When your debts get out of control, it’s common to start worrying about losing your possessions and assets that you care about most. Put a stop to harassment by creditors and blaze a trail to a new financial future by declaring bankruptcy. Continue ahead for some excellent tips that will ease you through the bankruptcy process.
Hire a lawyer. Filing for bankruptcy does not require a lawyer, but a lawyer makes the process easier. It allows you some degree of relief to know, that a professional will be handling your case. Take your time, and choose a lawyer with a lot of experience in the field.
Do not get an attorney for your bankruptcy when you are feeling overwhelmed. You have got to be levelheaded when you hire a lawyer. After all, you will be expected to pay him/her for services. Find out upfront what you will have to pay any lawyer before you hire one.
A critical tip in filing personal bankruptcy is to steer clear of making payments to creditors, in advance of filing a petition, in an attempt to satisfy individual debts in full outside of bankruptcy court. Payments to family members and creditors made within defined periods of time prior to a bankruptcy filing can be voided and can jeopardize the chances of receiving a discharge of all debts in the case.
Find out the real reason you are filing for bankruptcy. What happened in your life that brought you to this place? What do you need to do to make sure that you can move on? What actions do you need to take before you can be sure that this will never happen again?
An important tip regarding personal bankruptcy is, gaining an understanding of what sorts of debts can, and cannot be included in a discharge. By realizing that some obligations are not considered dischargeable under the bankruptcy code, it is possible to make a wiser, more informed choice when it comes to making the decision to file a petition.
Before meeting with a lawyer, start compiling all of the documentation and paperwork you will need to provide an accurate picture of your finances. Gather six months’ worth of pay stubs, bank statements, bills and credit card statements. Create a list of property and assets that you own. Having this entire information ready from the beginning can save you trouble when it’s time to file.
Understand the differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your debts are all eliminated. Any debts that you owe to creditors will be wiped clean. With a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will have to make payments for 5 years before the debts are forgiven. You must know about the different bankruptcy types, and how each can affect you.
Think carefully before filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. While Chapter 7 bankruptcy (irreversible insolvency) will effectively get rid of all your debts, allowing you to start afresh, it will also be on your credit report for 10 years. This will greatly reduce your chances of getting any type of credit in the future. Consult with a bankruptcy attorney – he or she may be able to suggest a different form of debt relief that won’t have such a damaging effect on your credit.
Look into proper timing. You can keep your tax refund even when filing bankruptcy. You have to time it just right to do so. Wait until after your tax form has been processed, and you have received your tax return. One of the sneakiest things that a trustee does is to take an income tax return that debtors rely on. Waiting can keep that money in your pocket.
Start taking calls from bill collectors. You may have been avoiding calls from bill collectors, but if you are filing bankruptcy you may need to speak to them. You need to have all of your debts laid out so that your lawyer can get to work involving them in your case. If you don’t include a debt, it will not be discharged, and you will still have to pay it.
Don’t repay personal debt to friends and family before filing for bankruptcy. Although you may feel obligated to pay these people back first, it is not a wise decision. Because you must reveal this information when you file for bankruptcy, the trustee can legally ask for this money back or sue for it.
The best thing you can do when filing for bankruptcy is to hire an attorney. In addition to providing you a free consultation, an attorney takes care of handling all the necessary paperwork in the appropriate time frame and deals with creditors for you throughout the process. An attorney just makes the whole process easier. Even though they can be expensive, bankruptcy lawyers are invaluable during the bankruptcy process.
Bankruptcy is an option, but you should look at other options before filing. Avoid debt consolidation services and credit counseling services that seem too good to be true. Keep these tips in mind to make the best choices for your financial future and to avoid worsening your debt.
