Filing For Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy should be seen as the last resort for people who have got themselves into too much debt. It may seem the answer to all your prayers but bankruptcy is only able to solve certain debt issues. Remember, if you have filed for bankruptcy you may find it difficult to obtain credit in the future unless your bankruptcy has been cleared, or discharged for a number of years. Bankruptcy is very good for wiping out credit card debt. Unless you have a special secured credit card, your credit card balance is an unsecured debt. That means that the credit card company has no hold on anything that belongs to you if you do not pay back your debt. This is specifically the kind of debt that bankruptcy is designed to remove. Apart from credit card debt, you may have other unsecured debts, and bankruptcy can eradicate these as well. However, bankruptcy will not discharge your obligations to some other kinds of debts, including child support, alimony, tax debts, student loans, and any secured debts. If you are reading this then the chances are that you are considering filing for bankruptcy. Your debts have got to the point where you cannot afford the monthly payments that your creditors are demanding. However, there are numerous bankruptcy alternatives. The most important thing is not to panic and to sit down and look at your financial situation. If you reach the stage where you are in so much debt that you are considering bankruptcy then there are a number of measures that you can take to avoid bankruptcy. Firstly, you should cut up all of your credit cards. This may seem drastic, but it is the only way to avoid bankruptcy by guaranteeing that you do not increase your level of debt by charging more onto your credit cards. All lenders would prefer to receive some money rather than none at all and when you file for bankruptcy a number of your creditors will receive little or none of the proceeds. This is especially the case with your unsecured loans, such as credit cards. You should contact all of the people that you owe money to and explain the situation. Most will work out a repayment schedule with you as a bankruptcy alternative, giving you longer to pay off what you owe and sometimes even freezing the interest. John Rivers is owner of <a href="http://www.financialadvisorynetwork.com">Financial Advisory Network</a>. His website offers information on financial planning, estate planning, and investment management.
Source: www.ArticlePros.com
Basic Information About Bankruptcy
How will Filing for Bankruptcy Affect my Credit? . .Bankruptcy is a life changing event in any person’s life, with long lasting consequence For example, a record of the bankruptcy will appear in the Public Records section of your consumer credit report for the next ten years Having said that, however, consumers can and do seek and obtain credit after going through bankruptcy . .What Information will be on my Credit Reports? . .In addition to the public record of the bankruptcy, each of your creditors that were included in the bankruptcy will update your account to reflect the bankruptcy The exact information reported will vary based upon the history of the account at the time the bankruptcy is filed In general, most accounts should be reported as “Included in Bankruptcy ” Some may refer to the specific type of bankruptcy with remarks such as “Chapter 7″ or “Wage earner repayment plan ” . .After bankruptcy, the balance, current payment, and amount past due should all reflect zero dollars However, if you were late on your bills before your bankruptcy was filed, those notations may or may not appear on your credit reports The last part of this article discusses how to dispute false information on your credit reports after bankruptcy . .Will I be Able to Get Credit after Bankruptcy? . .For the majority of consumers that file for bankruptcy and either obtain a discharge (Chapter 7) or complete their repayment plan (Chapter 13), the answer is “Yes” It is likely that credit will be more costly than prior to bankruptcy, which may be reflected in higher interest rates, security deposits, or lower amounts of credit offered The two most important factors in being able to obtain credit after bankruptcy are 1) paying all of your bills on time after bankruptcy; and 2) the length of time that passes after your bankruptcy Obviously, you have control over the former, but not the latter Consumers can rebuild their credit after bankruptcy by using low limit or secured credit card accounts, and conscientiously paying them off each and every month . .How to Dispute False Credit Reports after Bankruptcy . .As noted above, post-bankruptcy credit reports should show discharged accounts as “Included in Bankruptcy” with a zero balance and zero past due Often these accounts are reported inaccurately, or have not been updated with the correct information Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, consumers have the right to dispute false or incomplete information in their credit reports . .First, get a copy of your credit report Consumers can request their free annual credit report by writing to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P O Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281 The request form is available at the annualcreditreport com website . .Next, send a written dispute letter to the credit reporting agencies Tell them that you filed for bankruptcy, and give them the bankruptcy court case number List the specific accounts and account numbers which were discharged Send your letter via certified mail, with a return receipt requested Keep a copy of your signed, dated letter, along with copies of enclosures . .If you cannot get false information deleted from your credit report, you may want to talk to a consumer protection attorney about your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act .
Source: www.rsstnx.com
Consumer Bankruptcy Lawyers Why You Need One
There are some people who love to do everything by themselves They hate to ask for directions on the highway, and they never read a manual in putting together some home equipment They’re the kind of people who don’t think they need help from anyone, even when declaring bankruptcy Do they really need a consumer bankruptcy lawyer? . .I think it’s admirable to try to do things by yourself, but there is of course a limit There are situations where you need someone’s help, whether that help comes from a friend or a professional advisor If you’re looking to declare bankruptcy, you obviously have some serious financial problems and need some outside help . . .After all, chances are you did not see the situation coming, and your choices were not effective in preventing financial turmoil I don’t mean to be harsh, and there may be other circumstances that people are simply not aware of Sometimes an outside force seems to wreak havoc in our financial life, and problems like medical emergencies or other issues may force us to declare bankruptcy even if we’d been keeping up with our bills each month . .In any case, you have now reached a point where you need help to solve your financial problems whether you like it or not In the case of bankruptcy, the situation is complex (especially with the recent changes in the bankruptcy code), and you truly need the assistance of a good bankruptcy attorney to help you through the process . .The consumer bankruptcy lawyer is best because you need someone with experience in bankruptcy law and not just general practice In addition, you want someone experienced in helping consumers file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies instead of some sort of corporate lawyer who specializes in Chapter 11 (business restructuring) . .Even before you find a consumer bankruptcy lawyer, however, you should go ahead and do your homework before choosing bankruptcy Look at your other alternatives and see if you can find a better way to solve your problems Also, try to read other articles and find out the basic rules regarding bankruptcy so you can see how they would apply to your situation This kind of background is good and will help save time when you speak to your lawyer Of course, time is money, especially when speaking with a lawyer!.
Source: www.rsstnx.com
