A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.

Shopping

Top 5 Debt Relief Programs of 2025: What’s Best for Your Financial Situation?

Affiliate. Find the best debt relief program that fits your financial situation. 

Content by Dan Sherman, contributing writer

debtreliefimage3

If you make a purchase after clicking on links within this article, Lee Enterprises may earn affiliate commissions. The news and editorial departments had no role in the creation or display of this content. All opinions and views are of the advertiser.

debtreliefhtml

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D64FC6]>@?6J]4@>^AC^?2ga_ccdcc6dnD`l%@As63E#6=:67!C@8C2>DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmuC665@> s63E #6=:67k^2mk^Am
kAm*@F 5@?’E ?665 E@ 36 C64<=6DD H:E9 >@?6J E@ 6?5 FA 3FC:65 :? 563E] p== :E E2<6D :D @?6 42E2DEC@A9:4 6G6?E[ DF556? =@DD @7 2 ;@3[ @C 2 76H >@?E9D @7 “;FDE 86EE:?8 3J” – 2?5 DF556?=J[ E96 :?E6C6DE 492C86D 3J E96>D6=G6D 2C6 6?@F89 E@ >2<6 J@F 766= =:<6 J@F’== ?6G6C 86E @FE @7 563E]k^Am
kAmx7 E9:D D@F?5D 72>:=:2C[ J@F’C6 ?@E 2=@?6] %96 8@@5 ?6HDn %96C6’D ?@ D9@CE286 @7 @AE:@?D :? a_ad] qFE ?@E 6G6CJ A2E9 :D C:89E 7@C 6G6CJ@?6] (92E J@F ?665 :D 2 563E C6=:67 AC@8C2> E92E 7:ED J@FC D:EF2E:@?[ ?@E ;FDE D@>6 4@@<:6\4FEE6C 7:I]k^Am
kAmq6=@H :D 2 3C62<5@H? @7 7:G6 @7 E96 >@DE AC24E:42= W2?5 >@DE E2=<65\23@FEX DEC2E68:6D A6@A=6 2C6 FD:?8 E9:D J62C E@ 5:8 @FE[ 2?5 DE2J @FE[ @7 563E]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8m`] s63E $6EE=6>6?Ek^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8mx562= :7i *@F’C6 @G6CH96=>65 2?5 42?’E A2J E96 7F== 2>@F?E J@F @H6] k^DEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C665@>563EC6=:67]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmuC665@> s63E #6=:67 96=AD H:E9 E9:D 2AAC@249k^2m]k^Am
kAm%9:D @?6’D 23@FE ?68@E:2E:?8] *@F DE@A A2J:?8 4C65:E@CD 5:C64E=J 2?5 :?DE625 D6E 2D:56 >@?6J :? 2 D6A2C2E6 244@F?E E@ D2G6 FA 7F?5D 7@C ?68@E:2E:@?D] p E9:C5 A2CEJ – =:<6 uC665@> s63E #6=:67 – DE6AD :? E@ DEC:<6 562=D[ @7E6? D6EE=:?8 563ED 7@C =6DD E92? H92E J@F @H6]k^Am
kAmxD :E A6C764En }@] xE 42? 27764E J@FC 4C65:E D4@C6] qFE :7 J@F’C6 369:?5 2?JH2J[ 2?5 J@F @H6 Sf[d__ @C >@C6[ :E >:89E >2<6 >@C6 D6?D6 E92? ECJ:?8 E@ <66A FA H:E9 :>A@DD:3=6 >:?:>F>D]k^Am
kAmp =@E @7 7@=<D 42== uC665@> s63E #6=:67 @?6 @7 E96 36DE 563E C6=:67 4@>A2?:6D @776C:?8 E9:D @AE:@? 3642FD6 E96J 5@?’E ;FDE A:E49 2 D6CG:46j E96J H2=< J@F E9C@F89 :E] }@ D2=6DJ ?@?D6?D6]k^Am
