If you and your family have found yourselves buried in financial debt, one of the first things that come to mind is filing personal bankruptcy. A bankruptcy filing may seem like a life preserver, but it has its drawbacks. Continue reading to learn more about filing personal bankruptcy, and to see if it makes sense for you.
Filing for bankruptcy does not wipe out all of your debts. It does not stop you from having to pay alimony, child support, student loans, tax debt and most types of secured credit. You will not be allowed to file if these are the only types of debt that you have on record.
Many bankruptcy lawyers offer free consultations, so go to several before choosing one. Never settle for speaking with a paralegal or an assistant. They are not trained, nor allowed, to pass on legal advice. By meeting with several attorneys through a free consultation you will be able to choose which attorney you feel more comfortable with.
Talk to other professionals before talking to a bankruptcy lawyer. Talk to financial advisers and credit counselors to see if bankruptcy is, in fact, your best option. A bankruptcy lawyer has a conflict of interest, so they are less likely to dissuade you from filing for bankruptcy. Finding an impartial, knowledgeable thirty party will give you the complete picture.
Do not wait too long to file for bankruptcy, if that is what you are going to do. By waiting a long period of time, you are just allowing your debt to keep piling up. Once you have decided that filing for bankruptcy is the right choice, start the process right away!
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.
A good personal bankruptcy tip is to be well versed in all of the rules when it comes to filing for bankruptcy. The last thing you would want is to be penalized, or taxed by the IRS. They do indeed tax some of the debt that you've managed to get rid of.
Ignore the people who put you down for declaring yourself bankrupt. These people cannot possible know the troubles you've experienced. By filing for bankruptcy you, are taking control of financial future. Also, dealing with the mistake of your past. Remember, for every person that looks at you with disgust, there is another person looking at you admiringly.
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.
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 up front and honest about your situation and assets to avoid courts from dismissing your case. If the court catches you deliberately hiding assets or income, it can bar you from filing and even refilling for bankruptcy on debts that you have listed within the petition. This makes it impossible to remove debts.
Don't take filing for bankruptcy lightly. Remember that bankruptcy negatively affects your credit for seven to ten years and that you'll have trouble getting loans for the first few years after filing. Talk to a credit counselor or an attorney to make sure you understand the ramifications, and that this step is right for you.
A great personal bankruptcy tip is to go over your credit report very carefully to make sure there are no errors on it. Overlooking a bill as small as forty dollars can come back to haunt you and can even make your credit score drop. The resulting drop will put you in hot water with your bank.
If you have fallen behind on your taxes, Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be the best thing for you to do. Doing so will help stop the interest and penalties from adding up even more. Chapter 7 is not the way to go when dealing with a pile of back taxes. That debt will still be owed after the bankruptcy is complete.
After a bankruptcy, acquire new, manageable lines of credit and use them responsibly. Within a couple of years, you will qualify for certain loans again, including mortgages or car loans. Pay your bill on time to build a better credit score and demonstrate your financial responsibility to future lenders.
You should understand all that filing for personal bankruptcy implies before you consider this option. You should consider the type of debt that has caused you to consider filing. There are many debts that filing for bankruptcy will help eliminate, but there others that will remain such as student loans and funds that are owed to the IRS.
A great personal bankruptcy tip is, to be extra careful about filing for bankruptcy when you own your own small business. Oftentimes, the line between your assets, and your small business's assets can be hazy. When you're filing bankruptcy you could potentially be putting the fate of your business in jeopardy.
As you can probably see, there are quite a few things to think about before deciding on a bankruptcy filing. Assess your personal financial situation and the types of debts you have, because not all types of debt are able to be discharged. With a little bit of homework, you can find out whether personal bankruptcy is the right solution for you.
Orignal From: Too Many Bills? Too Little Money? Consider Personal Bankruptcy
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