Mirror of Justice

Consumer Education is Key When Considering Bankruptcy

July 17th, 2009 at 08:57am Under Consumer Law

Only a few short years ago, it used to be fairly easy to file bankruptcy, almost as easy as it is in the board game of Monopoly, where the ramifications of doing so were about the same as in Monopoly. But it was determined that so many people were taking advantage of bankruptcy to compensate for a lack of financial skills, a lack of money management, and basically attempting to lead a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget that the bankruptcy laws were recently changed.

To be sure, the bankruptcy laws still vary from state to state, but there are some things that even state legislature cannot disagree on if they conflict with the federal bankruptcy laws. Even at this, some people have attempted to file bankruptcy in a state that may have more lenient bankruptcy laws than the state in which they have listed as their address of residence, and one of the things that the new bankruptcy laws is doing is ensuring that people who file bankruptcy do so in the state in which they live.

Another requirement of bankruptcy with the new laws is that the person filing bankruptcy is required to attend credit counseling sessions and financial education courses. While this is still part of the law and you can expect that requirement into the foreseeable future, studies are starting to show that such a requirement has so far failed to deliver the positive results that were expected, and in fact have delivered very few significantly measurable benefits to the consumer.

Is there a value to requiring consumers to spend (or as some say, “waste”) their time on credit counseling and financial education courses before being allowed to file bankruptcy? Many are saying it makes no sense at all. On one hand, the advocates who say it makes little sense are right, since by the time a person is so far in financial distress that bankruptcy is their most viable option, the time for financial education and credit counseling has long since passed. But on the other hand, how do you require someone to attend those classes and counseling sessions BEFORE they get into a bankruptcy situation, since the vast majority of people are unwilling to admit, even to themselves, that they are heading in the wrong financial direction.

Good consumer information about bankruptcy is one answer. While the government or the state cannot protect each and every consumer from financial folly, nor can they force the consumer to attend courses or counseling, they can put the monkey on the consumer’s back by making information about bankruptcy available, perhaps even at no charge. The vast majority of consumers have no clue about the various chapters of bankruptcy and which one they should choose if they get into a bankruptcy situation.

Moreover, most consumers think of bankruptcy as their only option, when in reality the act of declaring bankruptcy should be the option of last resort. There are many viable alternatives to bankruptcy, most of which do not have the long-lasting negative impact on the consumer, such as the fact that bankruptcy stays on one’s credit report for the next 7 to 10 years. Consumers should be taught about the options that are available before considering the “act of last resort”, which is bankruptcy. For example, debt consolidation firms can pull a consumer out of the financial fire without requiring bankruptcy in many situations.

Consumer education about bankruptcy is paramount, and every consumer should make a point to understand at least the basics of bankruptcy, what it means, how it works, and most of all, what viable alternatives to bankruptcy are available.

Understand your Lack of Options With Bankruptcy Law

July 17th, 2009 at 08:53am Under Discrimination Law

Contemplating filing for bankruptcy is a decision that no one looks forward to making. If there was another way, you would take it, but sometimes filing for bankruptcy is the only option. It is not an easy decision, nor is it one that should be taken lightly. You have talked to attorneys and found out their fees. You are already struggling financially; you are debating about filing for bankruptcy on your own, and save your self the attorney fees.

The new laws have made it much more difficult to file for bankruptcy without an attorney. There are new requirements and qualifications for filing the different chapters of bankruptcy. For example, every person that wants to file for bankruptcy must pass a means test. A means test is a test based on all of your expenses and all of your income and this helps you know whether you qualify to file a Chapter 7 or if you must file a Chapter 13.

If your income is greater than what the state’s median is set at, then as far as the government is concerned, you are capable of paying some of your unsecured debt. The court can also say that you have to file a Chapter 13 if they believe that you are abusing the system by filing for a Chapter 7. In essence, you must be approved to file for bankruptcy, especially a Chapter 7. In other words, just because you file bankruptcy does not mean that you will be able to file bankruptcy, because it may not be approved, which is another reason to have a bankruptcy lawyer involved and not attempt it on your own.

This alone is reason enough to sit and talk your case over with an attorney to make sure that you are filing for the correct bankruptcy. Have your attorney go over your income and expenses with you to make sure that you are disclosing everything. You are asking for trouble if you don’t. The government is fine with you filing your bankruptcy yourself, but the U.S. Trustee still holds you to the same guidelines it holds the attorneys to. You must know the law and what it requires, and if you do not deal with bankruptcy law as a vocation 40 hours a week like a lawyer does, you may be asking for even more trouble.

