I hear bankruptcy is a lot harder to file now. What is the difference?
Since Congress passed the new bankruptcy law in 2005, it is necessary to take two bankruptcy counseling courses. The first bankruptcy counseling course must be taken before you can file your bankruptcy petition, and the second bankruptcy counseling course must be taken before the court will issue the discharge order relieving you from your debt. Both bankruptcy counseling courses can be taken on-line for a small fee, and can be done in a few hours.
There are also stricter requirements on who can get a total discharge of debts under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You must earn under a certain annual income for your area of residence, or you must be able to pass a means test provided for by the bankruptcy law. Under this means test, your income is matched against a formula for average monthly expenses in your area of residence to determine your monthly disposable income. Your debts are compared with your monthly disposable income to determine if you can afford to pay your debts. If you do not pass the means test, you may still get bankruptcy protection through a Chapter 13 bankruptcy where you pay some or all of your debts through a payment plan. While these restrictions limit some people, the bankruptcy attorneys at Bailey & Gunderson have found that the vast majority of people who need the protection of a bankruptcy are still able to take advantage of it.
Can I get all debts discharged through Bankruptcy?
Under Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you may get a total discharge of your debt. However, some of your debts may not be dischargeable. For instance, income taxes may not be discharged except where the debt is at least three years old, and you filed your income tax return timely. Student loans and child & spousal support obligations are also not dischargeable. Debts incurred through fraud are, likewise, not dischargeable. You may, however, apply to pay these debts through a Chapter 13 payment plan. The bankruptcy attorneys at Bailey & Gunderson can show you how.
What happens in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan?
In a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy plan, you typically pay your debts over a 3 to 5 year period. Each month, you make a payment amount (usually through a wage deduction order from your paycheck) which is then distributed by the bankruptcy trustee to your creditors. Secured debts, such an automobile loan, shall be paid through your Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan. Your non-secured debts will be paid from 1% to 100% of the total amount of your non-secured debt, and will be paid interest-free. The percentage of your non-secured debt that you must pay will initially be determined by the bankruptcy attorneys at Bailey & Gunderson. Once you have completed your Chapter 13 Bankruptcy plan, any remaining debts not paid through your Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan shall be discharged.
Will I lose my house, car or retirement savings by filing Bankruptcy?
The bankruptcy attorneys at Bailey & Gunderson will work with you to minimize the assets (if any) you may have to surrender when you file for bankruptcy. You are entitled to keep a certain amount of assets, which are "exempt", from seizure by creditors or the bankruptcy trustee. If the Chapter 7 bankruptcy exemptions do not provide enough protection, the bankruptcy attorneys at Bailey & Gunderson can develop a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan that will preserve your assets.
Working without an attorney, or with inexperienced counsel, may result in unpleasant surprises for you, as you may have to forfeit assets that you could have saved with better planning. The bankruptcy attorneys at Bailey & Gunderson can show you how.
The attorneys at Bailey & Gunderson have filed over 1,000 bankruptcy cases. We offer a free initial consultation, and reasonable payment plans for our bankruptcy clients.
Since 1995, the law firm of Bailey & Gunderson has assisted bankruptcy clients in the greater Cincinnati area (Hamilton, Clermont, Butler, Warren, and Brown Counties). If you have questions or need information about bankruptcy, please call our Cincinnati office at 513-631-0022, or email us.
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We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for relief under the bankruptcy code.
