Friday 4 May 2012

Are You Looking To Avoid Bankruptcy? Try These Tips!

By Mindi Catena


Just thinking about bankruptcy is more than enough to strike substantial fear into anyone's heart. A lot of debt and not being able to support your family can be real frightening. If you're afraid of this scenario (or worse if you are living at), it is our sincere hope that the advice given here will be of help to you.

Before petitioning, you need to know what the personal bankruptcy rules are first. There are many traps in the bankruptcy laws that could trip up your case. It is even possible to make the sorts of errors that can cause your case to be dismissed. Make sure you have a decent understanding of the bankruptcy process before you proceed. This will help your process go smoother.

When you realize that you probably will file for bankruptcy, do not pay your creditors or try to avoid bankruptcy by spending all of your regular or retirement savings. Retirement accounts should never be accessed unless all other options have been exhausted. Though you may have to break into your savings, keep some available for difficult times. You will be glad you did.

Do not put off filing for bankruptcy. It is all too common for people to hope that their financial difficulties will disappear if they don't give them any attention. It is very common for personal debts to snowball suddenly. When this happens, terrible consequences, such as wage garnishment and foreclosure result. You should call a good bankruptcy lawyer and ask for advice as soon as you find your debts have become completely unmanageable.

Consider filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. You are probably eligible for Chapter 13 if your income is consistent and your unsecured debt is under $250,000. This type of bankruptcy protects your assets from seizure and lets you repay your credits over the course of a few years. Typically, any plan you develop will last around 3-5 years. Afterwards, any remaining unsecured debts will be discharged. Keep in mind that even missing one payment can be enough for your whole case to get dismissed.

Make sure that bankruptcy is the best choice to avoid damaging your credit history. Most companies will settle your debt for much less, or work with you to find a payment plan you can afford. This can be a big boost to your credit rating, and it can save you money. Before filing you should think about getting a loan that will consolidate all your debts.

Remember to spend some quality time with your loved ones. The process of bankruptcy can prove particularly brutal. It can take a long time, take a great emotional toll and cause people to feel embarrassed and defeated. Some folks tend to stay in the shadows until their case has concluded. Washing yourself in self-pity will only make the situation worse and can leave you feeling very depressed. So, it is critical that you keep spending time with the ones you love, regardless of the current financial situation.

If you are going to get hit hard on your taxes, do not assume that bankruptcy is an out for you. It is not unheard of for individuals to pay their tax bill with their credit card and subsequently file for bankruptcy protection. They do this with the assumption that they can trick their way out of paying their taxes, since the balance is on a credit card. This is a forbidden tactic, though, and not only will you still have to pay taxes, but you'll also have to pay the credit card bill!

Before declaring bankruptcy, see if there's anything less drastic you can do to repair your credit. Speak with an attorney who specializes in bankruptcy to find out if alternatives, such as a debt repayment plan or a reduction of your interest rates, might be better for you. If foreclosure is imminent, see if your loan can be altered at all through a modification plan. The lender is able to help you in a number of ways, such as reducing interest rates, eliminating late charges, and even lengthening the loan, giving you more time to pay. Because of the fact that creditors would like to see their money they are likely to offer repayment plans versus not getting paid at all if you file for bankruptcy.

Before you even consider filing for bankruptcy, familiarize yourself with the laws surrounding this process. As an example, it is prohibited for someone to transfer assets from the filer's name for one year prior to filing. It's also prohibted to run up debt on credit cards just prior to filing.

Some people tend to believe that filing for bankruptcy automatically excludes them for getting credit afterwards. Although there may be some truth to this, it should still be better than your credit situation was before you filed for bankruptcy. You have to make certain to pay on time after you file so that you can re-establish a good credit score.

Make time to visit with family and friends during the bankruptcy process. Going through a bankruptcy can be an excruciating experience. It can be long and drawn out which adds lots of stress and leaves people feeling empty inside. Many people tend to hide until their process is completed. This is not recommended because you will only feel bad and this may cause you to feel depressed. Thus, you must keep living your life and socializing with those you love, no matter what is going on with your bankruptcy.

In time you will leave the effects of bankruptcy behind you and resume your normal life. If you are willing to work hard to save money and do not spend frivolously, you can regain your credibility with creditors. You will receive more favorable treatment when you apply for a loan if you start saving now.




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