Making the choice to file for personal bankruptcy is something that many find difficult, if not excruciating. But, armed with the right knowledge and information, it is possible to view the process as the best way to achieve a needed fresh start in your personal finance, and not something that must be dreaded. Put the tips in this article to work today and gain new perspective on what bankruptcy can do for you.
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.
Filing for bankruptcy will not only just stop credit card companies from harassing you about debt. It will wipe out many of your debts, which may include utility company bills, wage garnishment and foreclosure. It will reduce all of these debts down to zero, and you will have to rebuild your credit all over.
A good personal bankruptcy tip is to be absolutely sure that you’ve gone through all of your options before you decide to file for bankruptcy. If the amount you owe is relatively small, you can always try to negotiate it by working through a credit counselor and making small payments.
Once the initial filing period is over, ensure that you are getting out and enjoying life. The filing process is extremely stressful for a lot of the people who go through it. If you let the stress get to you you may get depressed if you’re not doing the proper things to fight it. Your life will see improvement after you get past the bankruptcy.
Clean up your credit record after ten years. When you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it remains on your credit report for ten years. However, the credit bureaus are not required to remove the information. In order to get rid of the bankruptcy record, write a letter to the credit reporting agencies, along with a copy of your discharge notice. Follow this up with a phone call to make sure that they have removed the bankruptcy record.
When you file for bankruptcy, remember to include all credit and debit accounts. You should even include those credit cards that do not have a balance. Some people leave these out because they wish to keep these accounts open. In addition, you need to include all the information about any auto loans that you may have.
Don’t make the mistake of hesitating to file for bankruptcy because you think you won’t be able to file again and may need to save it for a worse financial situation. The laws vary from state to state, but you may file again after a certain period, usually two to eight years, depending on the type of bankruptcy filed. Of course, you won’t want to file again, but in case of job loss or a major illness, the opportunity is there if you need it.
Prior to filing for bankruptcy, purge from your vocabulary the word “shame”. A lot of people have a negative opinion of bankruptcy, mostly because they misunderstand this procedure. These feelings can cause you to make rash decisions and cause psychological problems. If you want to cope with your bankruptcy filing successfully, you must maintain a positive point of view.
If you are considering bankruptcy, do not leave it until the last possible moment to do so. Some people will just ignore their outstanding debts, hoping that someone or something will come and save them, but this never ends well. If you have failed to make payments for several months but have continued making purchases on credit, your petition may be denied. Speak with a bankruptcy lawyer as soon as you become aware that you cannot handle your debts.
Do not be afraid to file for bankruptcy. Sometimes people find themselves so overwhelmed with debt that they just decide to do nothing and bury their heads in the sand. This is the worst thing that a person could possibly do. Instead, they should file for bankruptcy because by doing so, they are taking positive affirmative action and giving themselves another chance at managing their finances.
If you are planning to file for bankruptcy, you must seriously take into account anyone who has cosigned on a loan for you. For instance, if a friend or relative is a cosigner on your auto or home loan, they will be held financially responsible to pay the debt in the event you file for bankruptcy. This can create problems in relationships between family members and friends. That is why it is not advisable to cosign for anyone or ask someone to cosign for you, including your children. It could ruin someone’s life.
It is certainly true that the prospect of bankruptcy is a topic feared by many. Much of the worry and hesitation surrounding the filing personal bankruptcy stems from insufficient knowledge on the part of consumers. By studying the guidance and advice in the piece that follows, it is possible to better understand what bankruptcy means and does for debtors, and how best to optimize the process.
