How Easy Is It To File Bankruptcy – The right time to declare bankruptcy is usually after you have exhausted all your other options to meet your financial obligations but still cannot pay your debts. It may be time to declare bankruptcy if, for example, you have large debts that you cannot pay back, are behind on your mortgage payments and are at risk of foreclosure, or if you are receiving a call from a bill- the carriers.
Bankruptcy can often reduce or eliminate your debts, save your home and protect you from bill collectors. But it also has serious financial consequences, including long-term damage to your credit score. That, in turn, can affect your ability to borrow in the future.
How Easy Is It To File Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy cases are handled by federal courts, and federal law defines six different types. The two most common types used by individuals are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is primarily for businesses.
Phoenix Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorneys
Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the type most individuals file, is also referred to as a direct or liquidation bankruptcy. A court-appointed trustee can sell some of your assets and use the proceeds to partially pay off your creditors, after which your debt is considered discharged.
Certain types of property may be exempt from liquidation, subject to certain limits. These include your car, clothes, and furniture, business equipment, retirement savings, and some of the equity you have in your home. You must list the assets you claim to be exempt when you file.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy provides a court-approved plan to pay off all or part of your debts over three to five years.
Some of your debts may also be discharged. Because it does not require liquidating your property, Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to keep your home, as long as you continue to make the agreed-upon payments.
Small Business Bankruptcy
Some types of debt generally cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. These include child support, alimony, student loans, and some tax obligations.
There are several steps involved in filing for bankruptcy. Failure to complete them may result in the dismissal of your case.
Before you file for bankruptcy, you are required to complete a credit counseling session. A counselor should review your personal situation, give you advice on budgeting and debt management, and discuss possible alternatives to bankruptcy.
Filing for bankruptcy involves submitting a bankruptcy petition and financial statements showing your income, debts, and assets. You will also be required to submit a means test form, which determines if your income is low enough to qualify for Chapter 7.
What Happens When You File For Bankruptcy?
If you do not qualify for Chapter 7, you must file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. You will also need to pay a filing fee, although it is sometimes waived if you can prove you can’t afford it.
You can get the forms you need from the bankruptcy court. If you engage the services of a bankruptcy attorney, which is usually a good idea, they should also be able to provide you.
When you file, the bankruptcy trustee assigned to your case will arrange a meeting of creditors, also known as a 341 meeting in the section of the bankruptcy code where assigned. This is an opportunity for people or businesses you owe money to ask questions about your financial situation and your plan, if any, to pay it back.
Your case will be decided by the bankruptcy judge, based on the information you provide. If the court determines that you tried to hide assets or committed other fraud, you may not only lose your case but also face criminal charges.
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After you file for bankruptcy—but before you’re discharged from debt—you should take a creditor education course, which will give you advice on budgeting and money management. Again, you’ll need to get a certificate that shows you participated. You can find a list of credit education providers approved by the bankruptcy court or the Department of Justice.
Assuming the court decides in your favor, your debt will be discharged, in a Chapter 7 case. In a Chapter 13, a repayment plan will be approved. Being discharged from debt means that the lender cannot try to foreclose on you.
Bankruptcy has negative consequences for your credit history. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy will stay on the creditor’s record for 10 years, while a Chapter 13 will generally last seven years.
There is also a limit to how often you can discharge your debts through bankruptcy. For example, if you have debts discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must wait eight years before declaring bankruptcy again.
Bankruptcy Statistics [updated For [year]]
But because filing for bankruptcy is difficult and must be done correctly to be successful, it is generally unwise to attempt it without the help of an experienced bankruptcy attorney.
Negotiating with your creditors, without involving the courts, can sometimes be beneficial for both parties. Instead of risking nothing, the lender may agree to a payment schedule that reduces your debt or extends your payments over a longer period of time.
If you can’t make your mortgage payments, it’s a good idea to call your loan servicer to find out what options are available to you to avoid filing for bankruptcy. These may include:
If you owe money to the IRS, you may be eligible for an offer in compromise, which allows you to settle with the agency for a lower amount than you owe. In some cases, the IRS also offers monthly payment plans for taxpayers who are unable to pay their tax obligations all at once.
How To File Bankruptcy Without A Lawyer?
Beware of unsolicited offers from companies that claim they can protect your home from foreclosure. They may be nothing more than con artists.
Bankruptcy law exists to help people who have taken on an unmanageable amount of debt—often due to large medical bills or other unexpected expenses. But it’s not an easy process and it has negative consequences for your finances in the long run.
Before you file for bankruptcy, explore all your options and be prepared for the consequences. If you decide that bankruptcy is your only possible option, remember that your debt will hit you for many years, but the consequences are not permanent.
Bankruptcy can eliminate many types of debt, but not all types of debt are eligible for discharge. For example, student loans are usually not eligible for bankruptcy unless you meet additional requirements, such as proving that repaying your loan is causing problems.
What Are Some Potential Positive Outcomes Of Filing For Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy usually discharges credit card debt. However, before paying off your credit card debt, talk to your lender. They may be willing to negotiate a different payment for you to avoid losing the entire loan.
A debt management plan is a plan developed by a credit counselor, for you and your creditors to help you successfully pay off your debt. Debt management plans require regular monthly payments and you cannot take out new loans while paying off your debt.
Knowing when to file bankruptcy is key to minimizing financial consequences. Filing for bankruptcy can lead to significant damage to your credit history, however it can be the best solution for managing debt that you cannot afford to pay off.
Consider consulting with a reputable credit counselor to explain all of your repayment options before filing for bankruptcy.
What Experts Say To Do Before, During And After Filing For Bankruptcy
By carefully using credit in the future and paying your bills on time, you can begin to rebuild your credit and gradually delay bankruptcy.
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The offers shown in this table are from partners who receive compensation. This compensation may affect how and where listings appear. It does not include all the offers available in the market. Chapter 11 is a type of bankruptcy that involves restructuring the debtor’s business affairs, debts, and assets. It is also referred to as “restructuring” bankruptcy.
Chapter 11 is named after a section of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Companies that file for Chapter 11 do so to have time to restructure their debts and make a fresh start. The terms depend on the debtor fulfilling its obligations under the restructuring plan.
Things You Can Do To Make Filing For Bankruptcy Easier
During a Chapter 11 proceeding, the court will help the business restructure its debts and obligations. For the most part, the company remains open and operational. Many American companies have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy at one time or another to stay afloat. They include famous names such as General Motors, United Airlines, K-mart, and thousands of other different companies.
Corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies (LLCs) often file for Chapter 11, but in rare cases, individuals with large debts who do not qualify for Chapter 7 or 13 may qualify for Chapter 11. However, the process it is not urgent.
A business in a Chapter 11 filing may continue to operate. In most cases
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