Ms. Kingston began her career as a bankruptcy attorney. She has appeared in front of many federal court judges and has helped numerous debtors obtain a fresh start. Ms. Kingston understands the complex federal rules for discharging debt. While working as a bankruptcy attorney, Ms. Kingston’s dedication has resulted in settlements of large debts for clients at 20-30 percent of what they owed. She has also dedicated a great deal of her time helping clients facing foreclosure keep their homes through the process known as Loss Mitigation. Ms. Kingston has won loan modifications for her clients inside and outside of the bankruptcy courts. She has answered bankruptcy and debt relief questions for local and national publications including Fox Business, the Star-Ledger, NJ.com, and NJMoneyHelp.com.
Articles written by Attorney Karra Kingston
Can a Debt Collector Take Me to Court?
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Attorney Paige Hooper
Updated August 7, 2025
Yes, debt collectors can take you to court for unpaid debt. But this won’t be their first move. Debt collection agencies will first call you and send notices in the mail to try to collect on unpaid debt. It’s common for debt collectors to make several attempts over a period of many months to collect a debt before they decide to sue you.
Read More →What Are the New York Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated August 7, 2025
Bankruptcy exemptions are laws that allow people filing for bankruptcy to retain their essential belongings, instead of losing everything to pay off debts. These laws vary from state to state. If you have lived in New York for at least two years and you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you will use the state's exemptions to protect your personal property, like your car, from being seized. The homestead exemption in New York varies based on where your residence is located. The motor vehicle exemption is $4,825 (or $11,975 if your car is equipped for a disabled person). New York also has a $1,100 wildcard exemption.
Read More →What Are the Indiana Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated August 7, 2025
If you’ve been an Indiana resident for at least two years when you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you’ll be required to use the state’s bankruptcy exemptions to protect your property and belongings. Indiana offers a $22,750 homestead exemption you can use to help protect your primary residence. There is no motor vehicle exemption in Indiana, but you can use the state’s $12,100 wildcard exemption to protect your car and other personal property.
Read More →Chapter 13 and Your Credit Report: What You Need to Know
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated August 6, 2025
Bankruptcy provides relief to those who can’t afford to pay their debts as they come due. Oftentimes folks filing bankruptcy have fallen behind on their debt payments and their credit score has already taken the hit. But, that’s not always the case and this is especially true for folks filing Chapter 13 to reorganize their debt, rather than eliminate it completely through Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This article will explore the effect of Chapter 13 bankruptcy on your credit report and credit score.
Read More →Will a Judgment Creditor Take My Car?
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated July 22, 2025
When a creditor sues you and wins a court judgment, they gain powerful tools to collect the debt you owe. These tools include garnishing wages, levying bank accounts, or placing a judgment lien on your property — like your home or car. If a lien is placed on your car, it could put your vehicle at risk, depending on its equity and your state’s exemption laws. This article breaks down what happens when a creditor files a lien on your car, your legal rights, and the steps you can take to protect your property.
Read More →What Are the Washington Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated July 2, 2025
In Washington, you can choose between federal and state exemptions when filing for bankruptcy so long as you’ve lived in the state for at least two years. Washington has a very generous homestead and motor vehicle exemption — more generous than the federal government. You’ll need to look at the property you own and want to protect to decide which set of exemptions will help you most when filing Chapter 7.
Read More →What Are the Minnesota Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 22, 2025
Exemptions are used to protect your property and assets as you go trhough bankruptcy. You can choose from two sets of exemptions when you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Minnesota — federal bankruptcy exemptions and Minnesota bankruptcy exemptions. If you choose to use Minnesota’s bankruptcy exemptions, you may also use the federal nonbankruptcy exemptions to protect retirement accounts and disability benefits.
Read More →What Your Bank Statements Tell the Bankruptcy Trustee
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 15, 2025
Bankruptcy trustees use your bank statements to ensure your financial information is accurate and complete. They’ll check your balance on the filing date, review deposits and withdrawals, and look for unlisted accounts or assets. Trustees also verify your income and watch for preferential payments, which are transactions that unfairly favor one creditor over others. If the trustee requests additional documents or explanations, it’s important to comply to keep your case moving forward. Being transparent and cooperative helps ensure a smoother path to a financial fresh start.
Read More →Should I Keep Paying My Credit Cards if I’m Going To File Bankruptcy?
Written by Attorney Paige Hooper. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 15, 2025
If you're planning to file for bankruptcy, you usually don't need to keep paying your credit cards. In Chapter 7, credit card debt is typically wiped out, so making payments may not make sense. In Chapter 13, your debt will be included in a repayment plan, so you can stop paying and focus on that instead. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 have different goals and benefits, so knowing which type of bankruptcy you're filing will help you decide what to do.
Read More →Do I Need To Include My Spouse’s Income and Expenses on My Bankruptcy Forms?
Written by Attorney Paige Hooper. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 15, 2025
If you and your spouse are filing a joint bankruptcy, you have to include their income and expenses on all of the required bankruptcy forms. If you and your spouse live together, but your spouse isn’t filing bankruptcy with you, you still need to include their income and expenses on Schedules I and J and your Statement of Current Monthly Income.
Read More →How To Get a Bankruptcy Filing Fee Waiver in 3 Simple Steps
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Paige Hooper
Updated May 12, 2025
If the bankruptcy filing fee is standing between you and a fresh start, you can apply for a fee waiver or to pay in installments. To qualify for a waiver, your income must be below 150% of the federal poverty guideline, and you must show that you can’t afford to pay in installments. This guide walks you through the fee waiver process, eligibility requirements, and what to do if your request is denied.
Read More →What Are the Georgia Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 9, 2025
If you’ve been a Georgia resident for the last two years before you file Chapter 7, you’ll need to use the state’s exemptions to protect your property during your bankruptcy. Exemptions are laws that outline what property you can keep during bankruptcy. The Georgia homestead exemption is $21,500. The motor vehicle exemption is $5,000. Georgia also has a wildcard exemption you can use to protect other personal property up to $1,200. If you don’t use the full homestead exemption, you can apply up to $10,000 of the unused portion to protect personal property as well.
Read More →What are the Missouri Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 9, 2025
The most important thing you will need to educate yourself before filing bankruptcy is what bankruptcy exemptions you will need to use. Bankruptcy exemptions allow you to keep your property. When filing bankruptcy there are two types of bankruptcy exemptions you will need to be aware of - federal exemptions and state exemptions. When Congress enacted bankruptcy laws, they implemented federal bankruptcy exemptions to allow filers to protect their property. At the same time, they allowed each State the opportunity to choose whether they want to use the federal exemptions or to opt-out if not. If you file bankruptcy in Missouri, you will learn that Missouri is an “opt-out” state. This means that Missouri opted out of allowing filers to use the federal bankruptcy exemptions. You can use the federal nonbankruptcy exemptions to protect certain qualifying retirement benefits, death benefits, and veterans’ benefits.
Read More →What Are the Maryland Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 9, 2025
Maryland exemptions help you protect your home, belongings, and other essential property during the bankruptcy process. Many people who file are able to keep everything they own because it's protected by these laws. Maryland doesn't allow you to use the federal bankruptcy exemptions, but it does offer a wide range of protections—like coverage for home equity, tools of the trade, personal items, and certain money benefits. Some income sources, like child support, retirement accounts, and public benefits, are fully protected.
Read More →What Are the Tennessee Bankruptcy Exemptions?
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated May 9, 2025
Exemptions help bankruptcy filers protect their property and assets. If you're looking to file bankruptcy and exempt your property in Tennessee, you'll be limited to Tennessee’s exemptions only. Filers in Tennessee can't use the federal exemptions. That said, you can use federal nonbankruptcy exemptions to protect certain retirement accounts and disability benefits.
Read More →Can Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Help Get Back Garnished Wages?
Written by Jonathan Petts. Legally reviewed by Ben Jackson
Updated May 8, 2025
Many people who end up with a wage garnishment are already strapped for cash and can’t afford to have money taken out of their checks every week. Filing for bankruptcy is one of the ways to stop a wage garnishment.
Read More →Can a Creditor Force the Sale of My Home To Pay a Judgment?
Written by Attorney Karra Kingston. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated April 24, 2025
Yes, a creditor can force the sale of your home to pay a judgment, but it is highly uncommon. A creditor has to get a judgment against you to get a lien on your property to force a foreclosure. This process is usually very time-consuming and expensive for a creditor, so this doesn’t happen often. Read on to understand your rights and what to do if a creditor gets a lien on your property.
Read More →Can I Discharge Tickets, Fines, and Tolls in Bankruptcy?
Written by Jonathan Petts. Legally reviewed by Ben Jackson
Updated April 16, 2025
It's not easy to discharge most tickets and government fines in bankruptcy. Though it depends on what the tickets or fine was assessed for, many tickets and fines are non-dischargeable debts. That means you have to repay them even if your bankruptcy case is successful in discharging other debts like credit card or medical bills. That said, filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be a good way to manage non-dischargeable fines and fees. It can also help you get your driver’s license reinstated if it’s been suspended due to unpaid fines.
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