Attorney Eric Hansen
Attorney
Eric D. Hansen is an experienced Minnesota attorney within a number of varying and nuanced practice areas. He has operated his own solo practice as well as worked at small suburban boutique firms and large diversified downtown law firms. Eric has a wealth of experience in business formation, transactional law, employment law, estate planning, criminal defense law, family law, and litigation, amongst others. He also worked in Northern Minnesota at a nonprofit that provided civil legal services to a diverse population of low-income and indigent clients. In 2021, Eric joined the faculty of the Mitchell Hamline School of Law as an adjunct professor. Eric is a 2014 William Mitchell College of Law graduate. He graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota with honors as a McGuire Scholar where he majored in political science. Eric lives in Saint Paul with his wife Elisabeth and their daughter Ada. He enjoys playing music, motorcycles, and disc golf.
Articles written by Attorney Eric Hansen
What Is a Good Credit Score for Buying a Car?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated April 23, 2025
To get an auto loan with a good interest rate and manageable monthly payments that fit your budget, you’ll need a decent credit score. That begs the question, what is a good credit score for buying a car? Generally, you’ll need a FICO credit score that’s 500 or higher, but to get better terms and a better interest rate, you’ll want a credit score that’s higher than 660. This article will explain credit scores and what to do when purchasing a car with bad credit. We’ll also touch on how to improve your credit score and other helpful information on financing your auto loan.
Read More →Buying a Car With No Credit History: What You Need To Know
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated April 23, 2025
If you don’t have a credit history, you can still buy a car, but it will be more difficult. Without a credit history, it’s hard for lenders to know how risky you are as a borrower. You may be offered loans with higher interest rates. Some financial institutions specialize in giving loans to borrowers without a credit history, so it's worth shopping around.
Read More →Does Anyone Have a 300 Credit Score?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 22, 2025
There are people out there who have a 300 credit score, though this is fairly rare and a score this low would be the result of many significant negative items in a borrower’s credit history. The good news is that no matter where your score is now, you can work to improve it. This article will cover subprime credit scores and how to improve them.
Read More →Can You Get a Car Loan While You’re on Unemployment?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 22, 2025
If you’ve lost your job and you’re collecting unemployment, you may still be able to finance a car, but it will be harder to get approved for a loan. Unemployment isn’t a long-term, stable income source, which lenders want to see. They’ll also look at your credit history and score and income sources when you apply for the loan.
Read More →4 Ways To Improve Your Credit Score in Under 30 Days
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated April 22, 2025
Improving your credit score substantially takes time and effort, but you can noticeably boost your credit score in under 30 days with four simple strategies. Taking some time to focus on your credit history and personal finances can set you up for excellent continued financial well-being. A higher credit score will open doors to better interest rates, more favorable loan terms on auto loans or personal loans, and higher credit limits on new or existing credit accounts. This article will discuss four simple ways to improve your credit score in the next month.
Read More →Repossession and Your Rights
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 21, 2025
Repossession happens when lenders or collection agencies use their right to seize your property to pay a debt, but borrowers have rights, too. Repossession laws and consumer protections keep lenders and their repossession companies and agents from acting improperly when seizing a vehicle. This article will describe the repossession process, how lenders operate, and how repossession affects borrowers. Learning more about this process can help you avoid repossession, its negative effects on your credit, and all the stress that comes along with it.
Read More →How Does Credit Repair Work?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated April 21, 2025
Having an accurate credit history and a positive credit score can open doors for you and allow you to get credit like personal loans, credit cards, or a mortgage on more favorable terms and at lower interest rates. It can also help you rent a decent apartment or refinance any existing loans. This is why it’s important to know what goes on your credit report, how you can dispute and remove inaccurate information, and how your credit score is calculated. This article will discuss how to repair your credit yourself for free and what to look for in a credit repair company if you are considering hiring one.
