For many individuals, filing for bankruptcy relief can provide a way out of debt and a fresh financial start. But whether a bankruptcy filing is in your best interest will depend on many factors and your circumstances. Read on to learn more about what to consider if you are thinking about filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Bankruptcy will impact your credit score for years to come. So it’s a good idea to evaluate all of your options before deciding to file for bankruptcy. Many creditors are willing to work with debtors to settle their debts. If you can resolve your financial issues outside of bankruptcy, you might not need to file for bankruptcy. Chapter 7 bankruptcy works well for people who can protect all of their property with exemptions, whose income is low enough to meet qualification requirements, and whose debt is the type that bankruptcy will discharge. By contrast, Chapter 13 bankruptcy works best for people: If you don’t make the required payments on your debts, your creditors can take you to court to recover their money. A creditor that obtains a judgment against you in court can use it to garnish your wages or place a lien on your assets. Some creditors, like the IRS or your student loan lender, can take action without stepping into the courtroom. When you file for bankruptcy, an automatic stay goes into effect that stops almost all collection actions, including lawsuits and garnishments. Filing for bankruptcy relief can also eliminate the underlying debt. One of the most important things to consider before filing for bankruptcy is whether you’ll be able to keep all of your property. Bankruptcy exemptions allow you to protect a certain amount of assets in any bankruptcy chapter that you file. What will happen to nonexempt assets will depend on whether you file a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Exempt EquityPeople who file for bankruptcy don’t lose all of their possessions. A bankruptcy filer can protect or exempt a certain amount of assets regardless of the bankruptcy chapter filed. The dollar amount of an ownership interest that you can protect is called exempt equity. Calculating exempt equity is a two-step process. First, you’ll find out how much of an item’s value you can protect, or exempt. You’ll do so by consulting your state’s exemption statutes. Although some exemption statutes tell you the number of items that you can protect, such as one motor vehicle or all prescribed health aids, others allow you to keep property valued up to a particular amount. For instance, you might be able to retain $50,000 in a home or $10,000 in household items. The dollar amount tells you how much equity you can exempt. The next step is figuring out how much equity you have in your property (the funds remaining after selling the property and paying off any outstanding loans). Suppose, for instance, that you were considering selling your house. To figure out the amount of your equity for bankruptcy purposes, you’d subtract your mortgage from the market value (the price your house would sell for). The remaining amount would be your equity. Bankruptcy Do’s and Don’tsIf you are having difficulty paying your bills, bankruptcy may be a good solution for you. Carefully review the list below to avoid common mistakes, and get the maximum legal benefit, should you choose to file bankruptcy: What Happens After I File For Bankruptcy?After you complete the process for filing personal bankruptcy, there is an immediate “stay of proceedings.” This part of the process protects you from unsecured creditors trying to begin or continue any legal actions against you, such as wage garnishees, lawsuits, or any type of contact with you to collect a debt. Within five days, your trustee will send a copy of the bankruptcy paperwork to all creditors so they can begin the process of filing a claim. Your trustee will also file any outstanding tax returns up until the date of bankruptcy. Any outstanding balances or penalties will be included. After your personal bankruptcy paperwork is complete, you will have obligations such as providing monthly income statements and attending credit counseling sessions. When your bankruptcy is discharged, your debts will be canceled. It is important to understand that there may be minor exceptions to the debt cancellations. A note about your bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for a minimum of 6 years after the date of discharge. Once your debts are canceled, usually 9 months after filing, you can begin rebuilding your credit. When Should I File for Bankruptcy?Despite what many think, filing for bankruptcy is not the end of the world. It can actually be the fresh start you have been looking for. The laws of bankruptcy were drafted with the purpose of giving people a second chance, and not to punish them. But that doesn’t mean you should file for bankruptcy at the first sign of financial distress. Declaring bankruptcy will have short- and long-term consequences and should only be done as a last resort. Before You File, Evaluate Your SituationWhen should I file for bankruptcy? This is a question most people under financial distress ask. You should probably consider other options before going this route. These options include: Chapter 7 BankruptcyChapter 7 bankruptcy, otherwise known as “straight bankruptcy” or “liquidation,” allows the debtor to sell their non-exempt assets to pay off their debts; after that, the debtor will be free from all dischargeable debts. There are specific eligibility requirements that you must meet to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Some of the scenarios where you wouldn’t be eligible for Chapter 7 include: Chapter 13 BankruptcyChapter 13 bankruptcy requires you to make a repayment plan to pay creditors over a period of three to five years. This method is usually used if your income exceeds the limits set for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You also need to show you comply with the eligibility requirements before you can file Chapter 13. These include: Not All Debts Will Be DischargedYou should know that bankruptcy does not wipe out all your debts. Some debts that will not be discharged include: Declaring Bankruptcy Will Affect Your Credit ScoreIn exchange for discharging your debt, filing bankruptcy shows everyone that you may be a credit risk, which will be reflected in your credit score. Thus, getting a loan, a mortgage, or a credit card may be very difficult after declaring bankruptcy. You should note bankruptcy filed under Chapter 7 will remain on your record for 10 years. If you filed under Chapter 13, it would stay on your credit report for 7 years. After that, it is erased. Your Co-Signers May Be Required to Pay Your DebtsCo-signers are people who agree to pay your debt if you are somehow unable/unwilling to pay the debt. If you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your creditors are allowed to go after the co-signer even if your bankruptcy case is successful. Under Chapter 13, your creditors can’t go after your co-signer as long as you make your regular payments per your agreement. Filing for Bankruptcy During a PandemicFiling for bankruptcy during a pandemic or other national emergency may be challenging, as operational hours for courts may change. So, first, make sure your local bankruptcy court is open and taking cases before you file. You should also expect a delay in the processing of your case. Utah Bankruptcy LawyerWhen you need legal help with bankruptcy in Utah, please call Ascent Law LLC for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.
Ascent Law LLC
8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C West Jordan, Utah 84088 United States Telephone: (801) 676-5506
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