Retaining an attorney to help you go through the bankruptcy process also insures that you go to court with all the proper paperwork, and that your documentation is in order and correct. Having an attorney also helps to answer questions as you receive the various letters from the court and creditors after your “Meeting of the Creditors” court hearing.

Additionally you will not be able to file bankruptcy until your have gone through credit counseling. The credit counseling has to be done by a state approved agency, and it must be done before filing as well as after you have filed. These are two different classes and an attorney can help you make sure you are taking the right class at the right time. Often bankruptcy attorneys have computer access to those mandated classes and you can take them in their office.

Bankruptcy is not easy for anyone. Having to file is often a very emotional time for those that file. Having an uninvolved person to help make sure that you are meeting all the requirements and addressing the court and creditor issues can make it easier to get through. With the new bankruptcy laws, having an attorney to help you is really a must.

Insights Into Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Law

July 15th, 2009 at 02:57pm Under Consumer Law

When an individual consumer, not a business or corporation, is looking to file for bankruptcy, it is almost always most appropriate for them to either file under Chapter 7 bankruptcy law or Chapter 13 bankruptcy law. The majority of consumer bankruptcies are filed under Chapter 7. In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the consumer is able to get rid of almost all his debts, thereby providing them with the chance to start over again, where their focus would be on rebuilding their severely tarnished credit report.

That last sentence is important to realize for anyone considering filing bankruptcy under any chapter or code. If your bankruptcy is approved by the federal bankruptcy courts after an extensively and detailed look at your current financial situation, the bankruptcy will be highlighted and readily visible on your credit report from each of the major credit bureaus for the next seven to ten years. This is a big reason why it is important to consider the act of bankruptcy as a last resort option, where you have thoroughly examined and evaluated each of your bankruptcy alternatives and found that proceeding with the bankruptcy petition is really your best option in your circumstances.

Even with the drastic changes in the bankruptcy laws in recent years, it should be noted that the underlying PUPOSE of filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy has not changed. But with that said, be aware that the changes in the bankruptcy laws have significantly changed the method and procedure for doing any kind of bankruptcy, including Chapter 7.

For the consumer considering chapter 7 bankruptcy, this is most often caused by a huge pile of debt, usually credit card debt and usually with high interest rates, where the consumer is unable to pay even the minimum amount due each month. Note that “fault” is not assigned in a bankruptcy hearing. The financial situation of the consumer may have come about due to things out of the control of the consumer, not due to the financial mismanagement of the consumer. The most frequent causes that lead up to this situation are a job layoff, high unexpected medical expenses that are not covered under one’s health insurance plan, a hotly contested divorce settlement, and too many other things which are out of the consumer’s direct control to list here.

This can be a problem. Most consumers really want to pay off their debt if they had the ability to do so. But a consumer with, for example, $60,000 or more in debt could find themselves continuing to pay on that debt for the next 20 years or more, even if they did not acquire additional debt and even at low or no interest rate being assessed.

After the bankruptcy petition is filed, the consumer needs to show up in court on a specified date, a date of which all his creditors have been notified of, and each side presents their case. The creditors, if they show up (they often do not) may argue that money was loaned to the consumer with fair expectations of repayment. It is ultimately up to the bankruptcy judge to decide how to proceed, and there is not a set or established standard for how this plays out, since each individual case is different.

Although Chapter 7 bankruptcy could conceivably be done without a bankruptcy lawyer, this is strongly not recommended. With the changes in the bankruptcy laws, compounded with variations of the law from state to state, the consumer could find himself spending more time and money that what the lawyer fees would have come to, and it is almost always worth the investment in a bankruptcy lawyer to guide you through the process, since they have a very thorough understanding of bankruptcy law and what the variations are in your state.

Don’t Attempt Bankruptcy Without Knowing Bankruptcy Law

July 14th, 2009 at 02:52am Under Discrimination Law

If you think that you have nothing now, the new bankruptcy laws could even shrink that! The new bankruptcy law overhauls the laws that were modified in 1978. It not only tightens the requirements for those who want to file for bankruptcy but for their attorneys as well.

