Dean’s Blog

Can student loans be discharged in Bankruptcy? Technically, student loans can be discharged in bankruptcy (under certain circumstances) but, as a practical matter, it is almost impossible to have student loan debt discharged in bankruptcy, as a would-be lawyer recently learned. On January 11, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal presented…

“Dean, I have full coverage.” Or, “I only have liability.” These are common statements I receive when speaking with clients who are in automobile accidents. Many of us purchase car insurance without second thought to what we are paying for when we pay that insurance bill. Most people are not fully aware the term “car…

Most people I sit down with to discuss alternatives to getting rid of excessive and over burdensome debt, often by filing bankruptcy to get debt relief, will inevitably ask me the question: won’t a bankruptcy hurt my credit score? A legitimate question to ask a bankruptcy attorney, as filing bankruptcy will probably affect one’s credit…

Sounds counterintuitive, right? Stop paying your mortgage and you get to keep your home. Yet, thousands of homeowners may have discovered the fastest way to a free home is just that: simply stop paying the mortgage. Recently, the New York Times reported how the time limit (otherwise known as the “statute of limitations”) lender’s have…

What would you do if you had some extra cash? It seems people would rather use extra cash to pay for a vacation or buy a new kitchen appliance, over saving for retirement. According to a recent survey conducted by TIAA-CREF, only about 18% of Americans are contributing towards an IRA as part of their…

It’s inevitable, sooner or later we all find ourselves with some kind of debt. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. Taking on debt or receiving credit can be a good thing. In fact, it is “money creation.” When we receive credit (take on debt) to buy a home, purchase a car, pay for…

Imagine abandoning your car at the airport and then jumping on a plane to flee the country for fear of going to jail, because you are not able to make your car payment! That is what has happened in the country of Dubai, according to a recent article (along with photographs of high performance abandoned…

Welcome to the blog page on deanmatsas.wpengine.com. My name is C. Dean Matsas, call me “Dean.” This is the first blog on the new website introducing you to my law office. I am a lawyer who has practiced in Chicago for over 25 years. During those years I have represented people like you with the…