 19, 2025

When a car's title is classified as a "salvage" title, this means that the vehicle has either been severely damaged or totaled. If the vehicle is repaired, the salvage title classification may shift to a "rebuilt" title. Buyers should be cautious when purchasing a vehicle with a rebuilt title because the car or truck may cost more to insure and the purchase may be harder to finance. Buying a vehicle with a salvage title is a process additionally burdened by the costs of repairing the damaged car.

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What Are Bankruptcy-Friendly Credit Cards?

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated June 19, 2025

It’s important to rebuild your credit after a bankruptcy. The good news is that you’ll get plenty of offers for credit after your bankruptcy discharge. The bad news is that some of those offers won’t be great, with high interest rates or hidden fees. If you want to rebuild your credit, you need to find the right card to work for you. Read on to learn about some of your options.

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How Much Money Can Be Garnished From My Paycheck?

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 22, 2025

This article will discuss the basics of wage garnishments, how wage garnishments are calculated, what income is exempt from garnishment, and how to stop a garnishment. Once you understand your options, you’ll be empowered to use whatever options apply best to your situation.

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What Is a Lien and How Does It Affect My Property?

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 15, 2025

A lien is a property right held by a creditor to secure the creditor’s right to payment from the borrower. Once the creditor is paid in full, the lien is released and the borrower owns the property free and clear. This article will provide an overview of the different types of liens, how they arise, and provide some guidance and additional resources on how to deal with liens in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

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What Does It Mean That a Bankruptcy Is Public Record?

Written by Lawyer John Coble, Your Upsolve TeamLegally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated May 8, 2025

Bankruptcy cases are processed through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, which is part of the federal court system. Like all other court documents, your bankruptcy petition becomes a public record. This means any member of the public can access the information on your bankruptcy forms either through PACER or by going to the courthouse.

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Can You Sell a Car That Has a Lien on the Title?

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 6, 2025

If you want to sell a car that has a lien on the title, you’ll need to take a few extra steps. If you trade your car in with a dealer, they’ll handle the process. If you sell to a private party, you’ll need to handle getting the lien released. You can do this at the lender’s office or hire an escrow company to help. If you have negative equity in the car, you’ll need to be able to pay it off to get the lien released.

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How Long Will a Collection Account Stay on My Credit Report?

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 22, 2025

Paying off a collection account isn't enough to get it removed from your credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires creditors and collection agencies to report accurate information to the credit bureaus. This article discusses how long collections accounts can stay on your credit report, whether a collection account hurts your credit score, and what you may be able to do to get the collection account off your credit report.

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How Will Filing Bankruptcy Affect My Children?

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 22, 2025

If you’re a parent, your children are the most important parts of your life. You don’t want to do anything that could harm their futures. If you’re considering bankruptcy, you may be worried about the impact this will have on your children. The good news is that for those who need to file bankruptcy, the positive impact on your family will far outweigh any inconveniences. This guide examines the issues that could impact your minor children.

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4 Ways To Get "Currently Not Collectible" Status From The IRS

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025

If you're granted IRS currently not collectible status, the IRS will no longer try to collect taxes from you via bank account levies, wage garnishments, or seizures of your other property. If you can't afford to pay anything toward your IRS tax debt, you'll need to request CNC status. Otherwise, you could see your paycheck garnished or have funds in your bank account taken from you due to a bank account levy.

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Judgment Enforcement and Collection in New York State

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 28, 2025

If a creditor gets a court judgment against you, it can’t enforce it until it’s entered by the court clerk. If you don’t pay the judgment voluntarily, the judgment creditor has several debt collection options at its disposal. In addition to options like wage or bank account garnishment, the creditor could contact an enforcement officer for assistance.

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8 Fee-Free Bank Accounts You Can Open Even if You Have Bad Credit

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 24, 2025

In the past, if you had bad credit, you could only open subpar second-chance checking accounts. They often had high fees and few benefits or good features. Now, a lot of online banks offer checking accounts with great features even if you have bad credit. This article looks at eight great options.

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How Does Bankruptcy Affect Alimony?

Written by the Upsolve TeamLegally reviewed by Lawyer John Coble
Updated May 4, 2022

Alimony impacts your bankruptcy case differently if you’re paying alimony than if you’re receiving alimony. If you pay alimony, you must list it on your Schedule J as an expense. You must also usually continue to make payments while your case is pending and after you receive your bankruptcy discharge. Bankruptcy doesn’t eliminate your obligation to pay court-ordered alimony. If you receive alimony, you must list the amount as income on Schedule I and on the means test calculation form.

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Wage Garnishment in Arkansas

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated August 5, 2025

A wage garnishment order allows creditors to take money directly from your paycheck. Most of the time, this is only possible after a court has entered a judgment. Here's how Arkansas regulates wage garnishments.

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Wage Garnishments in Colorado

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated August 5, 2025

A wage garnishment order allows creditors to take money directly from your paycheck. Most of the time, this is only possible after a court has entered a judgment. Here's how Colorado regulates wage garnishments.

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Wage Garnishment in Wisconsin

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated May 22, 2025

A wage garnishment order allows creditors to take money directly from your paycheck. Most of the time, this is only possible after a court has entered a judgment. Here's how Wisconsin regulates wage garnishments.

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Wage Garnishment in Florida

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated May 22, 2025

A wage garnishment order allows creditors to take money directly from your paycheck. Most of the time, this is only possible after a court has entered a judgment. Here's how Florida regulates wage garnishments.

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Repossession Laws in South Carolina

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated May 8, 2025

Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of South Carolina's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.

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Repossession Laws in Tennessee

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated May 8, 2025

Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Tennessee's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.

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Repossession Laws in Pennsylvania

Written by Lawyer John CobleLegally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 8, 2025

Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Pennsylvania's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.

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Repossession Laws in Ohio

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated May 8, 2025

Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Ohio's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.

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Repossession Laws in North Dakota

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated May 8, 2025

Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of North Dakota's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.

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Repossession Laws in Oregon

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated May 7, 2025

Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Oregon's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.

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Repossession Laws in Wyoming

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated May 6, 2025

Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Wyoming's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.

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Repossession Laws in Wisconsin

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated May 5, 2025

Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Wisconsin's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.

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Eviction Laws and Tenant Rights in New York

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated April 22, 2025

Landlords in New York can’t just change the locks, toss your belongings out on the front yard, or shut down essential utilities. A landlord must follow the eviction process in order to have a tenant evicted for any reason. Here's an overview of what this means for tenants in New York.

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Repossession Laws in Washington

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated April 21, 2025

Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Washington's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.

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Repossession Laws in Montana

Written by Lawyer John Coble
Updated April 17, 2025

Repossession is the process of taking back a car after the owner defaults on their auto loan. Each state has different laws and regulations that dictate every step of the repossession process from start to finish. This page will provide an overview of Montana's Repossession Laws and what you should know if you've fallen behind on car payments.

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