The decision to file for personal bankruptcy is a decision that is to be taken very seriously. To come to the best decision for your situation, you need a few tips and pieces of advice that can help. Take the time to read the following article and you should be better prepared for the process of bankruptcy.
A critical tip in filing personal bankruptcy is to steer clear of making payments to creditors, in advance of filing a petition, in an attempt to satisfy individual debts in full outside of bankruptcy court. Payments to family members and creditors made within defined periods of time prior to a bankruptcy filing can be voided and can jeopardize the chances of receiving a discharge of all debts in the case.
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.
Many times, when a debtor files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, their home can be protected. This is because of the homestead exemption. This exemption can protect the home, if the debtor owes below a certain threshold. Laws concerning this exemption do vary between states. Be sure to consult with a bankruptcy attorney before, assuming your home is safe from liquidation.
Before you make a final decision to file for bankruptcy, look into all the options that are available to help your financial situation. If you are buried under credit card debt, it can help to check out a debt-consolidation, or home-equity loan if you qualify. You can also try negotiating smaller payments on your debt until, your finances are better in control. Bankruptcy is always an option, but if you can alleviate your problems in another way, you will be able to avoid a major hit to your credit history.
Always hire an experienced bankruptcy attorney before filing for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a lengthy, stressful process. A good attorney can make the process as fast, and painless as possible. Opting to file for bankruptcy without first seeking legal advice from a good attorney, could result in your bankruptcy petition being thrown out of court by a judge.
Visit your primary care doctor for a complete physical prior to filing for bankruptcy. If you wait until after you begin the process, you will not be able to claim your medical bills on your bankruptcy. This is especially helpful if you do not have any kind of health insurance.
Don't repay personal debt to friends and family before filing for bankruptcy. Although you may feel obligated to pay these people back first, it is not a wise decision. Because you must reveal this information when you file for bankruptcy, the trustee can legally ask for this money back or sue for it.
Make sure that you fully understand the implications of declaring yourself bankrupt. Once you have filed for bankruptcy, you will find it difficult to secure any credit at all. While you may not see that consequence as a huge problem at the moment, if you wish to purchase a home in the future, or lease an automobile, you are probably going to need the credit.
If you are facing foreclosure, you may want to make the choice to walk away from your home. This could help you to live in your home for up to a year, maybe longer, without paying anything for it. You can then save the money that you were trying to squeeze out for your mortgage payment and use it on a new home.
Before you decide to file, make yourself aware of the laws about bankruptcy. There are often laws prohibiting the transfer of money from the filer for a certain period preceding the bankruptcy filing. Also, the filer can not increase their debt before filing.
Stay on top of your finances enough to file before the last possible moment. Your financial debt, and responsibilities will not solve themselves, nor will they be able to sit on the back burner forever. You must act decisively. Through knowledge of where your finances truly stand. Ignoring the problem will only result in greater issues.
Get a secured credit card after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. A secured card requires you to put down money in order to open the account. However, if you use the card responsibly and pay it off every month, you can raise your credit score. So, within a few years of filing, your credit will be good enough to get you into an apartment or allow you to purchase a new vehicle.
If you are trying to avoid ruining your credit by filing for bankruptcy, you should consult a credit counselor before you are in too deep. Research the internet to find a reputable credit counseling company. When you find a good company, they will help find ways to reduce expenses, work on a manageable budget, and pay-off all you debt without filing bankruptcy.
Before you make the decision to file for personal bankruptcy, you should evaluate your finances thoroughly. If there are any places that you can save money to put towards your debts, you should consider doing so. Filing for bankruptcy will cause harm to your credit for many years to come.
Hire an attorney to help you through the complex process of filing. Not only can an attorney help you win your case, but an attorney will also be able to answer any questions or concerns you may have. The attorney will help you gather all of the information needed so you spend less time waiting as well.
You should now be better prepared for the plethora of decisions that you will face, if you have decided to go through with bankruptcy. Use all of the tips and advice that were included in this article, to help walk you through the long process of filing personal bankruptcy, the best way possible.
Orignal From: Advice On And Options For Declaring Personal Bankruptcy
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