kAm(2?E E@ 6IA=@C6 E96:C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D64FC6]>@?6J]4@>^AC^?2ga_ccdcc6dnD`l%@As63E#6=:67!C@8C2>DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm563E C6=:67 AC@8C2>k^2mn (@CE9 2 =@@<]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!C@Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mr2? D:8?:7:42?E=J C65F46 E96 E@E2= J@F @H6k^=:mk=:m~7E6? 72DE6C E92? D=@H\A2J DEC2E68:6Dk^=:mk=:muC665@> s63E #6=:67 :D @?6 @7 E96 36DE 563E C6=:67 4@>A2?:6D @776C:?8 DECF4EFC65[ EC2?DA2C6?E D6EE=6>6?E D6CG:46Dk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mr@?Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mrC65:E D4@C6 H:== =:<6=J 5C@A 5FC:?8 E96 AC@46DDk^=:mk=:mrC65:E@CD 2C6?’E =682==J C6BF:C65 E@ 2446AE 2 D6EE=6>6?Ek^=:mk=:mu@C8:G6? 563E >2J 36 4@?D:56C65 E2I23=6 :?4@>6k^=:mk^F=m
k9bmkDEC@?8ma] s63E r@?D@=:52E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8mx562= :7i *@F’G6 8@E 2 5646?E 4C65:E D4@C6 2?5 92E6 ;F88=:?8 3:==Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx?DE625 @7 A2J:?8 >F=E:A=6 =6?56CD 2E G2C:@FD :?E6C6DE C2E6D[ E9:D @AE:@? C@==D 6G6CJE9:?8 :?E@ @?6 =@2?[ 9@A67F==J H:E9 2 =@H6C C2E6] xE D:>A=:7:6D E9:?8D 2?5 42? C65F46 H92E J@F’C6 DA6?5:?8 6249 >@?E9]k^Am
kAmxEVD ?@E 23@FE 7@C8:G6?6DD] *@F DE:== @H6 E96 D2>6 E@E2=[ 3FE E96 DECF4EFC6 492?86D]k^Am
kAmu@C A6@A=6 H:E9 DE23=6 :?4@>6 2?5 >2?28623=6 563E =6G6=D[ :E’D @7E6? 2 =@H\DEC6DD 7:I]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!C@Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m$EC62>=:?6D A2J>6?EDk^=:mk=:mr@F=5 C65F46 :?E6C6DEk^=:mk=:m}@ ?665 E@ ?68@E:2E6 @C 72== 369:?5k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mr@?Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m#6BF:C6D 5646?E 4C65:E 7@C 2 8@@5 C2E6k^=:mk=:ms@6D?’E =@H6C E96 E@E2= 32=2?46 @H65k^=:mk=:m#:D< @7 C24<:?8 FA ?6H 563E :7 DA6?5:?8 923:ED 5@?’E 492?86k^=:mk^F=m
kAm{@@< :?E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^563E\4@?D@=:52E:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm563E 4@?D@=:52E:@?k^2m @AE:@?D DF49 2D A6CD@?2= =@2?D 2?5 7:I65\C2E6 wt{~rD]k^Am
k9bmkDEC@?8mb] s63E |2?286>6?E !=2? Ws|!X G:2 rC65:E r@F?D6=:?8k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8mx562= :7i *@F H2?E DECF4EFC6 2?5 >:?:>2= 4C65:E 52>286k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmw6C6’D 9@H :E H@C<Di J@F H@C< H:E9 2 ?@?AC@7:E 4@F?D6=@C H9@ E2=<D E@ J@FC 4C65:E@CD 2?5 2CC2?86D =@H6C :?E6C6DE C2E6D] %96? J@F >2<6 @?6 >@?E9=J A2J>6?E E@ E96 286?4J[ 2?5 E96J 5:DEC:3FE6 :E 7@C J@F]k^Am