Read More →How Debt Settlement Impacts Your Taxes
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated April 18, 2025
When you settle a debt with a creditor, you pay less than what you owe. The remaining amount is forgiven debt — also called canceled debt — which is often counted as taxable income. Debt settlement can make your tax returns more complicated or increase the taxes you owe. This article will discuss debt settlement and how forgiven debt affects your taxes. Understanding the tax implications of canceled debt will help you be better prepared to negotiate debt forgiveness with your creditors. It’ll also help you understand how to prepare your tax returns correctly.
Read More →Debt Collector Calling Family Members? Know Your Rights
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 18, 2025
Debt collection agencies can contact family members or your place of work, but they have to be careful about what they ask about. They can't discuss your debt with any third parties. They’re really only supposed to call third parties if they can’t reach you or don’t have your contact information. These rights are spelled out under the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which also protects you from debt collector harassment.
Read More →The Pitfalls of Leasing a Car When You Have Bad Credit
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated April 18, 2025
If you need a car but you don’t want to purchase one outright, leasing may be an attractive option. It gives you flexibility and package options without the maintenance hassle of car ownership. But if you have bad credit, it may be difficult to get approved for a car lease. And if you are approved, it may be more expensive. This article outlines how your credit score plays into the car leasing process, how to increase your chances of being approved for a lease, and other options you have besides leasing.
Read More →Why Am I Disqualified From Receiving Unemployment Benefits?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 16, 2025
Each state has its own unemployment insurance system, rules, regulations, and procedures. But regardless of what state you live in, not everybody who loses their job is eligible for unemployment compensation. You can usually appeal the disqualification. If you win the appeal, you will receive unemployment benefits, but this doesn’t always happen. This article will help you better understand how unemployment benefits work, who qualifies for compensation, and what might disqualify you.
Read More →Co-signer Rights, Responsibilities, and Considerations
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 16, 2025
A co-signer is a third-party who guarantees the debt of another person. Friends and family members often co-sign loans for loved ones with poor credit or no credit history. Co-signers can be held accountable for these debts, so it is important to think carefully before agreeing to become a co-signer.
Read More →Credit: How It Works and How To Rebuild Your Score
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated January 30, 2025
Having good credit is an important factor in your financial well-being. It is not the only factor, but it is valuable to have a good understanding of what credit is, how it’s determined, what steps you can take to increase your score, and how it affects other areas of your life. Whether you have good credit or poor credit, there are ways to improve your credit score. If you have bad credit, don’t stress out about it. Read this article to learn more about how credit works and to learn several ways to start rebuilding yours.
Read More →What Is the Credit Repair Organizations Act?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated January 30, 2025
The Credit Repair Organizations Act is a federal law that was passed in 1996 in reaction to deceptive practices from companies that were preying on unsuspecting consumers. The CROA was designed to protect consumers against unfair and deceptive business practices by credit repair organizations. This article will discuss how consumers are legally protected from credit repair organizations and what to consider if you’re thinking of using a credit repair organization to fix your bad credit.
Read More →How to Meet Work Search Requirements While Receiving Unemployment Benefits
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are a temporary measure, so if you’re receiving unemployment compensation, you do have to look for work. Each state has different work search requirements and rules about how to verify that you're looking for work, but this article will give you a general overview of the work search requirement and what might be expected.
Read More →What Are the Effects of an Auto Loan Default?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
If you’re struggling to make your car payment on time, you’re probably already feeling stress and frustration. Once you’re behind on payments you’re considered delinquent and your credit score will take a hit. Falling further behind moves you into default on your auto loan, which will come with even more serious consequences.
Read More →If You’re Behind on Mortgage Payments and You Need Help
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
People fall behind on their mortgages for reasons beyond their control. What is in your control, though, is how you react and what you’re doing about the situation. There are steps you can take and resources that can help you get back on track financially. This article will cover what help is available for homeowners who are falling behind on their mortgage payments.
