Written by Attorney Naomi Sarega | Last Updated August 2026 Brighthouse Law is a DBA of The Law Firm of Higbee & Associates. America’s civil justice system and economy is facing a growing challenge. Debt collection lawsuits are being filed at a pace that many courts—and many consumers—are struggling to handle. Recent research from the Pew Charitable Trusts shows that up to 4.7 million debt collection lawsuits are filed each year in the United States, making debt collection on

By Attorney Mathew Higbee Across the country, millions of Americans are facing a financial reality they never expected. Rising prices for groceries, housing, insurance, and other everyday necessities have forced many families to rely on credit cards and loans simply to make ends meet. According to a July 2026 report by The Pew Charitable Trusts, Americans are accumulating what researchers call "survival debt"—debt incurred not for luxury purchases, but to pay for basic living

Beware If you have recently heard something like “This communication is from a debt collector attempting to collect a debt.

Statutes of limitations are established to protect debtors from being exposed to debt collectors or creditors for a specific length of time

There is a high number of complaints involving debt scammers every day. It is safe to assume that these scammers continue

If you live in Ohio and have old debts, the statute of limitations could be your ally.

If you are facing financial hardship, it is important for you to understand how to communicate with your creditors or debt collectors

Filing for bankruptcy may have an impact on your taxable income.

Deb settlement programs and bankruptcy may have significant implications for your tax situation.