Published On: August 9, 2026
Debt-settlement companies promise to reduce what you owe, but creditors do not have to settle. Learn what federal regulators say about growing balances, lawsuits, fees, taxes and other debt-settlement risks before you stop paying your creditors.
Published On: August 8, 2026
Debt settlement companies promise relief from overwhelming debt, but creditors do not have to settle and lawsuits can continue. Learn about the hidden fees, growing balances, tax consequences, and alternatives before signing a contract.
Published On: July 5, 2026
Many people delay filing bankruptcy because of fear, guilt, or misinformation. Learn three common reasons people avoid bankruptcy and why accurate legal advice matters before financial problems worsen. The three most misunderstood reasons not to file bankruptcy are fear of credit damage, fear of losing everything, and the belief that a person must first sacrifice every possible resource. Those concerns deserve serious attention. But they should be evaluated based on the actual facts, applicable law, and a person’s long-term financial position—not on myths.
Published On: June 27, 2026
Merchant cash advances can provide fast cash, but daily withdrawals, stacked MCA loans, SBA loan conflicts, personal guarantees, and bankruptcy risks can quickly put a business and its owner in danger.
Published On: June 26, 2026
Bankruptcy Is Not Just Paperwork: Some Simple Mistakes That Can Cost You For many people, bankruptcy is not the first choice. It is usually something they consider only after they have done everything they know [...]
Published On: June 24, 2026
Build Financial Stability, Not Just a Better Credit Score A good credit score can be helpful. It may make it easier to rent an apartment, obtain a mortgage, finance a vehicle, or qualify for lower [...]
Published On: June 13, 2026
Worried about losing your tax refund when you file bankruptcy in Arizona? Arizona law may protect the part of your refund that comes from the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. Learn what may be protected, what a trustee may claim, and why timing matters before you file.
Published On: May 25, 2026
Debt Decisions Have Consequences: Slow Down Before You Act When money is tight, fear can take over. You feel as if a debt storm has caught you. People may feel pressured to make fast decisions: [...]
Published On: May 25, 2026
When the Economy Feels Unstable: How to Protect Yourself From Debt in an Unstable Economy Many families feel squeezed right now. Prices remain high, borrowing money is expensive, and many people are using credit cards [...]
Published On: May 2, 2026
Perils of Filing Bankruptcy by an Undocumented Person or Non-Citizen This post is based on an earlier post on by Richard J. Parker, (reprinted with permission - December 2017). Updated by Diane Drain: May 2026 [...]
thank you for helping me keep my car and some self respect
"Thank you for helping me keep my car and some self respect." G. Diane – thank you for helping me keep my car and some self respect. This was so hard to do. I did feel a sense of relief once I saw you and we actually were [...]
Thank you so much for your understanding and help!
"Thank you so much for your understanding and help!!" T. Thank you so much for your assistance with this. It’s nice to see that not everyone treats bankruptcy filers as lepers. I was afraid that filing was going to be a huge and embarrassing hurdle to overcome and [...]
Diane and Jay are very knowledgeable, and they guided me from beginning to end.
“Diane and Jay are very knowledgeable, and they guided me from beginning to end.” M.M. Diane and Jay are very knowledgeable, and they guided me from beginning to end. They were so organized, that each step was calculated. They are very nice, compassionate and professional. Thank you, [...]
My wife and I would highly recommend Diane Drain
"My wife and I would highly recommend Diane Drain." R. My wife and I would highly recommend Diane Drain to any one who is considering bankruptcy. She handled our case professionally and in a very timely manner. Diane and her team made a long, frustrating process pretty painless. Thank [...]
An expert who gets the job done!
"An expert who gets the job done!" B.R. An expert who gets the job done! We hired Diane Drain to handle a complicated eviction / Lift of Stay on a tenant who filed bankruptcy. Not only did she answer my multitude of questions in a timely manner, [...]
We received invaluable expertise, recommendations, and advice throughout our chapter 13
“We received invaluable expertise, recommendations, and advice throughout our chapter 13. ” B.S. "The decision to declare bankruptcy is difficult. The journey through a 5-year Chapter 13 is more difficult. What was NOT difficult was the invaluable expertise, recommendations, and advice throughout that we received from Diane [...]
what a great honor it was to have you represent us
"What a great honor it was to have you represent us." J & D Dearest Diane & Jay, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to express what a great honor it was to have you represent us in our bankruptcy. We are sneaking up on our third anniversary [...]
After paying all my bills for 49 years and barely treading water, I was laid off and found myself with nothing
After paying all my bills for 49 years and barely treading water, I was laid off and found myself with nothing. D.W. Like many people, I was very apprehensive about filing bankruptcy. At 65 years old, I always thought- That would never be me! But after paying all my [...]
Words cannot express the gratitude!
"Words cannot express the gratitude!" Anonymous Words cannot express the gratitude we have for you! Rate Ms. Drain’s services: 5.0 out of 5.0.
The best professional relationship that I have had with an attorney
"The best professional relationship that I have had with an attorney" M.L. The best professional relationship that I have had with an attorney (I’ve had more than my share of their services!)_I was treated with respect and all things were timely, correct, and according to plan. Thank you [...]
They helped me feel at ease with the process
“They helped me feel at ease with the process” T.R. Diane and Jay did a fantastic job helping me through the bankruptcy process and making sure I knew what I needed to do and what to expect every step of the way. They were amazing and helped [...]
Top Notch Representation, Personalized Service
“Top Notch Representation, Personalized Service! ” T.M. Diane Drain personally answers her incoming calls! Every individual has their own specific reasons for seeking bankruptcy protection. I enlisted Ms. Drain's assistance and from that first consult I realized that this was not your typical "legal factory" churning out [...]
They are compassionate truth-tellers who educate and empower
They are compassionate truth-tellers who educate and empower. M.R. Diane and Jay are caring and competent professionals who have helped so many people through difficult legal processes. They are compassionate truth-tellers who educate and empower as much as they provide legal assistance. Highly recommend. [...]
Highly recommend Diane Drain!
“Highly recommend Diane Drain!” J.P. I could not have made a better choice than Diane to help me with my bankruptcy case. During what is a very difficult and stressful time, she made things so easy to understand and the process could not have gone smoother. If [...]
I’m so grateful for all their help during a very stressful time.
“I'm so grateful for all their help during a very stressful time.” P.F. "Diane and Jay helped me tremendously. I highly recommend their services, and I'm so grateful for all their help during a very stressful time." P.F.
I was extremely pleased by the professionalism
"I was extremely pleased by the professionalism" M.M. I was extremely pleased by the professionalism and care that I was handled with. I will recommend you to everyone I know that can use the expert help that you provided.
Rate Ms. Drain’s services: 5.0 out of 5.0
"Rate Ms. Drain’s services: 5.0 out of 5.0" Anonymous When I was looking for a bankruptcy attorney, the U.S. Courts’ website had some Phoenix attorney’s listed. I visited one in person and the then read Ms. Drain’s site. The in-person attorney gave me a 2 inch stack of papers [...]
saves me a lot of time and money
Saves me a lot of time and money. M.M. Extremely knowledgeable attorney. Very helpful and patient, help me to understand the legal situation I am in which save me a lot of time and money. Thank you, Ms. Drain.
