Personal bankruptcy can be a difficult situation for debtors, as they may be facing repossession. Filing a claim for bankruptcy is not the end of the world. It is possible to spring back. Read this article for more tips on how to handle this situation.
Do your research before choosing a bankruptcy lawyer. Take advantage of free consultations, and meet with several different lawyers before picking one to work with. Make sure that you choose an experienced attorney who is knowledgeable about the local laws, the preferences of trustees, and has a good working relationship with local judges.
Remember that certain kinds of debt won’t be discharged even after you have filed for bankruptcy. If you have outstanding student loans, owe child or spousal support, a divorce settlement agreement, or unpaid taxes, you will still be liable for these debts. Also, if you forget to list certain debts on your court documents, you won’t be able to add them in the future.
Meet with many different attorneys before making any decision on one. To do this, you must start looking well in advance of when you need to file. If you wait until the last minute, you will not have the time to find an attorney that will give you good advice, and one that is easy to work with.
Do some research. There are two main types of personal bankruptcy – Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Chapter 7 will eliminate the majority of your debt while Chapter 13 restructures it to give you time to pay it off. Each one has different rules on what assets you are allowed to keep. So, ask a lot of questions before you decide which one is the best fit for your situation.
If you lose your job, or otherwise face a financial crisis after filing Chapter 13, contact your trustee immediately. If you don’t pay your Chapter 13 payment on time, your trustee can request that your bankruptcy be dismissed. You may need to modify your Chapter 13 plan if, you are unable to pay the agreed-upon amount.
Knowing that you are required to disclose anything that you have sold, given away or transferred in the two years prior to filing can help you avoid a costly mistake. Full disclosure is required. Not disclosing everything can land you in jail or a discharge of your personal bankruptcy petition.
Look at all of the options. Although bankruptcy can be highly damaging to your credit score when you file, it may actually help you in the future. It will remain on your credit report for ten years, but if filing for bankruptcy helps you overcome your debt now, it will be better for your credit score than making late credit card and loan payments for the rest of your life.
Become educated about personal bankruptcy. You must realize that the IRS will tax forgiven debt in a bankruptcy. The rules can be confusing, so be sure you learn all that you can before you file. You can find out more about this by doing some research, either by talking to finance professionals or looking online.
Keep in mind that your credit is not necessarily ruined just because you have filed for bankruptcy. But, it is important once you have filed for bankruptcy, that you properly manage your finances. This is the only way that you are going to be able to rebuild your credit the right way.
Act at the right time. When it comes to filing for bankruptcy, your timing is important. In certain situations, you should file right away, but other situations will warrant you waiting. Talk with a bankruptcy attorney to find out the ideal timing for filing based on your particular situation.
Ignore the people who put you down for declaring yourself bankrupt. These people cannot possible know the troubles you’ve experienced. By filing for bankruptcy you, are taking control of financial future. Also, dealing with the mistake of your past. Remember, for every person that looks at you with disgust, there is another person looking at you admiringly.
Before filing for bankruptcy, keep in mind that child support will not be discharged in a bankruptcy case. The reason for this is that child support is a responsibility that a parent must pay. Bankruptcy does not remove that responsibility. Be sure to include any child support in your list of debts that will remain with you after the bankruptcy is discharged.
Realize that bankruptcy may be better for you when it comes to your credit. Continuing to miss your payments can be really bad on your debt. Although your credit will take a big hit, you can begin to repair it immediately after filing bankruptcy. The key to a bankruptcy is the fresh start you will get from it.
If you need to file a claim for bankruptcy, speak with an expert. There are bankruptcy attorneys that are very familiar with the particular laws associated with this process. Remember the tips in this article and you can make the best of your financial situation, even if you must file.
