As if the economic conditions in the U.S. and, indeed, most of the world weren’t dismal enough, try throwing a few million gallons of crude oil into the watery abyss.

The BP oil spill in the gulf has caused extensive damage to one of the richest ecosystems in the country, fishing. It’s a good bet that many fishermen will need to file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 personal bankruptcy just to survive.

The harm caused to the Gulf Coast region has severely impacted generations of shrimpers, crabbers and fisherman as well as the millions of tourists who regularly vacation in New Orleans and environs. Area businesses face an uncertain future; that is certain. The uncertainty is how long the deleterious effect of this disaster will last – months, years, even decades.

As a result, many financial experts predict that, despite the oil company’s offers of compensation, the area will experience a significant increase in personal and business bankruptcies. It is a sad reality that many small businesses will be forced to shutter their enterprises and many jobs will be lost. The “Big Easy”, which has already faced one recent calamity with Hurricane Katrina, will be facing another, “Hurricane BP”.

Since many of the area’s businesses are funded by personal lines of credit, it will become increasingly difficult to ‘stay afloat’ as both the fishing and credit lines dry up. Filing for personal bankruptcy may be the preferable way out of this man-made catastrophe, since Chapter 7 or 13 filings can provide a fresh beginning or structure to reorganize and repay debt.

When you work through your financial problems with a savvy lawyer from Legal Helpers, you will have the tools to make it back to the land of financial opportunity and financial freedom; call them toll-free at 800-260-1402 and receive a complimentary consultation and log onto www.legalhelpers.com.

Marc S. Barnes, owner of Love and Park at 14^th, has filed Chapter 11 petitions last week to fend off creditors and ensure that the pending sale of Love, a four-story mega club, goes off seamlessly.

Barnes’s bankruptcy attorney, Kim Y. Johnson, stated that the owner sought to protect his real estate holding, “which consists of a parcel of commercial property, currently the subject of a contract of sale. The debtor has several secured and unsecured creditors who, prior to the petition date, were unwilling to work with the debtor to modify the loans in order to allow for the closing of the aforementioned sale.” This from an article by Jacqueline Palank  on the Wall Street Journal’s site www.blogs.wsj.com.

Barnes and his wife Anne filed for Chapter 11 protection themselves to protect their residential real estate and his two businesses from creditors. “’At least one’” had begun a foreclosure proceeding against these properties, Johnson said.

And, although the club Park is current in its finances, it has also sought bankruptcy protection from concern that creditors of Barnes and Love would pursue its assets, which were used to cross-collateralize a great deal of their debt.

In its Chapter 11 petition, Park said it has up to $50,000 in assets and between $1 million and $10 million in debts. Both the Barnes’ and Love reported assets and debts each in the range of $1 million to $10 million. Barnes’ creditors include Citi Cards, Countrywide Home Loans, GMAC Mortgage, Honda Finance Exchange Inc., the Internal Revenue Service and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 personal bankruptcy could be your lifeline during these tough economic times. If your family has experienced serious financial set-backs, call the experienced and understanding bankruptcy lawyers at Legal Helpers toll-free at 800-260-1402, for the helpful advice you need to get your financial future in order. Your initial consultation is free and could be the key to your economic freedom.

At least one American family has found their dream. A family from the South was facing foreclosure on their home of more than 50 years. While packing up their belongings, they came upon a treasure that would save them from a very uncertain financial future. No, not a chest full of gold doubloons nor a shoebox full of $100 bills; but something just as rare and just as valuable; a copy of Action Comics #1, on which cover Superman is lifting an automobile. This comic book, dated June 1938, is worth more than a quarter million dollars; its original price - 10¢.

According to Vincent Zurzolo, co-owner of ComicConnect.com and Metropolis Comics and Collectibles in New York, "It's a tremendous piece of American pop culture history." Zurzolo has recently brokered deals for other Action #1 copies for $1 million and $1.5 million. Not a bad way to become a millionaire.

Other American families, however, have not been blessed by the “comic book god”. In the article by Ray Sanchez on www.abcnews.go.com, it is reported that, nationally, more than 1.6 million properties were in some stage of foreclosure during the first half of 2010, according to RealtyTrac, up about 8% from a year ago but down 5% from the last half of 2009.

If your family is struggling with everyday financial difficulties or if you are facing possible foreclosure of your home or repossession of your automobile, filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 personal bankruptcy could help you make a fresh start. For experienced and knowledgeable bankruptcy assistance, trust the attorneys from www.legalhelpers.com. Call toll-free 800-260-1402 today for your initial free consultation or come into one of their 100 sites across the country.