Immediately following the outbreak of Coronavirus in the United States, the unemployment rate spiked. While many are beginning to return to work, the damage done might have you considering: should I file for bankruptcy?
There are two major types of personal (not business) bankruptcies, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.
CHAPTER 7- LIQUIDATION
Chapter 7, often referred to as a “fresh start”, is the most commonly filed bankruptcy amongst individuals and works best for people with low-income and little to no assets. If a person finds themselves owing more money to creditors than they have, or can foreseeably earn, Chapter 7 is the best option. The assets that a person owns will be liquated and used to pay off their debts. After that, the bankruptcy is usually dismissed.
To determine their eligibility, the individual must take a means test as provided by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. If the individual makes too much money, they’ll have to consider filing for Chapter 13.
CHAPTER 13- REORGANIZATION
Chapter 13 is often called the “wage earner” bankruptcy, because the individual must have a reliable source of income. Their finances are reorganized into a plan that allows them to pay back their creditors over three to five years while maintaining control and ownership of their assets.
Chapter 13 works best for people who don’t qualify for Chapter 7 but need debt relief, have non-dischargeable debts like child support, or have fallen behind on house/car payments and want to/can catch up on payments.
NON-DISCHARGABLE DEBTS
Bankruptcy can be a viable solution for dealing with your consumer debts, such as credit cards or personal loans. However, it does not eliminate all kinds of debt. You will still be on the hook for certain debts, including the following:
- Government Debts: back taxes, student loans, etc.
- Family Court Debts: alimony, child support, divorce settlements
- Crime Debts: traffic tickets, fines, restitution payments, etc.
REAFFIRMABLE DEBTS
You might choose to reaffirm certain debts. Instead of erasing a debt, you’ll decide to make a new agreement with the creditor. This can make sense if you don’t want to lose collateral, like your car.
HOW DO I FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY?
Bankruptcy can be beneficial and possibly the best solution to getting out of debt in certain scenarios. However, navigating the federal bankruptcy court system can only add to the stress and confusion of filing for bankruptcy. Your first step should be to meet with a bankruptcy lawyer.
An experienced bankruptcy lawyer will help you analyze your debt, provide access to federally approved programs, file your bankruptcy petition, appear at your hearing, make sure you meet all deadlines, and help you avoid any potential legal consequences.
CONTACT A BANKRUPTCY LAWYER
If you want more information on what bankruptcy is, which chapter you qualify for, and how to file, give Kamper & Estrada, PLLC a call. Our experienced bankruptcy lawyer Phoenix, AZ residents trust offers a free one-hour consultation and can help you learn what your options are.
