Are you feeling stressed about all of your bills? Think that you might have to file for bankruptcy? Well, bankruptcy does not have to be an option for you. There are many things you can do to avoid going bankrupt. Do what is best for you and your family and read this article to figure out how to avoid bankruptcy.
When you file for bankruptcy you limit your options for many future loan options. Many banks do not forgive bankruptcy and it shows on your credit report for 10 years. Think twice before making the decision to file for bankruptcy. You might want to defer your bills for a couple of months, instead of hurting your credit for 10 years.
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.
As tempting as it may be, do not run up credit cards right before filing for bankruptcy. Many times, people purchase expensive items, like jewelry, appliances and furniture right before they know they are going to file for bankruptcy. Most of the time, they are still going to be responsible for paying back this debt.
Know what debts can be forgiven. You may hear that you have to pay a certain debt, and that it cannot be discharged, but that information will usually be coming from a bill collector. Student loans and child support and a few other debts cannot be discharged, but most others can.
Do not feel embarrassed or guilty about filling for bankruptcy. Many people fear that they will be treated as second class citizens after they declare themselves bankrupt. However, this is not the case. The option to ‘declare yourself bankrupt’ was developed by the government to enable assistance to be given to people who find themselves overwhelmed with debt and in need of a fresh start. Last year, over 1.4 million people filed bankruptcy and the majority of them are now living a happy, debt-free life. So, there is no need for you to be afraid of bankruptcy stigma.
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.
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.
Be prepared to complete some mandatory courses. When you file for bankruptcy, the court will require that you successfully complete two mandatory courses, a credit counseling course and a debtor education course. Both of these courses can be completed online for a nominal fee, and while they are not too difficult, it is important that you are prepared for them.
If you have a credit card with your local credit union, it may be one that does not have to be given up due to bankruptcy. Check with your credit union to find out if the line of credit will continue after the bankruptcy is final. You still must be sure to include it on your application with your other debts.
Do not neglect your health. During the bankruptcy process, it can often feel like you are losing everything and many people see no reason to continue looking after their body and mind. While it is true that, during the process, you might lose your home, your car and the family jewels, you need to remember that neither your creditors nor a bankruptcy judge can take away your health.
Look for a bankruptcy attorney that belongs to the NACBA (The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys). When you are filing for bankruptcy, it is essential that you hire the services of an experienced and reputable bankruptcy attorney. Attorneys that are members of the NACBA, are also, members of a well-respected consumer bankruptcy organization, so you can be sure that you will be getting the best legal advice available.
If you are going through a divorce and your ex-spouse files for bankruptcy, there are debts that cannot be discharged. Child support, alimony, many property settlement obligations, restitution, and student loans, are all not allowed to be discharged in a bankruptcy from divorce. In very rare cases, some property settlement agreements are allowed to be discharged. Consult with an attorney to find out which ones can.
Be completely honest when filing your bankruptcy schedules. You must disclose absolutely all of your debts and personal property, including tax refunds, child support, social security and other less-obvious assets and claims. Hiding your assets or claims is a federal crime, which can be punishable by loss of your claim or a prison sentence.
Pay as much attention as possible to the information in your required education classes. Remember that your goal is to avoid having to file for bankruptcy again in the future. If you learn better financial management skills, you’ll be able to use your bankruptcy as an opportunity to start over.
Once you have an understanding of your options you can see that there are a lot of things that you can do to avoid bankruptcy. Hopefully, the contents of this article have helped guide you in the right direction. Start implementing the lessons that you have learned today, so that you do not have to stress over financial burdens again.