These are several of the major changes that were initiated under the new bankruptcy law:

Bankruptcy Law: What You Need To Know

July 13th, 2009 at 08:53pm Under Discrimination Law

Until just a few years ago, filing for bankruptcy was fairly easy. Not anymore. When Congress changed the nation’s bankruptcy laws in 2005, many debtors found the new “Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005,” to be more hindrance than help in overcoming past mistakes and starting anew.
The new law is stricter, featuring more requirements than ever before. It is important for anyone considering filing bankruptcy to understand the following:
Credit Counseling:
It doesn’t matter whether you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy that discharges your debt or Chapter 13 bankruptcy which enters you into a repayment plan with creditors, anyone filing bankruptcy is required by law to attend credit counseling by a court-approved counseling service.
Chapter 7 Filings:
Under the new law, it is no longer your right to be allowed to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If, after proving your income the court determines that you make more than the medium income within your state, you may be required to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead and enter into a repayment schedule to pay back all (or most) of your creditors.
Chapter 13:
It is not uncommon to find your repayment schedule a bit more than you can financially handle under a Chapter 13 filing. The amounts you must repay each month are calculated according to specialized guidelines that take into account your income in the last year (not what you make now), and your assets.
Residency:
While everyone must obey federal bankruptcy laws, some states offer their own, more lenient exemptions. The new federal law, however, requires residents to live in a specific state for a specified amount of time (usually at least two years) in order to qualify for any state-exemptions.
Allowable Expenses:
In the past, those filing bankruptcy could virtually erase their debt and start new in seven years, while continuing to live the lifestyle they’d grown accustomed to. That’s no longer the case.
Under new federal bankruptcy laws, the IRS determines your monthly budget, and what you should be able to repay. Most are forbidden from having cell phone expenses as well as cable TV, high-speed Internet access, movies, meals out with the family, and anything else beyond the minimum allowable expenses as determined by the IRS and the courts.
Bankruptcy isn’t what it used to be, thanks to millions of Americans who abused the system in the past. Once reserved for people in dire financial situations to help them free themselves from excess debt and start fresh, today’s bankruptcy laws are designed t punish those who have been financially irresponsible and force them to pay back most or all of the debt they’ve accumulated. While filing for bankruptcy may have once seemed like a good way out of a bad situation, many consumers are now opting to try and fix their financial woes themselves in lieu of letting the government fix it for them.

It Is Extremely Important That You Know The Bankruptcy Law Before Filing

July 13th, 2009 at 02:53pm Under Discrimination Law

The new bankruptcy law is even harsher that the old one, which was established in 1978. It tightens the requirements of those who are filing for bankruptcy and for the attorneys that are helping them.
Protection To The Borrower
Being unable to pay back debts can lead people into filing for bankruptcy and the laws in this regard are very clear that creditors may not contact the borrower, after the borrower has filed for bankruptcy, though some creditors feigning ignorance of such filings may continue contacting the borrowers. This is the time when the borrower needs legal help and an attorney who knows the bankruptcy laws should be made to step in and tell off the offending creditors and inform them about the laws that are meant to protect his client. Such a course of action will definitely help to put an end to unnecessary harassment and provide the borrower with some relief.
Things Worth Knowing About How To Choose A Bankruptcy Lawyer
A bankruptcy lawyer is the right person that you need to turn to when you are under a whole lot of debt and when there are other complications in your financial situation, and the reason for this is the lengthy and complicated documentation involved which only a qualified legal professional would be able to sort out on your behalf. It goes without saying that a bankruptcy lawyer has in-depth knowledge about laws, regulations, rules as well as options and your rights that are related to your particular situation.
Given that bankruptcy is anything but simple and in fact quite complicated, you would not know how to proceed and get the bankruptcy decided in your favor on your own which means hiring a bankruptcy lawyer who will help in making the whole process smooth and efficient and most important of all, have the case end up in your favor as far as is possible.
Locating a good bankruptcy lawyer is important and you ought to choose one with experience and who has a good reputation, though another important aspect to choosing your lawyer is that you gel well with him or her. Also, remember to get everything down in writing before hiring your lawyer.
In fact, bankruptcy laws have especially been formulated to protect borrowers from creditors and their main purpose is to protect individuals who perforce need to file for bankruptcy and need to be saved from the harassment from creditor’s hell bent on recovering their dues.
After all is said and done, creditors will still walk a very thin line even in spite of knowing the laws which means that if you are filing for bankruptcy, be sure to engage a good lawyer who is well conversant with all the bankruptcy laws and who will act professionally in dealing with the creditors on strong grounds and thus provide you with much needed relief.

Get the Straight Facts About Bankruptcy Law

July 12th, 2009 at 02:53pm Under Discrimination Law

There used to be a time not that many years ago where one could file for bankruptcy at the drop of a hat, just because they wanted to. In the majority of cases, there did not even need to be a real financial need to do so, but with the very lax bankruptcy laws in place at that time, many people found it easier to file for bankruptcy than to struggle with paying their debts, and many people filed for bankruptcy once every two or three years.

