Understanding Bankruptcy: A New Podcast Journey

By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).

All right, everybody, welcome to my first, yes, finally, my first, podcast recording. I’ve been busy blogging and trying to get that up and running, but I’m finally here to introduce my new blog, Bankruptcy.blog. First, let me tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Alex Hernandez, and I’m a bankruptcy attorney. I’m also a college and law professor, teaching several subjects. Which one do I teach and enjoy the most? That’s right, bankruptcy.

Updated on January 9, 2025.

Listen: The Professor’s Audio Briefing.

Being a Bankruptcy Attorney and Personal Finances

I know that sounds negative, but it doesn’t have to be. There’s a lot I’ve learned over time as a bankruptcy attorney. One is that bankruptcy is not always the answer; there might be other steps we need to take. But even if you file for bankruptcy, it’s not the end of the world. I want you to understand that, and I can prove it to you very simply.

I’ve been there, and I’ve done that. No, I haven’t filed for bankruptcy, but I’ve dealt with debt. Come on, who doesn’t have debt these days? Student loans? Right here. I don’t know how many trillions of dollars it is at this point, maybe 1.4 trillion. The number changes every second. Who knows? Foreclosure? Been there, done that. Car repossession? Been there, done that. Losing business revenue? Been there, done that.

But that’s the message I’m trying to get across. No matter what, you will get through this. I’ve been through it. I have a unique perspective on dealing with debt as a lawyer and personally as an individual, as I’ve dealt with the same issues as my clients.

My credit score has hit rock bottom as well. But I’m here now. I survived. It’s not the end of your financial world, and I can prove that. Just look at all my clients. How many clients have I represented all these years, and they are okay. That’s what I want you to understand. You will also be okay.

Now, Bankruptcy.blog doesn’t focus strictly on bankruptcy. It’s for anyone who has debt-related issues. At the bottom of the page, you can see all the different categories related to debt that are covered.

There will also be YouTube videos that review my bankruptcy law textbook. These videos, done as a PowerPoint demonstration, will summarize chapters in the textbook. I will also have a separate link at the bottom of the page that reviews the bankruptcy petition and includes information on the bankruptcy court system in your state, from contact information for the judges, the trustee, and bankruptcy exemptions.

Paralegal and legal studies students can also take advantage of the blog to help you further understand the subject matter because I’m a big believer that if you just use a textbook, you’ll never find all the answers.

The answer is not always in the book. Sometimes, you have to go outside the book. In law, we usually say you don’t go outside the four corners of the page when reading a contract or a court order. But I’m telling you, to master this material, we need to go outside the four corners.

So, to wrap up, thank you for joining me as you begin your debt-free journey. I look forward to the financial adventure.

Colleges and universities can purchase my bankruptcy law textbook directly from Routledge Publishing. Paralegals and students who are buying single copies can do so via Amazon Books. To access my YouTube channel, click this link. You can also listen to my podcast on Spotify.

You can learn more about filing for bankruptcy and the bankruptcy petition via this link. Information on the bankruptcy court system, contact information for trustees, and your state’s exemptions can be found here. The federal bankruptcy exemptions are listed here. The latest version of the 341 Meeting of the Creditors can be found here.

You can find additional categories by clicking below or by using the search feature at the top of this page:

• Bankruptcy
• Insights & Analysis

Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.