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.
Articles written by Lawyer John Coble
Are Bankruptcies Public Record?
Written by Lawyer John Coble. Legally reviewed by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated February 26, 2026
Bankruptcy cases are part of the public record. That means court filings can be viewed by others, usually through the federal PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system. Though records are public, certain personal details — like your SSN — are removed or shortened to protect your privacy. Most people don’t go searching through bankruptcy records. But creditors, lenders, landlords, and background check companies can access them if they choose to.
Read More →What Is a Lien and How Does It Affect My Property?
Written by Lawyer John Coble. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 27, 2026
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.
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 →8 Fee-Free Bank Accounts You Can Open Even if You Have Bad Credit
Written by Lawyer John Coble. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated December 15, 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.
Read More →Self-Employment Income and Bankruptcy: How To Know What Counts and How To Report It
Written by Lawyer John Coble. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated November 10, 2025
If you’re self-employed — whether as an independent contractor, gig worker, sole proprietor, or business owner — it’s important to understand how your income is classified and reported in bankruptcy. Business income must be disclosed in your forms, along with allowable expenses, and the process depends on your business structure. Independent contractors, gig workers, and sole proprietors report business income in personal bankruptcy, while business owners with separate legal entities have additional considerations. This guide explains what counts as business income and how to calculate it for the Chapter 7 means test and Schedule I.
Read More →Repossession Laws in Ohio
Written by Lawyer John Coble. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 28, 2026
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.
Wage Garnishment in Wisconsin
Written by Lawyer John Coble. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 16, 2026
Wage garnishment happens when money is taken from your paycheck to repay a debt, usually after a creditor sues you and wins a court judgment. In Wisconsin, most garnishments come from consumer debts like credit cards or medical bills, but state law limits how much of your income can be taken. The process includes several steps, but you may be able to stop the garnishment by filing objections, claiming exemptions, or filing for bankruptcy. For people struggling with multiple debts, bankruptcy can stop wage garnishment and may erase the debt entirely.
Wage Garnishment in Florida
Written by Lawyer John Coble. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 16, 2026
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.
Repossession Laws in Wisconsin
Written by Lawyer John Coble. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 16, 2026
Wisconsin repossession laws offer different protections based on the amount of your original car loan. If your loan was $25,000 or less, the Wisconsin Consumer Act governs the repo process. It gives you extra time and requires the lender to send a warning before repossessing your car. For larger loans, repossession can happen more quickly and without notice. These are governed by the Uniform Commercial Code. No matter which law applies, you still have rights — including the right to get your personal items back and, in some cases, even reclaim your car.
Repossession Laws in Oregon
Written by Lawyer John Coble. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated November 20, 2025
In Oregon, your car can be repossessed as soon as you're in default on your loan — which might happen after just one missed or late payment, depending on your contract. Lenders aren’t required to give advance notice before repossession, but they must send you a notice at least 15 days before selling the car. You may be able to stop the repossession or get your car back by paying the full loan balance and related fees before the sale. If the car sells for less than what you owe, the lender can try to collect the difference.
