Boston, MA, United States, September 04, 2013 -- James S. Sapkas is an architect in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He’s a veteran who went to state colleges using the benefits of the G.I. Bill and got his undergraduate degree.

“I was debt-free when I entered college,” says Sapkas. “I made every effort to stay that way, including working multiples jobs to pay my expenses.”

But when he needed to continue for a Masters degree in his chosen profession, there were no private schools that offered the program, so he had to attend a private university. And since the G.I. Bill would not cover his tuition, he had to borrow student loans. James is single, lives frugally in a small apartment outside the city with several roommates who share the expenses. He doesn’t own a car or a TV. And James Sapkas has more than $210, 000 in student loan debt.

“I honestly don't know how I'm getting by each day,” he says. “I’m only able to pay the minimum, so the debt continues to rise. And on top of it all, I have extensive medical expenditures that drain my resources.”

James was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, an auto-immune deficiency illness which forced him to leave his full-time job. His out-of-pocket insurance costs are twenty-five percent of his income, and that doesn’t include the monthly costs of prescriptions, medical procedures and lab tests. It leaves little for essentials such as food and rent. Overwhelmed at the debt burden, Sapkas sought legal help. Local Attorney Richard S. Ravosa, Esq. of the Town and Country Legal Associates is working with James and students like him.

While there have been efforts in Congress to make changes, student loans are generally not discharged unless a debtor files litigation and wins the case by successfully showing paying the student loan would be an undue hardship. It’s not an easy process and many can’t afford the cost to bring these actions.

“Even after the Chapter 13 bankruptcy,” says Ravosa, “which reduced James’ monthly payments, the Department of Education still required nearly $2,000 per month to repay the student loans. That is beyond his ability to pay.”

Without some form of legal protection, those with outstanding student loans from private lenders face wage garnishments of up to twenty-five percent of their income, seizure of tax refunds, withhold money from social security, and harassment from collection calls, which can include any friend or family member listed as a reference on the loan application.

“With all of my health concerns, I can still say without a doubt, that the thing I worry about most each day is my student loan debt,” says Sapkas. “It is like a black cloud that is always hovering over my head and limiting my options in life.”

Richard S. Ravosa, Esquire, has an accomplished 12-year record as a trial lawyer, negotiator, and strategist, practicing in Massachusetts and Connecticut. He has been recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly for his achievements in representing clients with difficult legal obstacles to overcome, his business acumen and entrepreneurship skills. He is a member of the Boston Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the Boston Bar Association's Bankruptcy Section. He serves as Chief Counsel of the Boston Law Center and Massachusetts Bankruptcy Center. For more information: www.richardravosa.com/

Contact :
Cynthia Ravosa
Town & Country Legal Associates
One South Avenue
Natick, MA 01760
508-655-3013
[email protected]
http://www.richardravosa.com