Although unhappy circumstances in your life might have led you to file for bankruptcy, life following bankruptcy can be. The main purpose of filing is to start over financially. Keep reading for how you can make bankruptcy as a positive thing.
You can find a wealth of information concerning personal bankruptcy resources available online to educate yourself thoroughly before you begin the process. Department of Justice and National Association for Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys provide free advice.
Don’t use credit cards to pay off your taxes if you’re going to file bankruptcy. In a lot of places, this debt will not be dischargeable, and you could end up owing the IRS a whole lot more. This means using a credit card is not necessary, since bankruptcy will discharge it.
The professional that helps you file for bankruptcy has to have a complete and accurate picture of your finances.
Learn of new laws before you file for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy laws are in constant flux, and it’s important to stay up-to-date to ensure that you file properly. Your state’s website should have up-to-date information about these changes.
Chapter 7
Be certain that you know how Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 differ. Chapter 7 eliminates all outstanding debts. Any debts that you have with creditors will be dissolved. Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows for a payment plan that takes 60 months to work with until the debts go away.
This kind of stress can take a heavy toll on your personal life, if you fail to adequately address the problem. Life will get better once you finally get this situation over with.
For example, you may not be aware that a filer is forbidden from transferring assets from his or her name for one full year before the petition is filed.
Personal Bankruptcy
Research the rules and regulations of personal bankruptcy laws before you file. There are many pitfalls with personal bankruptcy that can make your case harder to handle. Some mistakes could lead to having your case being dismissed. Take time to research things related to personal bankruptcy before moving forward. This can save you a lot of time and make the process go as smoothly as possible.
This could be considered as fraud, and you will be required to pay that money back.
Be cautious if you are planning to pay your debts before you file a personal bankruptcy. Bankruptcy rules generally outlaw repayment of creditors in the 90 days leading up to a bankruptcy filing, such as the previous 90 days worth of credit card debt. Know the rules before you are going to do.
It is important to understand that a bankruptcy might actually be smarter over the long term than multiple overdue or missed payments on debt. Though it will still mar your credit history for up to 10 years, it is possible to begin credit repair initiatives immediately. One of the good things about bankruptcy is that it gives you a fairly fresh start.
Any debts you forget to list will be left out of the final discharge.
Many people who divorce must immediately file bankruptcy right after getting divorced because of unforeseen financial difficulties. Reconsidering divorce can be a smart option.
Make sure that the lawyer you hire is an experienced bankruptcy lawyer. There is a long list of personal bankruptcy attorneys to choose from.
Credit Card
If you will get hit hard when it comes to your taxes, bankruptcy is not likely to offer a way out. Some filers pay their taxes that they owe with a credit card and then file for bankruptcy. This is a forbidden tactic, however, and you will be stuck with the balance owed on your card, but you’ll also have to pay the credit card bill!
You probably know that you need to disclose consumer debt and medical debt, hospitals, credit card companies, and even money you owe friends and family.
If you are fully prepared prior to filing, you can easily anticipate what may happen if you are denied, such as a repossessed car or a foreclosed home.
Choose a highly-rated bankruptcy lawyer that practices close to your area. Once you have nailed one down, see if they will meet with you for free. Take all financial records with you to your appointment. A qualified attorney will answer any questions you understand the process.
Keep yourself focused on everything your attorney. You need to be mindful of all that is taking place and never fear picking up your phone to call the attorney and ask questions. Law offices that are busy have made mistakes. Contrary to what many of us believe, attorneys are just human too.
Filing for bankruptcy is nothing to be ashamed of. A lot of people think about the situation too much and feel worthless because of it. If you have conducted research and decided this is your best option, then you know that you are trying to do what’s best for you and there is no shame in that.
In conclusion, most circumstance that lead to bankruptcy are not positive. That said, filing for bankruptcy can be a positive turning point in your life. In fact, if you apply the ideas and advice given in this article, you can truly make bankruptcy a turning point in your life towards better days.