Protect Yourself And Your Assets With These Bankruptcy Tips

By Anne Lugasan


Filing for bankruptcy is a huge decision in anyone's life. Before you go through with it, you need to understand the gravity of the situation. Therefore, it is very important to understand what you are doing when you file for bankruptcy. Read the tips listed here for guidance. A good amount of research will help you choose the right path to take.

Make sure you've exhausted all other options prior to declaring bankruptcy. You can also avail yourself of other options, such as consumer credit counseling. Since your credit history will forever note the bankruptcy, you want to make sure that you have tried everything else before you take an action such as this, in order to minimize the effect it will have with regard to your credit history.

Do not pay your taxes with credit cards that will be canceled when you file for bankruptcy. You will find few states that discharge this kind of debt. You may also wind up owing a lot of money to the IRS. Transferring the debt to another medium (e.g. a credit card) won't magically make a tax debt discharagable, either. So it does not help you to put the tax bill on your charge card if you know the debt will be discharged anyway.

If you are about to file for bankruptcy, then make sure you hire a lawyer. Filing for bankruptcy is complicated and there is no way you can understand all you need to know. A qualified bankruptcy attorney can guide you through the filing process.

Be as honest as you possibly can when filing for bankruptcy; hiding liabilities or assets will only hurt you in the long run. It is necessary to be open regarding both the positive and negative aspects of your financial life. Do not leave anything out and come up with smart plan to manage the situation you are dealing with.

Since the majority of attorneys are willing to provide no-cost initial consultations, it is smart to meet with more than one before you make a selection. Never settle for speaking with a paralegal or an assistant. They are not trained, nor allowed, to pass on legal advice. Seeking out different attorneys is all part of the process until you find someone that you can trust.

Spend time with loved ones. Bankruptcy can take a toll on you. It is long, hard and sometimes leaves people feeling guilty or ashamed. Some folks tend to stay in the shadows until their case has concluded. However, self imposed isolation will only make you feel even worse about the process and could even lead to depression. Make it a point to catch yourself if you feel yourself pulling away from others. Tell others that you would like to do some enjoyable things together while you go through bankruptcy process, then do it.

Become knowledgeable in regards to details about chapter seven bankruptcy vs. chapter 13 bankruptcy. Take the time to learn about them extensively, and then figure out which one will be best for your particular situation. If you have trouble understanding the wealth of information, talk to your lawyer so he or she can help you make an informed choice.

If you have fears that you will lose your car, ask your lawyer about the possibility of lowering your car payments. Many times, payments can be lowered through Chapter 7 bankruptcy. It is necessary for you to have bought your car prior to the 910 days preceding your filing, your loan must carry a high rate of interest and you must be employed in order to get such a modification, however.

Consider every option prior to filing for bankruptcy. Credit counseling is an important option for you to pursue. There are a lot of organizations that are non-profits and can assist you. They can work with those you owe money to in order to give you lower payments and lowered interest rates, too. Once you pay them, they make the payments to your creditors.

Pick the right time to file. Timing can be critical when it comes to personal bankruptcy cases. In some situations it is best to file as soon as possible, but in other situations it is best to wait until after you've gotten through the worst of it. Speak with a bankruptcy lawyer about when the best time is to file for your specific needs.

Take action when the time is right. Timing is very important when it comes to personal bankruptcy filings. Sometimes, you may need to file quickly; however, at other times, you should wait until the worst is over. Consult with an attorney who specializes in bankruptcy so you know when it is a good time to file.

A lot of people do not realize that there is more than one type of bankruptcy before they read this article. Don't be overwhelmed by the great wealth of information available to you. Take a few minutes to turn the information over in your mind and see how it might be useful to you. Then you will be prepared to make informed decisions about bankruptcy and your financial future.




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