Published On: September 13, 2026
Paying debt every month but getting nowhere can cost you years of income and thousands of dollars in interest. Before signing up with a debt management or debt settlement company, understand what debts are covered, what fees you may pay, whether creditors can still sue or garnish wages, and whether forgiven debt could create tax problems. For some people, bankruptcy may provide a faster, more complete fresh start and a chance to rebuild.
Published On: September 13, 2026
Thinking About Debt Settlement? Read This Before You Stop Paying Debt settlement may sound like an easier and safer choice than bankruptcy. You have probably seen the ads: “Pay only a fraction of what you [...]
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: 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: November 18, 2025
Article from the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice, November 18, 2025 Use this action plan to avoid scams Scammers tell lots of different stories to try to get your money or personal information. They might lie and say [...]
Published On: March 8, 2024
In today's consumer landscape, credit cards are the normal tools for managing finances and making purchases. However, having credit card debt can lead to financial stress and vulnerability to predatory schemes. Recognizing the importance [...]
Published On: July 24, 2022
Want to avoid dishonest debt collectors? Watch this video from FTC’s Consumer Advice By Joseph Ferrari,July 22, 2022 (reprint from FTC, Consumer Alerts) During Military Consumer Month 2022, the FTC is highlighting resources [...]
Published On: March 22, 2021
CFPB Submits 2020 Report to Congress on the Administration of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Report highlights commitment to protect consumers during the COVID-19 Pandemic The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released the [...]
Diane Was Fabulous During Our Bankruptcy
“Her assurance that there was nothing to be ashamed of, gave us the incentive to proceed.” S.R. Diane was fabulous during our bankruptcy, guiding us every step of the way. After medical bills got us behind, we didn't know where to turn and felt uncomfortable filing. Her [...]
My wife and I would recommend Diane to anyone who is thinking of filing
"My wife and I would recommend Diane to anyone who is thinking of filing" P.A. Filing for Bankruptcy is a huge decision, yet Diane’s knowledge of the laws from her years of experience make it far less daunting. My wife and I would recommend Diane to anyone who [...]
I can not imagine being treated with more professionalism
"I can not imagine being treated with more professionalism!" S. I want to express my appreciation to you and your assistant Jay for all your hard work. I can not imagine being treated with more professionalism and respect that you did. Going to the entire bankruptcy process [...]
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 suffer from anxiety and was paralyzed by fear. Thank Goodness I found Diane Drain.
“She broke down the process into manageable portions that I could handle.” S.S. I had waited to the eleventh hour to actually contact Diane Drain for help with my Chapter 7 bankruptcy. I suffer from an anxiety issue and was paralyzed by fear. Thank Goodness I was [...]
She Took the Time to Help Me Find Someone
“The Kind of Attorney You Want on Your Side... ” A.V. Diane Drain is an amazing person. She is the kind of attorney you want on your side and comes highly recommended by other attorney's. Even though my case was not a bankruptcy case, she took time [...]
Rated high among her peers
"Rated high among her peers" Anonymous Ms. Drain helped make a very difficult time more bearable. She treated us with the utmost respect and caring while pushing us to get together the paperwork needed to get us to the best possible end result. It was very obvious [...]
We are very happy we were referred to Diane for assistance
"We are very happy we were referred to Diane for assistance." S.G. Diane helped my husband and me get past a difficult chapter in our lives. She answered all our questions and gave us excellent advice. We followed her directions from start to finish and the process went [...]
She was honest and upfront with us and really knows her subject matter
"She was honest and upfront with us and really knows her subject matter" H.P. My wife and I had several questions and concerns regarding our home and a second mortgage which the lender is unwilling to work with us. After jumping through numerous hoops and an endless [...]
she made things so easy to understand
“she made things so easy to understand” J.C. 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 [...]
Diane will clearly and patiently explain to you the most critical information
Diane will clearly and patiently explain to you the most critical information. J.M. If you are considering bankruptcy, make sure you consult with Diane Drain, and learn as much as you can from her website prior to your free consultation. Why? Diane will clearly and patiently explain [...]
Finding the right lawyer to help with a financial reboot.
“Finding the right lawyer to help with a financial reboot” T & G.W. We found ourselves in a financial tsunami 2 yrs ago. No matter how we did things the financial outlook was getting worse and worse. We finally decided we needed to investigate options. Once we [...]
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 were excellent
“Diane and Jay were excellent” R.B. Diane and Jay were excellent. They were very patient with all the questions we had during the process. I would recommend them for anyone who needs help.
Thank you for the good news and for being nothing less than a “stellar” legal representative
"Thank you for the good news and for being nothing less than a “stellar” legal representative" C.M. Diane, Thank you for the good news and for being nothing less than a “stellar” legal representative, a great and understanding sounding board for me during a most difficult and [...]
I have followed your advice
"I have followed your advice." B.B. About 10 years ago you represented me in my bankruptcy and you were wonderful. I have referred a number of people to you, though I fear some of them did not have the ovaries for the follow through. I have followed your [...]
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 [...]
A Fresh Start Feels So Good
A fresh start feels so good! I am now looking forward to purchasing a home in the near future. L.T. I had the wonderful experience of working with Diane Drain to get me through the bankruptcy process. Diane was a Law Professor for many years. She knows [...]
