Category: Bankruptcy Lawyers

Dollars and Sense: How Bankruptcy Lawyers Will Help You Out of Your Sticky Financial Situation

The word “bankruptcy” tends to strike fear into our hearts, especially if we’re going through financial trouble. But most people can’t see themselves ever filing for bankruptcy. The process seems like it’s made for failing businesses, government bodies, and other organizations. But personal bankruptcy laws exist to protect citizens who find themselves struggling with severe debt. If your finances drop into the red zone, taking the following steps will get you back on your feet:

Assess the Damage

Look closely at your financial portrait. If you owe large sums to multiple creditors, if collectors are calling your house, or if you find yourself paying for essentials with a credit card, you should start to consider remedying your situation. Begin by tallying up your financial assets – bank account balances, retirement funds, stocks and bonds, real estate, vehicles, and anything else of value. Once you have a grand total, compare it to the amount you owe. If your assets are worth less than your total debts, you should seriously consider filing for bankruptcy.

How Do I File?

You may voluntarily file for bankruptcy as soon as you determine it’s necessary. Alternatively, you may be compelled by your creditors to file. However your legal process originates, don’t try to navigate it by yourself. Get in touch with bankruptcy lawyers who will look closely at your circumstances and advise you on how to proceed. There are two different claims you can file, so an attorney will help you determine the legal route that best serves your interests.

Filing a Chapter 7 Claim

A Chapter 7 claim is fairly straightforward. If approved, this claim liquidates your assets and uses them to pay off a large chunk of your debt right away. In other words, it turns most of what you own into cash, and then distributes this cash among your creditors. It sounds scary, because you lose most of your holdings. But it’s not the end of the world – many people bounce back and rebuild their assets without all that debt holding them back. Especially with trusted bankruptcy lawyers on your side, this process can lead to a much-needed fresh start.

Filing a Chapter 13 Claim

Since they involve seizing most of the filer’s holdings, Chapter 7 claims aren’t great for people who own businesses, property, and other major assets. When you have large properties that you don’t want to lose, a Chapter 13 claim is the better choice. It allows people with consistent, predictable annual incomes to pay off debts over a three- to five-year grace period. Once a judge approves a Chapter 13 claim, creditors must stop contacting the debtor. The debtor then continues to work, paying off his or her debts as best they can during the grace period. No property or other assets are liquidated in this process.

Bankruptcy lawyers will tell you: filing isn’t so scary, and can drastically improve your situation. If you’re letting unpaid bills stack up and trying to ignore them, know that you can pursue legal options to relieve the stresses of debt and protect what you own.

Choosing a Bankruptcy Lawyer Without the Headache

Bankruptcy lawyers are doing a whole lot of business nowadays. Whereas this should be an advantage for anyone looking for an attorney, the number of lawyers actually makes it harder to locate the best in the lot.

There is, therefore, a need for clients to take their search seriously for better legal representation.

To help you find the best lawyer and to enable you file for bankruptcy without any disappointments, here are some factors to consider:

Your friends and relatives can come in handy when you are beginning your search. The idea is to get as many recommendations as possible so that you can have a list of candidates to choose from.

Your search for advice should be limited to those people who have hired the services of bankruptcy attorneys before. You may opt for the directory addresses you find but they are not as advantageous as having word-of-mouth recommendations.

Lawyers usually work with other lawyers, among them bankruptcy attorneys. If you know a lawyer you have worked with before, you can ask them for their opinion and advice. They might even be able to recommend the services of good attorneys they know or work with.

If you do not know any lawyers and you cannot get word-of-mouth recommendations, you can also settle for the list of the bar association in your state. With the internet here to serve us, you’re also able to hook up with a good attorney online. All you have to do is look for reviews of local attorneys.

You can narrow down your search by looking for specific bankruptcy attorneys in your state or near your area of residence. You may also opt for the actual search for an attorney, which involves visiting different law firms or offices of lawyers. This step, however, takes time.

Do not settle for a lawyer without interviewing them first. This is a necessary step as it will enable you know a bit more about the lawyer you are looking to hire for your case. Initial consultations are very helpful. Most people decide whether to hire the lawyer they interview or moving on to the next on their list at this stage. Your lawyer should be well-rounded.

She or he should know their way in and out of court. They should also have experience working with debtors, creditors and court officials. Above all, their communication skills should be unmatched, because this will be crucial in negotiating during the process.

Payment is paramount in any legal representation expect for pro-bono (free) work. Make sure that you and your lawyer work out a good and reasonable plan on how you will pay for their services. It is also wise to make a comparison of prices before you settle for any specific attorney.

This way, you can take advantage of any offers and price reductions through negotiations. Availing all materials relevant for your case is also recommended. These may include documents such as your bank statement, etcetera. The bankruptcy lawyer will then know how else you can contribute to the process.

When You Should Look For A Good Bankruptcy Attorney

Life has its own twists. Unfortunately you are not really ready for it. There are times when you are in debt and you have to pay huge bills. Debts can keep on increasing for many reasons. The reasons are sometimes logical. It can end up becoming a huge amount of money which a person fails to pay. Now let’s discuss on the most important facts which can put you in a financial crisis.

Thanks To The Medical Bills

One of the very first things which every person fails to pay is the medical bills. Hospital bills keep on increasing depending on the kind of accident or illness you have. The worst thing is you don’t have any idea how much you have to pay. Moreover, you cannot control it. They are very expensive and a costly affair for most people.

