Kristin is a recipient of Harvard Law School’s Public Welfare Foundation A2J Tech Fellowship. At Harvard Law, she served as a member of the Harvard Defenders, the Women’s Law Association, and the Harvard Law Negotiation Review. She was the 2016 – 2017 president of the Harvard Black Law Students Association and a semifinalist in Harvard Business School’s New Venture Competition 2016. She holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Southern California and served on the executive committee for the Harvard Law School Association. Before Upsolve, Kristin spent time at White & Case LLP in Palo Alto, Public Defender Service in Washington DC, and the Department of Justice, specializing in Human Rights. Kristin was an invited speaker at the Legal Service Corporations’s 2019 Innovations in Technology Conference.
Articles written by Kristin Turner, Harvard Law Grad
How Do You Answer a Summons for Debt Without an Attorney?
Written by Ben Jackson. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated March 14, 2026
If you receive a summons and complaint from a debt collector or creditor, it means you’re being sued for unpaid debt. It’s important to respond to (or answer) the lawsuit. You do this by filing official paperwork with the court. Be sure to address every point in the complaint, raise any defenses you have, and file the paperwork within the time frame provided. Debt collectors are counting on you not to answer the lawsuit so that they can win by default. Don’t be intimidated! Take control and learn how to file an answer by reading this guide. You do not need an attorney to answer a debt collection lawsuit successfully.
Read More →What if I Can’t Afford To Pay a Judgment Against Me?
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated March 12, 2026
If a creditor or debt collector has sued you and gotten a court judgement against you, you have three main options: First, You can pay the debt. You may be able to negotiate a voluntary payment plan with the debt collector. Second, you can file to have the judgment vacated or removed. And third, you can file bankruptcy to discharge the debt and stop all collection efforts, including those related to a court judgment.
Read More →Every Type of Bankruptcy Explained
Written by Ben Jackson. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 23, 2026
There are six different types of bankruptcies. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are the most common types of personal bankruptcy. Chapter 7 is also called a liquidation. It allows the filer to get rid of most of their debts without repaying anything. It works best for individuals without assets like a home. Chapter 13 bankruptcy puts the filer on a repayment plan and can help protect assets like a home. The goal of personal bankruptcies like Chapter 7 and 13 is to give the filer a financial fresh start and relieve them of debt they may never be able to repay. Businesses, farmers, and municipalities can also file bankruptcy under Chapters 9, 11, 12, and 15. These less common types of bankruptcy may be used to restructure or reorganize debt.
Read More →What Are the Most Bankruptcy-Friendly Credit Cards?
Written by Lawyer John Coble. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 21, 2026
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.
Read More →What Happens to Your Tax Refund in Bankruptcy?
Written by Attorney Paige Hooper. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 16, 2026
In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, tax refunds for income earned before your bankruptcy filing date usually become part of your bankruptcy estate. If the funds aren’t protected by exemptions and you hold on to them, the trustee can use them to pay creditors. However, if you receive your refund and spend it on necessary expenses before filing, it won’t be included in your bankruptcy estate. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, tax refunds distributed during your repayment plan are typically part of the estate and may go toward paying creditors. Protecting your refund depends on timing, exemptions, and how the funds are used.
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