Great Tips To Help You Work Through Personal Bankruptcy
You are not alone if you have become a victim of debt. Debt continues to mount while collection phone calls continue to rise. Filing for bankruptcy might be the best option for you. Read on to learn if bankruptcy is the best decision for you.
Individuals often seek to file for personal bankruptcy protection if their debts exceed their ability to repay them. If this describes your situation, it makes sense to become familiar with relevant laws. When it comes to bankruptcy, states have varying laws. In some areas, your residence may be completely exempt, but in others, it will not be. Do you research about legal ins and outs in your state before you begin the bankruptcy process.
Credit Card
Do not use a credit card to pay income taxes and then file for bankruptcy. The fact is that the credit card debt will be ineligible for discharge, and your tax debt may increase. Transferring the debt to another medium (e.g. a credit card) won’t magically make a tax debt discharagable, either. Because of this, transferring the debt to your credit card is pointless.
Learn the newest bankruptcy laws before filing. These laws change regularly and you should stay up-to-date so you can make the best decisions. To learn how the law has changed recently, go online and check your state’s website, or call the state government and ask them.
Many bankruptcy attorneys offer the first consultation with no charge, so consult with several before deciding on one. Always ensure that the person you meet with is a real lawyer, not a legal assistant or paralegal. These people can’t give legal advice. It will be important to work with a bankruptcy lawyer that you feel comfortable with; a little comparison shopping will help you find the right one.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Consider Chapter 13 bankruptcy. You are eligible to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy if your income is reliable and your unsecured debt does not exceed $250,000. That way, you can hold onto your personal assets and pay back a portion of your debts pursuant to an approved plan. The plan is usually for a term of three to five years, and a discharge will be granted at the end of that term. Remember, though, that if you fail to make even one payment, the case will be thrown out and you’ll be right back where you started.
Before you decide to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, consider how it could affect other people on your credit accounts, such as family members or business partners. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy will relieve you of your legal responsibility to pay any joint debts. However, creditors will want to hold your co-signer responsible completely.
A great tip to remember if you have filed for Chapter 13 is that you will still be able to receive a loan, so you shouldn’t refrain from trying. It is just tougher. You must meet with a trustee to gain approval for a new loan. When you meet with your trustee or financial adviser, make sure that you come up with a sound budget proposal. Be ready to justify the purchase that you need the loan for, too.
Get the word “shame” out of your head when filing for bankruptcy. Going through the filing process often brings out the worst in people, causing them to feel a variety of negative emotions. Continuing to let yourself feel that way can damage your emotional health and does not benefit you in your endeavors to deal with your financial situation. To best deal with filing for bankruptcy, look for the positives in the situation.
Hopefully, you now understand that there are many options open to you when you are giving a personal bankruptcy filing serious thought. If you take a rational, methodical approach, you’ll soon be experiencing the fresh start you’ve been waiting for.
