how to hire a lawyer and get rid of student loans

^{Minsky recommends that borrowers looking for a lawyer for their student loan debt do the following:}

• Check the directory for the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA). ...
• Contact your state bar association for a referral (many state bar associations have referral services).
• Search for attorneys on a platform like Avvo, which has attorney profiles. ...
• Once you find an attorney you might want to work with, cross-reference the attorney with your state bar association to see if that attorney has any record of public discipline.
• Do a Google Search of that attorney to see if their name comes up in a good way (for example, through press or publications) or in a bad way (such ...

Full Answer

Should you hire a lawyer for student loan debt?

Jun 16, 2020 · A lawyer can negotiate student loan debt. Ideally, you would hire a lawyer who has experience working with the type of loan you have and the creditor who has your loan. Debt relief agencies are also an option, but working with a dedicated attorney may be ideal.

Where can I find a student loan attorney in my area?

Aug 28, 2019 · Another good place to start is your state bar association, which may be able to give you a referral to a student loan lawyer in your area. But research the law firm first to make sure it’s credible. Look up the lawyer’s licenses and read customer reviews to get a better of what to expect as a client.

How can I get rid of student loans without paying?

Feb 28, 2018 · There is no reason you should need a student loan lawyer to apply for a job that offers student loan forgiveness. You do, however, need to carefully read the requirements for the programs that interest you. There are federal, state and other programs that forgive student loan debt in exchange for working at certain types of jobs or for specific ...

How to get out of student loan debt as a teacher?

If you’re hiring a lawyer for student loans, ensure you hire a qualified attorney: First, ensure you can verify their qualifications by checking their state bar profile. Every practicing lawyer is listed with a state bar association. Search them on the website using their state bar number of names.

Can you legally remove student loans?

Do some law firms pay off student loans?

How do I permanently get rid of student loans?

What's the average GPA for law school?

How much debt is the average law student in?

Do student loans go away after 7 years?

Are student loans automatically forgiven after 20 years?

Do student loans expire after 25 years?

What to do if you default on student loans?

If you defaulted on your loans, a student loan lawyer can help protect you from aggressive letters and phone calls — and even litigation. They can go over your rights and legal options and guide you toward the steps you need to take to ensure you don’t get taken advantage of.

Is student debt a bankruptcy?

Student debt is a lot more difficult to discharge in bankruptcy than other types of debt. You have to prove to a judge that your loans are causing undue hardship, which can be hard to do without the a legal professional.

What are the benefits of hiring a lawyer?

It may not always be necessary, but hiring an attorney does have a few benefits: 1 Trained to deal with student loans. Lawyers that deal with student loan debt have been trained to help clients develop strategies to handle delinquency, default and collections. 2 Highly regulated. All lawyers must follow specific practice laws and are accountable to the state bar. If you find that your lawyer isn’t working in your best interest, there are legal avenues to deal with malpractice. 3 Legal advice and guidance. A student loan lawyer will be able to give you legal advice, guidance about your rights and help you handle any paperwork involved in your student loan debt. 4 Representation in court. If it comes to it, a student loan lawyer can represent you in court and at the settlement table.

Who is Kellye Guinan?

Kellye Guinan is a seasoned financial writer with over 500 articles under her belt spanning all things loans from auto to personal to business and everything in between. With four years in the field and five years of research experience, she's able to make complex personal finance decisions easier for anyone to tackle. When she's not up to her knees learning about the latest trends in lending, she spends her time improving her own financial literacy and expertise — and maintaining a Duolingo streak of over 1,300 days.

What to do if you are being sued for student loans?

If you are being sued or are in collections, in most cases you will want to speak with a student loan lawyer. Often an attorney can help you see solutions you might miss before the window of opportunity for action narrows. Even if you decide to proceed on your own, it is a good idea to consult with an attorney.

What is it called when you can't pay your student loan?

Federal student loans and some private ones allow a postponement of payment under certain circumstances. This is called deferment. Various circumstances qualify such as being in school or the military.

How many people default on student loans?

Over 3,000 people default on their federal student loans each day in the United States. Fortunately, you have many options to help you get your payments under control, and most of these you can do yourself. However, there are occasions when it pays to hire a student loan lawyer. A student loan lawyer is an attorney who is experienced in dealing ...

How long do student loans take to default?

Your student loans are in default when you have not made payments for 270 days (about nine months). This is the point that signals to a lender that you do not intent to pay back a loan. Therefore, they will refer your case to a collection agency to take action against you. If you act quickly, you may be able to work things out with your loan servicer yourself. Even then, consulting with a student loan lawyer is not a bad idea even if you handle the bulk of the work yourself.

What is Chapter 13 bankruptcy?

Chapter 13 bankruptcy: Chapter 13 is a reorganization where you still repay debts but do so under a plan that prioritizes debts and may enable you to pay less every month while the plan is in place. If you have student loans, you will still owe the unpaid amount after the end of the Chapter 13 plan.

