What To Know Before You File For Bankruptcy

By Stacey Smith


The circumstances that culminate in a bankruptcy filing are likely unpleasant, though they do not need to define the rest of your life. You are being given the opportunity to start again with a debt-free slate. Continue ahead to learn how you can smooth out the bankruptcy process so it's not a financial disaster.

Knowledge is power when you're considering bankruptcy; there are many websites available to help you. The U.S. Justice Department, the ABI (American Bankruptcy Institute), as well as the NABCA (National Assoc. Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys) are excellent sources of information. The more information you have, the more confident you can be about any decision you make and you will know that you are doing the best thing possible for your situation.

Prior to filing for bankruptcy, be sure you have investigated all of your alternatives. You have other options, including consumer credit counseling help. Bankruptcy has a negative effect on your credit reports, in that it is permanently there. Before you take this step, make sure all your options have been considered.

Always be honest when filling out paperwork. Lying on your filing can cause dire consequences such as: delays, penalties, being prevented from re-filing, or even jail time.

When a bankruptcy is imminent, retain a lawyer immediately. You might not understand all of the various aspects to filing for bankruptcy. A personal bankruptcy lawyer will be able to help you and ensure you are doing things the proper way.

If you are about to file for bankruptcy, then make sure you hire a lawyer. Filing for bankruptcy is a complicated procedure, and you may not be aware of all the ins and outs. Choose an attorney versed in personal bankruptcy to make sure you don't make mistakes.

Seek a less serious option prior to filing for bankruptcy. If you owe small amounts of money, you can join a counseling program or straighten your finances out by yourself. You may also find success in negotiating lower payment arrangements yourself, but be certain to get any arrangements with creditors in writing.

It's a good idea to meet with a number of bankruptcy lawyers before settling upon one. The majority of them offer free initial consultations. Make sure you meet with a licensed attorney rather than a paralegal or assistant, because it is illegal for these people to give legal advice. Be sure to check out a number of lawyers so that you will find one who is just right for you.

Safeguard your home. Filing for bankruptcy does not mean you have to lose your home. Depending on whether the value of your home has decreased or if you have a second mortgage on the home, you may end up keeping it. You may also want to check out the homestead exemption because it may allow you to keep your home.

Find out about lowering the cost of the payment you pay monthly on your car, if you are afraid of losing it. Most of the time Chapter 7 bankruptcy will allow your payments to be lowered. There are qualifications, such as the loan being high interest and a good work record for this option.

If you really want to keep your vehicle, speak with your lawyer about possible choices. Sometimes, as part of the bankruptcy filing, your auto loan can be restructured so that you pay less each month. Your car must have been purchased more than 910 days prior to filing, be a high interest loan, and you must have had a steady work history for this to work.

If you are thinking about filing for bankruptcy, one of the first things you should do is look into the laws of your state. For instance, you are not allowed to move assets from your name to someone else's for a year before you file. In addition, it's unlawful for a filer to acquire more debt on their credit cards before they file.

Again, it is likely that whatever precipitated a bankruptcy filing was not something on which you look back fondly. Afterward, however, you can have an easier time. If you put the ideas you learned in this article into practice, you can write a whole new financial story and live happily ever after.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment