Unlike a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 is less of a liquidation of debt and more of a readjustment of your obligations. You are more likely to be able to keep your home, but you are not initially released from your obligations to creditors. Our Midvale Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys at Huntsman | Lofgran | Walton pllc help you determine if you qualify for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and if you do, guides you through the bankruptcy process until the completion of your repayment plan in the next three to five years.
In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, much of your debt is written off. With Chapter 13, it is all about taking on all your debt head-on. Debts for which you remain obligated include:
|
|
The good news is that some of these debts may be renegotiated or rescheduled. Essentially, your bankruptcy trustee and creditors work with you to formulate a debt repayment plan that, while ambitious, encourages you to pay down your debt over a three- to five-year period. For your part, you must commit all your disposable income to repaying the debt. When you complete the plan, you may still be liable for some debt. Your original mortgage terms may be reinstated, for example, but you emerge on sound financial footing.
The process of bankruptcy under Chapter 13 mirrors that of Chapter 7. You apply a means test to your income for the prior six months to determine if you are eligible for either one. You are required to enroll in both debtor education and credit counseling classes.
However, unlike Chapter 7, a Chapter 13 filing requires you attend a creditors meeting, which is conducted by your trustee. You may be asked to articulate the steps that have brought you to bankruptcy, detail all your debts (any omissions can be used against you later), and respond to other questions by creditors.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy is best for those who are in deep debt, but who still have income and do not want to give up certain assets, such as their home, car or business, particularly when they have more equity in those assets than they can protect with their Utah homestead bankruptcy exemptions. Chapter 13 can help stave off foreclosure, and even get you out from under back taxes and stop interest from accruing on that tax debt, whether it’s local, state or federal.
Some of the advantages of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy include:
The disadvantages of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy include:
At Huntsman | Lofgran | Walton pllc, our Midvale bankruptcy attorneys know what’s negotiable in a Chapter 13 filing and what’s not. Consequently, we can help you make the best of this opportunity. To land on your financial feet sooner than you might think possible, call us at 801-474-0031 or contact us online today.
The law offices of Huntsman | Lofgran | Walton pllc, designated a debt relief agency by an Act of Congress and the President of the United States, has proudly assisted consumers seeking relieve under the U.S. Bankrutpcy Code for over 12 years.