What is a TLFP?

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program (TLFP) is for those who teach in low-income schools or educational service agencies. To apply for student loan forgiveness for a teaching position, complete a Teacher Loan Forgiveness Application and submit it to your loan servicer.

The Consequences of Filing a Fraudulent Student Loan or Grant Application

Twenty U.S. Code Section 1097 lays out the criminal offences and consequences of knowingly making false claims to the federal government. If you make a false statement, forge a document, or fail to pay refunds, you face imprisonment for not more than 5 years, a fine not exceeding $20,000, or both.

Types of Fraud in Student Loans and Grant Applications

In recent years, whistle-blowers are calling out fraud in student loans.

How To Choose a Lawyer for a Fraud Case

If you’re hiring a lawyer for student loans, ensure you hire a qualified attorney:

Final Thoughts

Filing fraudulent claims for a student loan can be a serious offence – whether you knowingly committed fraud or if fraud was committed in your name.

How to get rid of student loans without paying?

There are limited options to get rid of private student loan debt without paying. Lenders typically don't offer student loan forgiveness programs. And many won't agree to discharge your loans if you're permanently disabled. If you're struggling to repay your private student loans, check out these alternatives to forgiveness: 1 Leaving the country. Unlike federal loans, private student loans have a statute of limitations. While leaving the country doesn't stop your lender from collecting or reporting negatively to the credit bureaus, the statute of limitations may run out while you're abroad. Your co-signer remains at risk of a lawsuit if they live in the United States. 2 Refinancing. A lower interest rate can save you thousands on your private student loans. Plus, it may offer you a lower minimum payment each month. You'll need a good credit score (680+) and stable income to be eligible for student loan refinancing. 3 Negotiating a student loan settlement. A settlement usually becomes an option for private student loans after you default. A settlement can save you 40-60% of your loan balance. You'll usually save more if you pay in a lump sum versus monthly payments. 4 Filing bankruptcy. It's typically easier to prove financial hardship to get a private student loan bankruptcy discharge than to do the same for federal loans. And even if you don't get a full discharge, bankruptcy courts may allow you to get a partial discharge or negotiating a settlement.

How long does it take for a federal loan to be forgiven?

The federal government offers borrowers loan repayment programs based on their income. Those same plans will forgive loan balances after 20 to 25 years of payment. An ex-pat can pay nothing towards their loan balance using one of those plans and have it forgiven. They will owe taxes on the amount forgiven, however.

What is the PSLF program?

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. The PSLF Program forgives the Direct Loan balance for borrowers who work in the public sector. You qualify if you work for the government (local, state, federal, and military service) or a nonprofit organization.

What to do if student loan defaults?

A lawyer may be able to help if you are in default, but before it comes to that, consider how to take back control of your student loan payments. If you’re struggling with your student loan debt, first speak with your servicer or lender to: Discuss repayment options, such as an income-driven repayment plan.

Who is Anna Helhoski?

About the author: Anna Helhoski is a writer and NerdWallet's authority on student loans. Her work has appeared in The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today. Read more.

How to get help with student loan debt?

According to Adam Minsky, a lawyer will typically help with the following when it comes to student loan debt:​ 1 Advice and counsel regarding your legal rights and options for your student loans. 2 Direct representation and advocacy in communications with student loan lenders, servicers, debt collection agencies, credit bureaus, dispute bodies, and other relevant entities. 3 Negotiations with student loan lenders, servicers, and debt collection agencies to obtain a desired resolution. 4 Assistance in the preparation, completion, and review of student loan-related documentation such as program applications, letters and correspondence, and contractual agreements (such as student loan rehabilitation or settlement agreements). 5 Representation in court to defend you against a student loan collections lawsuit or to pursue companies that have harmed you.

What is Avvo for lawyers?

Avvo also provides a record of client reviews and peer endorsements, which can be helpful in selecting an attorney. Once you find an attorney you might want to work with, cross-reference the attorney with your state bar association to see if that attorney has any record of public discipline.

Who is Robert Farrington?

Robert Farrington. Robert Farrington is America’s Millennial Money Expert® and America’s Student Loan Debt Expert™, and the founder of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to helping millennials escape student loan debt to start investing and building wealth for the future.

What is a NACA?

NACA is a bar association for attorneys who only represent consumers and borrowers, and you can search for local attorneys who have listed “student loans” as an area of practice. Contact your state bar association for a referral (many state bar associations have referral services).

Can you file for bankruptcy with a student loan?

In most situations, neither federal student loans nor private student loans are eligible to be discharged in bankruptcy. However, in some cases, you can have a federal student loan discharged if you experienced serious problems with your school, worked in public service, or have a severe disability.

What are the two main types of student loans?

There are two main categories of student loans: federal and private. Federal student loans, such as Stafford Loans are backed by the federal government and are highly regulated. We do not work with federal student loans. On the contrary, private student loans may be issued by well known banks, like Citigroup or Chase Bank.