Chapter 7 And Chapter 13 Are The Two Most Common Bankruptcy Filings

Did you know that federal bankruptcy laws are actually on your side if you need to declare bankruptcy?

If you are in a bit of a pickle and are carrying an overwhelming debt load, high medical bills, serious credit card debt and are getting dunning phone calls from bill collectors, it is time to call a bankruptcy lawyer for help. Federal bankruptcy laws are actually geared to help you out when you’re facing bankruptcy.

The most common bankruptcies filed are Chapter 13 and Chapter 7. Filing a Chapter 7 stops creditor phone calls and discharges some types of unsecured debt. Filing a Chapter 13 stops foreclosure, harassing collection actions and allows you to create a debt repayment place to pay off certain debts. This is not to say that it is easy to declare bankruptcy, because it is not. It is a distressing process and many people are embarrassed to admit they are going to file.

No worries. These days, no one looks at you sideways for declaring bankruptcy. It is what it is. The question you may be struggling with is what type of bankruptcy is the best for your situation? The law has made it harder for some debtors to get rid of their debts under Chapter 7, but some may still be able to do this if they have an income that is under the state’s median income level or they pass a means test. Just ask your Iowa bankruptcy lawyer what the rules are in the state.

If you want a quick and simple and relatively inexpensive way to declare bankruptcy, typically, Chapter 7 will do the trick. This process is there for married couples, partnerships, corporations and individuals. Truth be told, it is best for individuals with limited income and wages and don’t have many assets to protect from liquidation.

For Chapter 7, there is a court-appointed trustee assigned to your file to identify non-exempt assets, and liquidate them to pay your creditors. There are some instances in which you get to keep secured property, but only if you are able to negotiate new debt repayment terms.

Let us say you do not meet the criteria for filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If that is the case, you might find Chapter 13 is a viable alternative. Under a Chapter 13 filing, you may keep your assets, avoid foreclosure on your house, stop creditor calls and repossessions and repay a portion of your debts with a restructured debt repayment plan within 3 to 5 years. A trustee is assigned under a Chapter 13 filing as well, who supervises the debt collection process and distribution of monthly payments.

It is important to know that not all of your debts are done away with under either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings. Your Iowa bankruptcy lawyer will outline what you need to know. Debts you cannot discharge include maintenance for your spouse, child support, any debts owed to certain tax advantage retirement plans, debts acquired as a result of fraud or embezzlement, debts for malicious injury to another person or property, debts that are not laid out in a debt repayment plan, some types of taxes and personal debts for damages caused by a debtor who was DUI.

Kevin Ahrenholz is an Iowa bankruptcy lawyer and Iowa bankruptcy attorney. To contact him, visit http://www.iowachapter7.com or call 1.877.888.1766.

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