Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
In contrast to the relatively quick Chapter 7 process, Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a reorganization of a consumer’s finances that allows them to pay back something to creditors over a 3-5 year period based on their income for a family of their size. With the help of a bankruptcy attorney, Chapter 13 filers create a payment plan that allocates their disposable income to make a monthly, consolidated payment to creditors. We’re sure the reader would like to know: what constitutes disposable income? For purposes of bankruptcy, disposable income means what you have left over after subtracting allowed expenses from your gross earnings. Some expenses will be determined by your actual out-of-pocket costs; others will be set by national local standards as calculated by the IRS. The less disposable income you have, the lower the percentage of unsecured debts you pay back to creditors throughout the life of your Chapter 13 plan. At the end of the process, debts that remain outstanding are discharged.
How to Screw Up Your Bankruptcy Discharge
Last updated Oct. 30, 2017. In the vast majority of cases, the bankruptcy discharge is the primary reason debtors enter the Bankruptcy Court. After all, people file bankruptcy to get rid of debt, and a federal court order is certainly an effective way of making this happen. However, receiving a bankruptcy discharge is not guaranteed,…
Read moreAre You Judgment Proof?
We all know why people are considering filing for bankruptcy. We have seen an unprecedented “black swan” type event in the coronavirus. Unemployment numbers are way up and many Americans face an uncertain financial future. Under these circumstances, bankruptcy is a natural consideration. Those thinking of filing bankruptcy, or even families facing mounting credit card…
Read moreWhat Property Can I keep In A Bankruptcy?
Filing bankruptcy doesn’t have to mean losing all of your property People considering bankruptcy often have the misperception that they will lose all of their property if they decide to file. Fact is, only non-exempt property will be eligible for sale in a chapter 7 bankruptcy. What does this mean? As a matter of public…
Read moreHow Often Can You File for Bankruptcy and Receive a Discharge?
Last updated Sept. 19, 2017. While you can file bankruptcy as many times as you like, you can only receive a discharge every so often. Wiping away debts and getting a fresh start through the bankruptcy discharge is the primary goal of most debtors. The question then is not really “how often can you file…
Read moreWhy Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Has Your Second Mortgage Lender Feeling “Undersecured”
Americans Owe More Than Their Homes are Worth Even though the worst days of the housing crisis are behind us, many Americans owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. Some are severely underwater. With banks generally unwilling to offer lasting mortgage modifications, many consumers feel out of options when dealing with a…
Read moreI’ve Decided to File for Bankruptcy. Do I Need to Go through with My Short Sale?
If you’re in the middle of a short sale or just about to do one, you probably have a lot of questions. What is the difference between a short sale and a foreclosure? And what happens if you might file bankruptcy, as well? The benefit of continuing with a short sale after you’ve decided to…
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