Carron Nicks

Attorney · Tulane University School of Law

Carron Nicks started writing bankruptcy and consumer finance articles for Nolo as a freelancer in 2016. Her articles appear on Nolo.com, TheBankruptcySite.com, Lawyers.com, and AllLaw.com.

Education. Carron earned a B.A. (psychology) and an M.S. (counseling) from the University of South Alabama. She earned her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law (New Orleans), where she was inducted into the Order of the Barristers honor society, and served as an articles editor on the Law Review, while enjoying beignets, gumbo, and gallons of cafe au lait. 

Legal career. After law school, Carron served as law clerk to judges on the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. She has spent more than 25 years representing debtors, creditors, and trustees in bankruptcy court, and plaintiffs in consumer finance, credit reporting, and deceptive trade practices litigation. Carron’s favorite pro bono activity is answering questions from the public on the American Bar Association’s Free Legal Answers website. She is a member of the Texas Bar and maintains a bankruptcy practice in Dallas. Over the years, Carron has kept a number of Nolo self-help books prominently displayed on her office bookshelves. 

Other pursuits. Prior to law school, Carron worked for the bankruptcy court in her hometown and for a bank and a bankruptcy law firm as a paralegal. After law school, in addition to her law practice, Carron taught undergraduate legal studies and business students. She began writing for Nolo and other legal and consumer-oriented publications and websites focusing on bankruptcy and personal finance. She also homeschooled her two (now adult) children, taught in a homeschool educational co-op program, and served many years as Cookie Mom for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. 

Why Nolo? Nolo’s mission aligns with Carron’s vision of an accessible and consumer-friendly legal system. She has always enjoyed breaking down complex legal concepts so that nonlawyers can better understand how laws affect their lives and are better prepared to engage an often baffling and intimidating legal system.

Articles By Carron Nicks

How Long Does Negative Information Stay on a Credit Report?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) limits how long a credit reporting agency can report negative items on your credit report. Find out how long credit reporting agencies can report negative items on your credit report.
Can I Repay Debts That Were Discharged in Bankruptcy?
When your bankruptcy case is over, you can voluntarily pay off debts that your bankruptcy discharged.
Does Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Fall Off a Credit Report?
Learn how long Chapter 7 bankruptcy (and Chapter 13 bankruptcy) will stay on your credit report.
What Is An Unliquidated Bankruptcy Claim?
When a claim is unliquidated we know who is responsible for paying it, but we don't know how much money will satisfy the claim.
Will Bankruptcy Stop the IRS From Collecting Tax Debts?
Many people wonder whether they can file bankruptcy on tax debt. A bankruptcy case can be an effective tool to clear tax debts. It will stop the IRS from continuing collection actions like garnishments and prevent the IRS from placing tax liens. Also, bankruptcy can eliminate (discharge) some older taxes and give you a process for paying back what you can’t wipe out.
Can I File for Bankruptcy If I Have a Reverse Mortgage?
If you're wondering whether you can file bankruptcy on a reverse mortgage, the answer is "Yes." However, bankruptcy and reverse mortgages rarely mix well because you could easily lose the home if significant home equity still exists. Learn about the issues that can arise if you have a reverse mortgage and file a bankruptcy case.
Can I File for Bankruptcy Even If I Have a Job?
You can file for bankruptcy if you have a job. If you file for Chapter 7, your income can't exceed a certain amount, so the amount you earn matters. In Chapter 13, you must earn enough at your job to pay the amount required by a Chapter 13 plan. Learn why having a job won't stop you from filing for bankruptcy.
What Will Happen in Bankruptcy Court?
A bankruptcy court isn't like other courts—you might never set foot in a courtroom. Although all filers must attend one official meeting, known as the "341 meeting of creditors," most individual filers never go before the judge. Beyond that meeting, you’ll only have to testify in court if certain issues come up in your case, and many of these matters get resolved before a trip to the courthouse is necessary.
What Is the Federal Bankruptcy Fraud Statute of Limitations?
The bankruptcy fraud statute of limitations period limits the time a prosecutor can file bankruptcy fraud charges. Learn how to calculate the statute of limitations period for bankruptcy fraud crimes, such as concealing assets, transferring assets to keep them from creditors, concealing or destroying records, falsifying bankruptcy forms, perjury (making false statements under oath), using a fake identity or filing in multiple jurisdictions, bribery of a court official, and embezzlement from the bankruptcy estate.
Tax Debts in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
In most cases, you can't "discharge" or wipe out recent tax debts in Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Instead, you repay your tax debts through the life of your Chapter 13 repayment plan, which could last either three or five years. But there are exceptions. Filers can often eliminate old tax debt in Chapter 13. Whether it's discharged or you pay it, Chapter 13 bankruptcy clears tax debt by the end of the plan.