Monday, July 23, 2007

Things To Consider When You Are Filing Bankruptcy

Due to the steadily rising costs of living and other increasing expenses, some people are filing bankruptcy. Before taking the serious step of filing bankruptcy, it is reasonable to look into some information to decide what kind of bankruptcy may be right for you.

There are two different ways to file bankruptcy.

The Chapter 7 bankruptcy, for example, will eliminate all your debts. In exchange, you may lose any property or other assets that you may own. So if you do not have any assets to lose, then chapter 7 may be right for you. It will give you a fresh start.

If you have a steady income and assets, you might be further ahead to look into filing bankruptcy with Chapter 13. You may have to pay all your debts back, but you will have worked out an arrangement with the court so that you can do so in smaller installments, which will leave you more money after making the payments. When filing Chapter 13, you are able to keep assets that you may own.

Many people have heard about the new bankruptcy laws and in some cases, a person may have to file Chapter 13 instead of Chapter 7 under the new laws. But all in all, the laws remain about the same when it comes to filing bankruptcy. However, there are subtle differences in the law from state to state, and if you are going to be filing bankruptcy, there are not too many ways to do it in a state other than the one in which you are listed as a resident.

From the day you are filing bankruptcy and have a signed statement, there should be no more harassing phone calls or wage garnishing. If anything like that continues to occur, you can have your bankruptcy lawyer handle that to have it stopped.

Filing bankruptcy will be recorded in your credit report for 10 years. This can be a big disadvantage down the road. You may have a problem for some time if you want to buy a home and get a mortgage loan. If you want to start a business after filing bankruptcy, it may prevent you from getting needed credit to grow your business.

These and other factors need to be considered when filing bankruptcy.

There may be other options. Some people have tried to get help from a credit counselor. You need to be cautious when looking into this option, because if you choose the wrong organization, you could end up paying out even more money.

What about a debt consolidation loan? That may be another alternative for you. When taking out a debt consolidation loan, you can manage your finances more easily and you may be able to pay your debts without filing bankruptcy.

Either of these options may work out better for you than actually filing bankruptcy. That is not something you want to do unless it is really necessary and you have no other viable options.

Depending on the situation you are in, there could be different options for you to look at. Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy should be your last resort. If possible, you do want to pay back what you owe and learn to be more careful when it comes to spending money.

According to some statistics, quite a few people have had a large amount of medical expenses and are not able to pay these back. In a given situation like this, your best option may be to discuss it with a bankruptcy lawyer who is familiar with the laws in your state and get their advice on what you should do.

For more insights and additional information about Filing Bankruptcy and a free consultation with a bankruptcy lawyer local to you, please visit our web site at http://www.bankruptcy-data.com


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