Read More →Is a Repossession Order Required When a Car Is Repossessed?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
If you’ve fallen behind on your auto loan payments you may be setting yourself up for repossession. The lender has the right to seize the car without a court order and sometimes without any prior notice to the borrower if the borrower fails to make payments for their auto loan. This article will discuss what repossession is, how it works, and how it affects your credit history and your credit score. We’ll also touch on what rights you have as a borrower and how you can prevent repossession.
Read More →What Is a Repossession Company?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
Sometimes things happen that are outside of our control and we get behind on loan payments. If you’ve made a late car payment or if you’ve missed one entirely, you might be concerned about the bank sending someone to repossess your property and wondering if you should be keeping an eye out for the repo man. You can set your mind at ease by learning about the repossession process, what rights you have, and how to prevent the situation entirely. This article will address repossessions and repo agents, the laws they must follow, and how they can track you down if you try to hide your car.
Read More →6 Tips To Prepare for Small Claims Court
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
Small claims court is a judicial setting designed to handle simple legal disputes that are under a specific dollar amount. This amount varies by state. Small claims courts handle civil matters. They don’t hear criminal, immigration, constitutional, child protection, workers’ compensation, appeals, federal, or probate cases. Here are 6 tips to succeed with your small claims case: 1. Learn about the court processes 2. Prepare your case 3. Prepare your witnesses 4. Practice presenting your case 5. Show the court due respect 6. Be prepared to follow up after the court's judgment
Read More →Should I Seek Legal Advice From a Small Claims Attorney?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
Many people represent themselves successfully because small claims courts are more accessible and simpler by design. The court proceedings are meant to be a reasonably fast and relatively inexpensive way to resolve disputes.
Read More →14 Resources Debt Collectors Can Use To Find You
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 30, 2025
In the Digital Age, it isn't usually very hard for debt collectors to track down the whereabouts of borrowers who have fallen behind on their debts. From DMV and utility company records to social media profiles and credit bureau feedback, debt collectors can almost always access information that helps them to contact borrowers whose debt payments are delinquent.
Read More →Who Owns My Mortgage?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 28, 2025
It’s likely that your home loan has been sold several times to different parties since you first got it. It’s also likely that the new servicer is not the same as the mortgage lender. Tracking down your mortgage lender and mortgage servicer can be difficult but there are resources you can use to help you uncover this important information. Read more to learn about some of these resources.
Read More →Can a Goodwill Letter Help My Credit Score?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 28, 2025
If a creditor accepts your goodwill letter, it can help you improve your credit score. But the majority of goodwill letters are unsuccessful. This is especially true if you have a payment history with late or missed payments. Though it’s best not to get your hopes up about a goodwill letter increasing your credit score, it doesn’t hurt to send one.
Read More →What Happens if You Get a Job While on Unemployment?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 15, 2025
If you’re receiving unemployment benefits and get a new job, you may still qualify for partial benefits if the job is part time and your earnings are below your weekly benefit amount. However, if you start a full-time job, you likely won’t be eligible for further benefits. Continuing to claim benefits when you’re no longer eligible can lead to overpayments and penalties. Since unemployment laws vary by state, it’s important to check with your state’s unemployment agency for specific rules and requirements.
Read More →What Is a Sheriff’s Sale?
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated July 30, 2021
A sheriff’s sale is a public auction typically held by the sheriff’s office where people purchase foreclosed properties. An example of a foreclosed property is a single-family home that the homeowner failed to make several monthly mortgage payments on. As a result, the mortgage lender, or the bank, takes legal possession of the house. The bank then sells the house at a sheriff’s sale to try to recoup what the homeowner owed on the mortgage.
Read More →Wage Garnishment in North Dakota
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated April 23, 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 North Dakota regulates wage garnishments.
Wage Garnishment in Delaware
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated April 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 Delaware regulates wage garnishments.
Wage Garnishment in Hawaii
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated April 21, 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 Hawaii regulates wage garnishments.
Wage Garnishment in Idaho
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated April 21, 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 Idaho regulates wage garnishments.
Wage Garnishment in New Mexico
Written by Attorney Eric Hansen.
Updated April 18, 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 New Mexico regulates wage garnishments.
