Understanding Bankruptcy

Dear Liz: My husband and I are wondering whether it is time to file for bankruptcy. We have about $20,000 in credit card debt, largely because of a home addition and remodeling project my husband began five years ago.

Dear Liz: Several years ago, we were talked into getting what I believe was a predatory loan — a negatively amortizing mortgage for 100% of the purchase price of our home. The loan broker assured us we could refinance the following year to a more traditional mortgage.

Dear Liz: I have been granted a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge of all my debts. I’m now debt free and plan to stay that way. I’ve been saving like crazy and have enough to afford a cross-country driving trip to attend my son’s wedding.

Dear Liz: I am 70 and still working hard to retire attorney fees from my divorce while paying my daughter’s college tuition. I met with a bankruptcy attorney and got not-very-encouraging news.

Dear Liz: How do you recover from bankruptcy? My daughter lost a very good job and got upside down with her house, so she had to file for bankruptcy.

People can sometimes avoid bankruptcy if they seek help early enough. If they're able to pay more than the minimums on their credit cards, for example, they may be able to use a legitimate credit counselor's debt management plan to pay off their debt.

No one takes the decision to declare bankruptcy lightly. Besides being an expensive, time-consuming and awkward process, bankruptcy can have serious and long-lasting impacts on your credit score, which in turn may affect your ability to borrow money, rent an apartment or even get a job.

Bankruptcy education is required by law before a person can file for bankruptcy. This is commonly referred to as a bankruptcy pre-filing course.

Bankruptcy today is considered the court of last resort. Think about filing for bankruptcy only after you have considered every other available method of repaying your debts.

What it is, how it originated, types of bankruptcy and more.

To qualify for relief under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, the debtor may be an individual, a partnership, or a corporation or other business entity.

This information sheet contains information about many provisions of the Bankruptcy Code that may affect your situation. However, this page states only general principles of law and is not a substitute for legal advice.

Bankruptcy law has come a long way since death or debtor's prison were the sentences for those

Not all debts are discharged. The debts discharged vary under each chapter of the Bankruptcy

Approved by the U.S. Trustees, InCharge issues Bankruptcy Code-compliant certificates for

The prospect of bankruptcy can be confusing and stressful. Here are a few key terms to help you educate yourself before filing.

Chapter 13 offers individuals a number of advantages over liquidation under Chapter 7. Perhaps most significantly, Chapter 13 offers individuals an opportunity to save their homes from foreclosure.

Chapter 13 offers individuals a number of advantages over liquidation under Chapter 7. Perhaps most significantly, Chapter 13 offers individuals an opportunity to save their homes from foreclosure.

Chapter 13 bankruptcies are intended to arrive at a repayment plan. Chapter 7 bankruptcies are straight bankruptcy plans designed to liquidate the debtor's assets.

The timing of the discharge varies, depending on the chapter under which the case is filed