kAmxE’D 2 D=@H6C C@25[ DFC6[ 3FE E96C6’D ?@ 8F6DDH@C<[ 2?5 :E 5@6D?’E 27764E J@FC 4C65:E =:<6 D6EE=6>6?E D@>6E:>6D 42?] %9:?< @7 :E 2D E96 “D=@H 3FE DE625J” @AE:@?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!C@Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m{6DD 5C2DE:4 :>A24E @? 4C65:Ek^=:mk=:m$:>A=:7:6D C6A2J>6?Ek^=:mk=:m$FAA@CE 7C@> 2 ?@?AC@7:E E9:C5 A2CEJk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mr@?Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m%2<6D b–d J62CD E@ 4@>A=6E6k^=:mk=:ms@6D?’E C65F46 J@FC E@E2= 563Ek^=:mk=:m$@>6 4C65:E@CD >2J ?@E A2CE:4:A2E6k^=:mk^F=m
k9bmkDEC@?8mc] q2?<CFAE4J Wr92AE6C f @C `bXk^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8mx562= :7i %96 ?F>36CD ;FDE 5@?’E H@C< 2?J>@C6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%9:D :D E96 ?F4=62C @AE:@?[ ?@ 5@F3E] qFE H96? 6G6CJE9:?8 6=D6 72:=D[ :E 42? @776C C62= C6=:67] r92AE6C f H:A6D @FE 46CE2:? 563ED 4@>A=6E6=J] r92AE6C `b C6DECF4EFC6D E96> :?E@ A2J>6?ED J@F 42? 92?5=6[ F?56C 4@FCE DFA6CG:D:@? 7@C b\d J62CD] qFE 36 42C67F=[ >2?J A6@A=6 DECF88=6 E@ 4@>A=6E6 E96 r92AE6C `b AC@46DD] x7 E92E 92AA6?D[ J@F DE:== @H6 2== J@FC 4C65:E@CD 2?5 H:== =:<6=J 92G6 E@ A2J E9@FD2?5D :? 255:E:@?2=[ FA7C@?E 4@FCE 2?5 2EE@C?6J 766D E@ 86E 324< :?E@ J@FC r92AE6C `b A2J>6?E A=2?]k^Am
kAm}@E 62DJ] }@E =:89E] qFE 7@C D@>6[ :EVD 2 C6D6E 3FEE@? E92E >2J H@C<]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!C@Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m$E@AD 4@==64E:@? 42==D 2?5 =2HDF:EDk^=:mk=:mr2? H:A6 @FE =2C86 563EDk^=:mk=:m{682= AC@E64E:@?k^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mr@?Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m$6C:@FD 52>286 E@ 4C65:E 7@C J62CDk^=:mk=:m&A7C@?E =682= 766D :?G@=G65k^=:mk=:m}@E 2== 563ED BF2=:7J 7@C 5:D492C86k^=:mk^F=m
k9bmkDEC@?8md] sx* s63E #6=:67k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAmkDEC@?8mx562= :7i *@F H2?E E@ D2G6 >@?6J @? AC@76DD:@?2= 766D 2?5 42? DE:4< E@ J@FC A=2? H:E9@FE E96 DFAA@CE @7 2? @FED:56 6IA6CEk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmr@>A2?:6D =:<6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D64FC6]>@?6J]4@>^AC^?2ga_ccdcc6dnD`l%@As63E#6=:67!C@8C2>DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmuC665@> s63E #6=:67k^2m 92G6 564256D @7 6IA6C:6?46 96=A:?8 4@?DF>6CD DECF88=:?8 H:E9 563E 2?5 H:== AC@G:56 2==\:?