The “Automatic Stay” for Married Couples in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
Filing bankruptcy with or without your spouse affects the protection from creditors each of you receives, and also affects whether you file under Chapter 7 or 13.
In a Chapter 7 Case, “The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself”
There’s a lot you can do to help make your “straight bankruptcy” Chapter 7 a straightforward one, but one thing you can’t control is your creditors’ reactions to it. You know that creditors can try to prevent you from discharging (legally writing off) your debts, so naturally you worry about this. Here’s why you shouldn’t […]
Married Couples in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
Bankruptcy law allows married couples to file bankruptcy separately or together. That option comes with consequences, which can also effect whether you file under Chapter 7 or 13.
When Chapter 7s Are Not So Simple
The goal of most Chapter 7 cases is to get in and get out—file the petition, go to a simple 10-minute hearing with your attorney a month later, and two months later get your debts written off. Mission accomplished, end of story. And usually that’s how it goes. So when it doesn’t go that way, […]
Your Vehicle in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
Bankruptcy can protect your car or truck. Both Chapter 7 and 13 can, but which do you need?
Home Sweet Home in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
Bankruptcy protects your home. Both Chapter 7 and 13 do so, but which is better for you?
Why Chapter 13 is So Nifty
Chapter 7 is short and sweet and to the point. It often gets what you need—a discharge (a legal write-off) of all or almost all of your debts. But in SO many situations, Chapter 13 gives you so much more. A couple blogs ago I showed a simple Chapter 13 case works. In my example, […]
The Kinds of Debts Better Handled through Chapter 13
Simplistic but often true: Chapter 7 deals better with simpler debts, while Chapter 13 with more complicated debts. What ARE more complicated debts?
A Simple Chapter 13 Case
If you have debts that can’t be written off (“discharged”) in a “straight” Chapter 7 case, such as back child support or recent income taxes, Chapter 13 can be a much better alternative. A couple blogs ago I wrote about the discharge of debts under Chapter 7. I ended by saying that if you have […]
Attacking Your Debts with Chapter 7 vs. with Chapter 13
Chapter 7 deals with some debts better than does Chapter 13. But Chapter 13 deals with some other debts better than Chapter 7. So what kind of debts do you have?