Dealing with bankruptcy can be difficult, especially if you never had to deal with anything like it before. Most people aren’t sure what bankruptcy is like until they have to go through it, but luckily, there are tips available for you to make the process easier. Here are some effective tips to do just that.
Don’t be afraid to apply for credit for purchases such as a new home or car just because you have a recently discharged bankruptcy. Many lenders will take your new financial situation into account. They may be more likely to loan money to someone who has no debt due to a bankruptcy than to the person with, say, 75,000 dollars in credit card debt. The fact that you have no monthly credit card payments can make you look like a better risk.
In any personal bankruptcy filing, it is essential to make certain to list all elements of your financial life in your petition and other paperwork. Failing to include all income sources or omitting individual debts and accounts can lead to substantial problems down the road that can limit the dischargeability of some of your most substantial obligations.
If you have late payments on credit accounts or accounts that have been sent to collections, you are probably already aware of how insistent creditors can be. After you have filed for bankruptcy, you no longer need to endure the threatening and continuous phone calls from creditors and collection agencies. All you must do is refer them to your attorney who will confirm the bankruptcy for them. After this, it is illegal for creditors to harass you in any way.
After your bankruptcy has been discharged, or finalized, a good way to begin re-building your credit is to obtain a pre-paid credit card. This type of card is usually available at your local bank. The card is secured by the amount of money you load onto it. You can not charge more than what you have loaded onto the card, so over-spending shouldn’t be a problem. It works like a regular credit card, with monthly statements and payments. After you have kept this card in good standing for a period of time, you may be able to have it switched into a regular, revolving credit card.
Locate an online support forum for those who have filed for bankruptcy. This way, you can ask other people questions and find out things that you may not know. There are a lot of forums on the internet, but there are also, some offline groups you can join, if you prefer being offline. Because these people know what you’re going through, they can make you feel better about the situation.
Know the facts. Contrary to popular belief, you can actually get credit after you file for bankruptcy. In fact, most who file already have very poor credit and filing for bankruptcy will put them on the only possible road to ever establishing good credit again. Your financial life will not end upon filing.
Gambling losses are another thing that must be listed on your application for bankruptcy. Any monies lost twelve months prior to filing must be disclosed. Failure to disclose could cause you to face perjury charges. If you are found guilty, you could face time in jail and dismissal of your petition.
You can change your Chapter 13 bankruptcy payments in certain situations. While your payment amount will be set up for 3 to 5 years, if there is a change in your situation, you may be able to amend it. A decrease in income, such as, a pay cut, or a sudden increase in expenses, such as, a medical condition, may allow you to amend your monthly payments. You may be able to reduce the payment accordingly, or in some cases, suspend your payment for a certain amount of time.
Keep in mind that, currently, student loans cannot be discharged when filing for bankruptcy. There is a process by which student loans could be considered dischargeable, but it is costly, difficult, and rarely successful. However, student loans in bankruptcy have been a topic discussed by Congress in recent years, so keep up with new bankruptcy laws to find out if any changes have been made.
Consider every option prior to filing for bankruptcy. One good option might be credit counseling. You can easily find non-profits that can assist you in your debt struggles. These organizations can work with creditors to lower your payments and interest rates. Once you pay them, they make the payments to your creditors.
Reading the tips in this article, you ,hopefully feel more able to handle the bankruptcy process, so that you can move forward in your life. Take control of your life once again, and make decisions that are well-informed. This way, you will see the light at the end of the tunnel, much quicker.