\@?6 DFAA@CE E9C@F89@FE J@FC 563E C6=:67 ;@FC?6J] qFE D@>6 7@=<D AC676C E@ ECJ E@ H@C< E9C@F89 E96:C 563E :DDF6D @? E96:C @H?]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 5@\:E\J@FCD6=7 @AE:@?[ J@F 2G@:5 A2J:?8 E96 766D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 2?J @7 E96 @E96C DEC2E68:6D 56D4C:365 23@G6[ 3FE J@F =@D6 @FE @? E96 6IA6CE:D6[ 4@249:?8 2?5 DFAA@CE J@F C646:G6 7C@> 2 AC@76DD:@?2= D6CG:46] *@F’== 36 @? J@FC @H? 7@C <66A:?8 EC24< @7 2== J@FC 563E 244@F?ED 2?5 7:8FC:?8 @FE 9@H E@ 86E J@FC 4C65:E@CD E@ H@C< H:E9 J@F[ H9:49 42? 62D:=J 364@>6 @G6CH96=>:?8 7@C >2?J A6@A=6] !C6A2C6 E@ DA6?5 2 =@E @7 E:>6 H2:E:?8 @? 9@=5 E@ DA62< H:E9 J@FC 4C65:E@CD] p?5 :7 J@F 5C@A E96 32==[ J@FC D:EF2E:@? 4@F=5 86E H@CD6 2?5 J@F DE:== >2J 6?5 FA ?665:?8 AC@76DD:@?2= 96=A]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!C@Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m$2G6 >@?6J @? AC@76DD:@?2= 766Dk^=:mk=:mr2? 36 2 8@@5 A=246 E@ DE2CE :7 @G6C2== 563E :D =@Hk^=:mk^F=m
kAmkDEC@?8mr@?Dik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:m%:>6 4@?DF>:?8k^=:mk=:m*@F’C6 @? J@FC @H?[ H:E9 ?@ 6IA6C:6?465 96=Ak^=:mk=:mrC65:E@CD 5@?’E 92G6 E@ 2446AE D6EE=6>6?E @776CDk^=:mk^F=m
k9bmkDEC@?8m{2DE (@C5k^DEC@?8mk^9bm
kAm%96C6’D ?@ >28:4 6C2D6C 7@C 563E] qFE E96C6 2C6 H2JD E@ E2<6 4@?EC@= 2?5 24EF2==J D=66A 36EE6C 2E ?:89E] xE DE2CED H:E9 F?56CDE2?5:?8 E96 @AE:@?D 2?5 A:4<:?8 @?6 E92E >66ED J@F H96C6 J@F 2C6]k^Am
kAmu@C 2 AC@8C2> H:E9 7=6I:3:=:EJ[ EC2?DA2C6?4J[ 2?5 C62= 9F>2? 96=A[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7C665@>563EC6=:67]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmuC665@> s63E #6=:67 AC@8C2>k^2m :D 92C5 E@ 362E] $:?46 a__a[ E96J’G6 96=A65 @G6C ` >:==:@? 4@?DF>6CD C6D@=G6 @G6C Sa_ 3:==:@? :? 563E 2=C625J[ 2?5 :? a_ad[ E96J’C6 DE:== 5@:?8 :E C:89E]k^Am
kAm}@ AC6DDFC6] yFDE AC@8C6DD]k^Am
k9dmkDEC@?8mk6>m%9:D 4@?E6?E :D 7@C :?7@C>2E:@?2= AFCA@D6D @?=J 2?5 D9@F=5 ?@E 36 4@?DECF65 2D 7:?2?4:2= 25G:46] !=62D6 4@?DF=E 2 7:?2?46 AC@76DD:@?2= 7@C 7:?2?4:2= 25G:46] %96 G:6HD[ E9@F89ED 2?5 @A:?:@?D 6IAC6DD65 :? E9:D 4@?EC:3FE@C 4@?E6?E 36=@?8 D@=6=J E@ E96 4@?EC:3FE@C 2?5 5@ ?@E C6AC6D6?E E96 G:6HD @7 {66 t?E6CAC:D6D]k^6>mk^DEC@?8mk^9dm
k9dmkDEC@?8mk6>m%96 AF3=:D96C 5@6D ?@E 6?5@CD6 @C 6G2=F2E6 E96 25G6CE:D65 AC@5F4ED[ D6CG:46D @C 4@>A2?:6D[ ?@C 2?J @7 E96 4=2:>D >256 H:E9:? E9:D E9:C5\A2CEJ 4@?E6?E 2?5 5@6D ?@E 2446AE 2?J C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ @C =:23:=:EJ 7@C :E]k^6>mk^DEC@?8mk^9dm

Join the discussion