Tina Tran is the managing bankruptcy attorney for Upsolve, the largest consumer bankruptcy non-profit in the United States. She received her Juris Doctorate degree and Certificate in Advocacy from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Illinois and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Before joining the leadership team at Upsolve, Tina ran her own consumer bankruptcy practice, which she started at the age of 28, defending debtors trying to get back on their feet against aggressive and predatorial lenders and debt collectors. She believes in keeping the law simple and making it accessible for everyday people facing creditor lawsuits, wage garnishments, bank account freezes, foreclosures, and repossessions.
Articles written by Attorney Tina Tran
Can You File Bankruptcy on Student Loans?
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated May 17, 2023
Yes. If you are eligible, you may be able to get certain federal student loans discharged through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. After you file your bankruptcy case, you must take an additional step to start an adversary proceeding to have your loans discharged. But new Department of Justice guidelines from Nov. 2022 have streamlined and simplified this process. It’s now possible for most filers with federal student loan debt to do this on their own without hiring a lawyer to help. To be eligible under the new guidance, your loans must be federal Direct Loans or Direct Consolidation Loans held by the Department of Education. Also, you must be able to show that you are unable to make payments but have made a good faith effort to do so in past years.
Read More →Can I File a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy if I'm Unemployed?
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated May 11, 2023
Chapter 13 bankruptcy requires filers to make a monthly payment on a court-approved 3-5 year repayment plan. You don't have to be employed to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, but you do have to show you're capable of making those monthly payments to your trustee. For most people, this requires regular income.
Read More →What To Expect at Your 341 Meeting of Creditors
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Attorney Paige Hooper
Updated May 4, 2022
In your 341 meeting of creditors, the trustee in your case will verify your identity and the information in your bankruptcy petition. Creditors can also show up to ask questions, but this is rare. In this article and video, we’ll walk you through a typical 341 meeting of creditors in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Read More →How Does Bankruptcy Affect Alimony?
Written by the Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Attorney 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.
Read More →How To File Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: A Step-by-Step Guide
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated April 12, 2022
Filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy is much like filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, initially, but it does get much more complicated.
Read More →What Steps to Take if a Debt Collector Sues You
Written by Attorney Paige Hooper.
Updated March 30, 2022
If you haven’t paid a debt, you can be sued by a debt collector. If the debt collector wins the lawsuit and gets a judgment against you, they can take more aggressive collection actions. To avoid this, you’ll need to answer the complaint, prepare a defense, and show up to the hearing prepared. It’s also good to get familiar with debt collection laws, so you’ll know if the debt collector has broken them.
Read More →Will Bankruptcy Affect My Citizenship Application?
Written by Your Upsolve Team. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated February 24, 2022
Whether you’re a U.S. citizen or not, you’re allowed to file bankruptcy if you reside in the U.S. Bankruptcy law doesn’t require filers to be U.S. citizens. If you aren’t a citizen, you may worry that filing bankruptcy can lead to deportation or having your immigration application denied. Luckily, that’s not the case. Neither the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) nor the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) consider bankruptcy cases when reviewing residency applications.
Read More →City of Chicago’s “Fresh Start” Parking Ticket Debt Payment Plan Program
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated August 11, 2020
Within the past few years, investigative reporters from ProPublica have uncovered the disparate effects of Chicago’s parking and red-light ticketing system on low-income communities of color. Under a new Illinois ordinance, people filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy could erase their ticket debt if they met certain qualifications.Read on to learn more.
Read More →Is Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Worth It?
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated August 11, 2020
Chapter 13 bankruptcy is worth it when you do not qualify to file a Chapter 7 and have assets you want to protect.
Read More →Filing Bankruptcy in Portland, Maine
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated March 25, 2021
Filing Bankruptcy in Norfolk, Virginia
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated August 17, 2020
Please note that we don't operate in Virginia 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.
Filing Bankruptcy in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated August 17, 2020
Filing Bankruptcy in Kansas City, Missouri
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 28, 2020
Filing Bankruptcy in Newport News, Virginia
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 28, 2020
Please note that we don't operate in Virginia 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.
Filing Bankruptcy in Roanoke, Virginia
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 28, 2020
Please note that we don't operate in Virginia 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.
Filing Bankruptcy In South Bend, Indiana
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 27, 2020
Filing Bankruptcy in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 27, 2020
Please note that we don't operate in Virginia 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.
Filing Bankruptcy in Hampton, Virginia
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 27, 2020
Please note that we don't operate in Virginia 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.
Filing Bankruptcy in Terre Haute, Indiana
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 27, 2020
Filing Bankruptcy In Evansville, Indiana
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 27, 2020
Filing Bankruptcy in Louisville, Kentucky
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 27, 2020
Filing Bankruptcy in Lexington, Kentucky
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 27, 2020
Filing Bankruptcy in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 27, 2020
Filing Bankruptcy in Springfield, Missouri
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated June 12, 2020
What Is the Bankruptcy Means Test in Wisconsin?
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 30, 2019
What Is The Bankruptcy Means Test in Pennsylvania?
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 30, 2019
What is The Bankruptcy Means Test in Oregon?
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 11, 2019
Florida Bankruptcy Forms for Chapter 7
Written by Attorney Tina Tran.
Updated July 9, 2019