The cost of surgeries, x-rays, emergency room visits are huge. Modern hospitals have the best medical equipment which is quite expensive. What they do is pass down the costs to the patient. This is when you need a bankruptcy attorney who can help you get out of the mess.

Credit Card Debt

Credit cards are one of the major reasons of the increasing debts. Unfortunately, people decide to get a credit card so that they can cope up with the small debts. But the purpose is not served in the right way. They prefer using the credit card during an emergency or when they have zero cash.

Credit cards are a very convenient option and you can use it when the need arises or you don’t have instant cash. The only difference is that you have to pay a price. Interest rates can also maximize your credit card debt. It adds up to the amount quickly and people find themselves in a financial crisis. Hire a bankruptcy attorney who can offer the best help.

The Right Solution To All Your Problems

For those who are encountering debt issues this is the very right time to look for a bankruptcy attorney. They have experience in all the different kind of bankruptcy laws. They have the right skills, knowledge and experience to help you resolve the debt issues.

It gives you peace of mind when you are in a financial crisis. They can reconcile your debts through a court-approved payment arrangement which can help you deal with the things easily. Keep all these great tips in mind when you are bankrupt.

Dollars and Sense: How Bankruptcy Lawyers Will Help You Out of Your Sticky Financial Situation

The word “bankruptcy” tends to strike fear into our hearts, especially if we’re going through financial trouble. But most people can’t see themselves ever filing for bankruptcy. The process seems like it’s made for failing businesses, government bodies, and other organizations. But personal bankruptcy laws exist to protect citizens who find themselves struggling with severe debt. If your finances drop into the red zone, taking the following steps will get you back on your feet:

Assess the Damage

Look closely at your financial portrait. If you owe large sums to multiple creditors, if collectors are calling your house, or if you find yourself paying for essentials with a credit card, you should start to consider remedying your situation. Begin by tallying up your financial assets – bank account balances, retirement funds, stocks and bonds, real estate, vehicles, and anything else of value. Once you have a grand total, compare it to the amount you owe. If your assets are worth less than your total debts, you should seriously consider filing for bankruptcy.

How Do I File?

You may voluntarily file for bankruptcy as soon as you determine it’s necessary. Alternatively, you may be compelled by your creditors to file. However your legal process originates, don’t try to navigate it by yourself. Get in touch with bankruptcy lawyers who will look closely at your circumstances and advise you on how to proceed. There are two different claims you can file, so an attorney will help you determine the legal route that best serves your interests.

Filing a Chapter 7 Claim

A Chapter 7 claim is fairly straightforward. If approved, this claim liquidates your assets and uses them to pay off a large chunk of your debt right away. In other words, it turns most of what you own into cash, and then distributes this cash among your creditors. It sounds scary, because you lose most of your holdings. But it’s not the end of the world – many people bounce back and rebuild their assets without all that debt holding them back. Especially with trusted bankruptcy lawyers on your side, this process can lead to a much-needed fresh start.

Filing a Chapter 13 Claim

Since they involve seizing most of the filer’s holdings, Chapter 7 claims aren’t great for people who own businesses, property, and other major assets. When you have large properties that you don’t want to lose, a Chapter 13 claim is the better choice. It allows people with consistent, predictable annual incomes to pay off debts over a three- to five-year grace period. Once a judge approves a Chapter 13 claim, creditors must stop contacting the debtor. The debtor then continues to work, paying off his or her debts as best they can during the grace period. No property or other assets are liquidated in this process.

Bankruptcy lawyers will tell you: filing isn’t so scary, and can drastically improve your situation. If you’re letting unpaid bills stack up and trying to ignore them, know that you can pursue legal options to relieve the stresses of debt and protect what you own

When You Should Look For A Good Bankruptcy Attorney

Life has its own twists. Unfortunately you are not really ready for it. There are times when you are in debt and you have to pay huge bills. Debts can keep on increasing for many reasons. The reasons are sometimes logical. It can end up becoming a huge amount of money which a person fails to pay. Now let’s discuss on the most important facts which can put you in a financial crisis.

Thanks To The Medical Bills

One of the very first things which every person fails to pay is the medical bills. Hospital bills keep on increasing depending on the kind of accident or illness you have. The worst thing is you don’t have any idea how much you have to pay. Moreover, you cannot control it. They are very expensive and a costly affair for most people.

The cost of surgeries, x-rays, emergency room visits are huge. Modern hospitals have the best medical equipment which is quite expensive. What they do is pass down the costs to the patient. This is when you need a bankruptcy attorney who can help you get out of the mess.

Credit Card Debt

Credit cards are one of the major reasons of the increasing debts. Unfortunately, people decide to get a credit card so that they can cope up with the small debts. But the purpose is not served in the right way. They prefer using the credit card during an emergency or when they have zero cash.

Credit cards are a very convenient option and you can use it when the need arises or you don’t have instant cash. The only difference is that you have to pay a price. Interest rates can also maximize your credit card debt. It adds up to the amount quickly and people find themselves in a financial crisis. Hire a bankruptcy attorney who can offer the best help.

The Right Solution To All Your Problems

For those who are encountering debt issues this is the very right time to look for a bankruptcy attorney. They have experience in all the different kind of bankruptcy laws. They have the right skills, knowledge and experience to help you resolve the debt issues.

It gives you peace of mind when you are in a financial crisis. They can reconcile your debts through a court-approved payment arrangement which can help you deal with the things easily. Keep all these great tips in mind when you are bankrupt.