The subject of personal bankruptcy is complex and somewhat unpleasant. You could read an entire book on the subject and still come away with some questions. With that being said, it is obvious that we cannot possibly cover the whole topic with one article. This article will provide an overview of the topic of personal bankruptcy and establish a starting point for making a decision about whether or not filing bankruptcy is the right option - and if so, how you should go about it. The decision to file bankruptcy, and determining what type is right for you, should only be made after careful deliberation and with the advice of a competent bankruptcy attorney.
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Filing for bankruptcy is a very common and completely legal way for a debtor to get out of debt that has become unmanageable...provided that the debtor meets the eligibility requirements for the chosen type of bankruptcy protection. Let's take a look at the two most common types of protection (chapter 7 and chapter 13) that are available to an individual (non-business entity) and what type of eligibility requirements must be met for each.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Chapter 7 bankruptcy can also be referred to as a "liquidation plan" because a debtor's non exempt assets will be liquidated by the bankruptcy trustee in order to raise cash to payoff creditors (we will talk about exempt and non exempt assets in a bit). Chapter 7 bankruptcy is used to discharge most types of unsecured debts such as credit cards, medical bills and personal loans. Certain types of debts, such as federal or state taxes and student loans may not be discharged. Once the bankruptcy petition is filed and your creditors are informed, you will enter into the "automatic stay" period. This is a temporary period of time in which your creditors must stop all action against you - including foreclosure, collection calls, shut off of utility services and more. However, the automatic stay is temporary and eventually your creditors will resume action against you unless they are paid or an agreement is reached.
Exempt vs. Non-exempt assets. Examples of exempt assets are your primary residence and your primary vehicle. Non-exempt assets could be virtually everything else - including investments, real estate and other property. In a chapter 7 bankruptcy, your non exempt assets will be sold in order to payoff your creditors. You will not get anything from the sale of these items.
What happens to your primary residence and your primary vehicle? Since the debts associated with these types of property are secured debts, the creditor has the right to foreclose on the home and repossess the automobile in the case of non-payment. If the debtor does not wish to keep the home or the car they can choose to simply walk away from these pieces of property and allow the bank to take possession. If the debtor does wish to keep possession of the home or car then they will need to work with the creditor to reaffirm the debt. This point is a little confusing but think of it this way - the chapter 7 bankruptcy discharges your responsibility to pay back all of your debts - but in the case of your home and your car (if you wish to keep them) you will need to reaffirm or take on those debts again. You, or more likely your attorney, will negotiate with the creditor to come up with terms for the reaffirmed debt that satisfy both parties.
Eligibility requirements for chapter 7 bankruptcies.
The biggest qualification is related to the income of the debtor. If the debtor's income is higher than the state median then a "means test" will be applied to see if the chapter 7 is feasible. This "means test" will look at the debtor's gross monthly income over a 5 year period. If this monthly income is more than $10,950 or 25% of the debtor's unsecured debt then the individual will not be eligible.
Aside from meeting the income requirements, a potential chapter 7 bankruptcy applicant must prove that he or she has received credit counseling from an approved agency within the last 180 days.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is unique because of the liquidation of non-exempt assets and the relative speed at which these cases can be handled vs. other types of bankruptcy protection.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection is commonly referred to as "wage earners protection". It is referred to in this way because this type of plan affords debtors who have a regular income the opportunity to workout a payment plan with their creditors. A good way to think of Chapter 13 protection is as a restructuring of your debts. Whereas chapter 7 is more black and white (your assets are liquidated to pay creditors), chapter 13 allows for the restructuring of debt and also provides a greater likelihood of saving your home from foreclosure and your vehicle from repossession. The payments plan that comes out of a chapter 13 bankruptcy will always be for a period of 3-5 years. A chapter 13 payment plan will never be more than 5 years in duration.
Another advantage of chapter 13 protection is that it will act like a debt consolidation loan during the payment period. The debtor will make one monthly payment to the bankruptcy trustee and the trustee will pay the appropriate amount to each creditor. This makes the process easy to manage for the debtor.
Eligibility requirements for chapter 13 bankruptcies.
Any individual is eligible for chapter 13 protection as long as that persons unsecured debts are less than $336,900 and secured debts are less than $1,010,650.00. Corporation and partnerships are not eligible for chapter 13 protection. Aside from meeting the debt amount requirements, a potential chapter 13 bankruptcy applicant must prove that he or she has received credit counseling from an approved agency within the last 180 days.
Let's take a look at some of the most common questions related to personal bankruptcy:The most common question is - how to file bankruptcy. While a debtor can file the paperwork and start proceedings on their own it is not recommended. It is imperative that you seek the counsel of an experienced bankruptcy to get you through the process. Can bankruptcy stop foreclosure? Absolutely. The automatic stay provision of bankruptcy protection will require your creditors (including your mortgage lender) to stop all action against you for a period of time. However, the automatic stay is limited in duration and your lender will proceed with action against you unless you reach and agreement with them. Can I file for bankruptcy for free? In most cases the answer is no. Each state has mandatory fees associated with bankruptcy filings. In cases where the debtor can clearly demonstrate an inability to pay, other provisions will be made. In addition to the filing fees there are the significant fees that will need to be paid to your attorney. While it is tempting to think that you should save the money and go without an attorney, it is not a wise strategy. Using an attorney will typically get you a better outcome and will pay for itself over the long term. Finally, it is important to remember that deciding to file for bankruptcy protection is a huge decision that will have a massive, negative impact on your credit for years to come. For many, it is a great way to get a fresh start - many people also find that an alternative product can give them the financial relief they need. These days there are many bankruptcy alternatives available such as debt settlement, credit counseling and debt consolidation. Be sure to do your homework before making any decision.
Is Bankruptcy Right For You? Talk to Bankruptcy Attorneys Free and Confidential. Licensed bankruptcy attorneys are available. Attorneys will call you to discuss your case for free. Find out if bankruptcy is right for your situation.
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