When you have decided to clean up your credit, filing bankruptcy is an option you would rather not consider. These procedures should be the very last option for debt relief. Yet if your financial situation does not allow you to pay your bills, you have not saved any money, and have consulted credit counseling, then bankruptcy may be right for you. Basically, as a debtor, you would need to consider bankruptcy if your budget is insufficient and cannot pay off debts within five years. Ironically, bankruptcy is a drastic process, yet it has the potential to actually offer you a fresh start.
The primary reasons that individuals file for bankruptcy are hugh medical expenses, credit card debt, loss of employment or divorce. Ideally, filing bankruptcy interrupts your ability to obtain credit, buy a house, car, or obtain other financing.
The filing process begins with collecting all of your personal financial information. Then you are to file with the assistance of an attorney or you may complete the bankruptcy forms (schedules) online. You are to submit these documents with federal (bankruptcy) court to obtain a Docket Number. This will by law prevent creditors from making direct contact with you or staking a claim to any of your property.
Be aware that with recent changes in bankruptcy law, making this a do-it-yourself process is not recommended. The new laws make bankruptcy filing very complex, and if you miss a step or make a mistake, you may have to go back to the first step again, which could delay your bankruptcy filing for weeks or even months. And if not done correctly, you may not even be approved to file bankruptcy. That is correct, you need to be approved to file bankruptcy, it is not an automatic thing. A good bankruptcy lawyer can typically save you much more than the fees you will be charged. A good attorney can also advise you as to which of your debts cannot be discharged via bankruptcy.
There are two main chapters under which an individual can file personal bankruptcy. You may opt to file a chapter 13 bankruptcy or the chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The chapter 13 bankruptcy is a proposed repayment plan. It is the reorganization of which the debtor establishes a three to five year repayment plan. Debtors who have valuable assets such as a home prefer filing chapter 13 bankruptcy. Because the home is not completely covered by exemption, the individual has the option to maintain this asset. Chapter 13 allows the debtor to utilize three to five years to repay overdue payments on any asset while paying into the plan. The payment plan would be the equivalent value of the nonexempt asset.
More so, the plan requires monthly or bi-monthly payments, therefore it is perfect for those who have a regular source of income. A confirmation hearing conducted by the courts determines approval or disapproval of the repayment plan according to the standards of the Bankruptcy Codes.
Contrarily, the chapter 7 bankruptcy is a liquidation of assets. The debtor does not receive an immediate discharge of debt. This means that the individuals are expected to complete the payments required under the plan prior to individual discharge. However, you are protected from lawsuits, garnishments and other creditor collection activity while the plan is in effect. There is a fee for filing both chapters. Each individual is expected to pay a fee with the local United States Bankruptcy Court. Chapter 13 requires $185 whereas chapter 7 requires a $200 fee.
Of course, you must determine if bankruptcy is right for you. Unfortunately, filing bankruptcy has its advantages and disadvantages. Because of the extensive credit damage and the higher costs of crecdit after filing, you should obviously make great effort to avoid bankruptcy. With the chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may be paying up to 50 percent or more of the debt. If you miss a payment, you will be in violation of court and forced to repay the entire debt. Also, filing chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on your credit longer than chapter 13.
Considering that you can only file once every seven years, this is a significant amount of time to uphold such a negative mark on your credit. Despite all of the disadvantages, filing chapter 13 bankruptcy can have benefits. The most effective benefit is that the creditors have to immediately cease collection actions pending the outcome of bankruptcy. Additionally, filing allows you to start over fresh from scratch without the burdens of debt. It is important to have faith that life goes on after bankruptcy. You must make the effort to learn how to manage your financing properly. Compare your options to consolidate your debts. Furthermore and most importantly, you should educate yourself on the laws of the most popular chapter 13 bankruptcy before filing claim to federal bankruptcy court.