Michael O’Brien’s Blog

If your boss calls you into his office to tell you your pay is being cut by $500.00 per year you would not be happy. That is effectively what happens when interest rates go up and you are carrying deb...

Bankruptcy is a scary word. Nobody considers themselves the type of person who will have to file for bankruptcy, and it’s something that many people don’t even consider until it’s one of their l...

Understanding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) What is the FDCPA? FDCPA stands for the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act – 15 U.S.C. § 1692, The FDCPA is a Federal Regulatory Scheme ...

Do I qualify for bankruptcy? We get asked this question a lot and the answer most lawyers provide is “that depends.” Does anyone think that is a good answer! No way! Bankruptcy is a process that c...

Congratulations on wrapping up another successful season of Tigard Little League! For ten years Michael O'Brien has sponsored a team of young boys and girls playing Little League in Tigard.  Special ...

Foreclosure means a home is at risk.  Most of the time this is a home that serves as the primary residence of the borrower.  In Oregon, foreclosures follow one of two very different processes.  We...

Foreclosure can be a terrifying word, but sometimes the concept is worse than the reality. After taking the time to learn a bit about foreclosure, the homeowner can take back some control and explore ...

This time of year we meet with many people who are exploring bankruptcy options but have questions about how the bankruptcy laws may affect their right to income tax refunds owed to them but not yet r...

I came across the attached list while reading one of my ultra dry scholarly magazines. The title of “Lights, Camera, Bankruptcy!” was catchy and the list of celebrity filers woke me up and focused...

As a bankruptcy attorney, I find that many clients share similar fears and concerns when they are contemplating a fresh start. These clients’ number one question during our initial case evaluation i...