When you are thinking about filing bankruptcy, there are a lot of things you need to consider. Bankruptcy laws have changes a few times in the past few years, so it can be hard to know what to expect. Here are some helpful tips so that you have a better idea of how to deal with bankruptcy.
A key tip for those filing a personal bankruptcy petition is to always be completely honest in all documentation. You must avoid the temptation to conceal any valuables, money or other assets from the courts. If they find that you have lied, you may be faced with fines, penalties or the inability to file in the future.
Seek advice from a debt consultant before you file for bankruptcy. Deciding to file for bankruptcy is not something that you should do without first seeking advice from a financial expert. This is because filing for bankruptcy will seriously hinder your ability to secure credit in the coming years.
Do not wait too long to file. Ignoring the problem is not going to make it go away. Waiting until foreclosure or wage garnishments occur will make matters worse. The timing of the filing is going to be crucial to the success of the process. Contact an attorney as soon as you realize that you are in financial trouble.
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.
Know the difference between Chapters 7 and 13 bankruptcies. Chapter 7 will wipe your debts clean, meaning you will not owe what you file against. Chapter 13 requires you to agree to repay your debts. These debts need to be repaid within three to five years of the filing date.
Knowing that you are required to disclose anything that you have sold, given away or transferred in the two years prior to filing can help you avoid a costly mistake. Full disclosure is required. Not disclosing everything can land you in jail or a discharge of your personal bankruptcy petition.
Keep in mind that your credit is not necessarily ruined just because you have filed for bankruptcy. But, it is important once you have filed for bankruptcy, that you properly manage your finances. This is the only way that you are going to be able to rebuild your credit the right way.
Start getting used to paying for items with cash. Because bankruptcy will affect your ability to acquire credit for the foreseeable future, and credit you do obtain will have a high interest rate, pay for everything you can with cash or a check to prevent racking up new, much more expensive debt.
Instead of filing for bankruptcy, you may want to think about getting a personal bankruptcy loan. These loans are designed to help pay off smaller loans. In the end, your monthly payments will be a lot lower than before and the savings could add up to be an astonishing amount.
When you plan on filing for bankruptcy, you want to protect any assets you can legally protect. During the process, your creditors are likely to liquidate assets of yours whenever possible to fulfill your financial obligations to them. Some assets are untouchable though, so make sure you take the proper steps to protect them. Your retirement account and your home are both untouchable when it comes to liquidation.
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.
When it comes to personal bankruptcy, be sure that you do not believe that all of your credit card balances will be eliminated. This is important to know because you do not want to find yourself in a worse situation than you are already in. Make sure all of your debts are accounted for.
After filing for bankruptcy, get your life back on track. Ensure that your credit reports are updated, with each closed account and discharged debt correctly reported. Start paying your bills on a timely basis, as these accounts for one third of your credit score. On-time payments are the first step in rebuilding your credit.
Have a credit report done before you file for bankruptcy. This will give you a list of debts that you have, and therefore give you a place to start when listing your debts for your bankruptcy filing. Make sure that there are no mistakes on it, and make sure to give it to your bankruptcy lawyer.
A good personal bankruptcy tip is, to not only focus on filing for bankruptcy if you're in a tough situation. Think ahead, so that you can prevent this from happening in the future. You need to change your spending habits so, that you don't end up knee deep in debt again.
Schedule a consultation with a personal bankruptcy attorney. Many attornies give free consultations. Usually, these meetings are enough to make you more comfortable with the process. Do not pay an attorney for the initial consultation. If an attorney will not give you a consultation without obtaining a fee, find one that will.
There are a lot of things to know if you want to file for bankruptcy, especially if you are not a lawyer and don't know all of the bankruptcy laws. Use the tips in this article to keep you on the right path. Find out as much as you can, so you can start to improve your finances soon.
Orignal From: Excellent Information On Bankruptcy Before You File
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