The bankruptcy laws have gotten significantly tougher in recent years, and in fact you may not be approved to be able to file bankruptcy with the new laws. While the bankruptcy laws still vary widely from state to state, there are enough federally mandated laws in place that filing bankruptcy is a significantly more difficult process than it used to be, and requires approval of the bankruptcy judge, which is not granted automatically.

In fact, the procedure for filing bankruptcy is no longer a do-it-yourself procedure. There are places that market a do-it-yourself bankruptcy kit, but the amount of time you will spend to understand the very complex and complicated procedures will leave your head spinning. Your time is much better spent getting your financial life back together, and the money you spend on a good bankruptcy attorney will be well worth the expense, since the bankruptcy attorney will know the procedures, the hurdles, and be familiar with the variations of the bankruptcy law in the state where you are filing.

Another point about a good bankruptcy attorney is that they are in an excellent procedure to advise you as to your best options. More often than not, a debt consolidation service may be a better overall option for you, and debt consolidation does not have the long term negative affects on your credit score that bankruptcy does. You may wish to visit our web site at http://www.debtconsolidationstrategies.com for more information about debt consolidation.

There are some common misconceptions about bankruptcy. It is totally different than declaring bankruptcy in the game of Monopoly, but some of the things that people assume about bankruptcy are totally false, and we will take a look at some of those things here.

While you are thinking about bankruptcy, there are probably people around you who “know” the bankruptcy laws but what they think they know is probably wrong. Some people think they will lose everything in bankruptcy. Not true. This depends on your individual situation and the type or chapter of bankruptcy you file. You may in fact not lose anything at all.

Another myth is that you will never be able to get credit again after filing bankruptcy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Granted, it will be more difficult to get credit and until you have proven yourself again, you will likely have to pay a higher interest rate for that credit, but getting credit after bankruptcy is not a major hurdle.

You need to understand the bankruptcy laws from people like a bankruptcy lawyer who deal with bankruptcy all the time, not take the advice of people who heard this, that and the other thing about it. This is a critical time in your financial life, and the last thing you need is bum advice from someone who thinks they know what they are talking about.

Bankruptcy Law – How the Changes Affect you

July 10th, 2009 at 08:52pm Under Bankruptcy Law

If you are considering bankruptcy, you need to be aware of the recent drastic changes in the bankruptcy laws. It used to be that a person could file bankruptcy almost on a whim, simply to get out from under a huge burden of financial obligations. Then that person would start over, and a couple years later file bankruptcy again. This type of scenario is no longer possible for the most part due to the new bankruptcy law.

The bankruptcy laws still vary from state to state but much of the common foundation within the bankruptcy law is still there in all states. The variations and changes that are state specific are, for the most part, fairly minor points. In addition, one of the effects of the new laws are that if you are going to file bankruptcy, you must do it in the state in which you are a resident, and you cannot go to another state to file bankruptcy just because they may have more lenient laws in some areas.

With the new bankruptcy laws, the person who is considering filing must go through a process known as a means test. The means test can be very complex and the results of that test could mean the difference between filing bankruptcy and even not be allowed to file bankruptcy.

What this means to you is that the court looks at your financial situation with a very fine tooth comb. The court can determine that you do not need to file bankruptcy based on your level of income and that you can indeed pay your financial obligations, which still being able to maintain your reasonable and necessary living expenses. This is where things really get sticky, because while a consumer may consider “reasonable and necessary” to be that beach front condo in Miami, it is highly unlikely that the court would agree with your definition of “reasonable and necessary”.

Another change in the bankruptcy laws is that the consumer who plans to file bankruptcy is now required in almost all states to attend credit counseling sessions. To a certain extent, this does not make sense since the underlying reason that a consumer may be considering bankruptcy would not be financial mismanagement, but could be host of other financial difficulties, like a job layoff, extensive medical debts, an ugly divorce case, and other things that are totally unrelated to financial mismanagement, and in fact, the consumer may be the sharpest person in the world in terms of finances. But that person still needs to attend the credit counseling sessions, this is mandatory.

Because of the many changes in the bankruptcy law, consumers who may have wanted to file under Chapter 7 bankruptcy may now need to file under Chapter 13 or even Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Much of this determines how much of your personal assets can be retained, or perhaps sold out to satisfy your debtors.

One thing that has become clear with the new bankruptcy laws is that bankruptcy is no longer a “do it yourself” process. One mistake in filling out the mountain of forms can cause your bankruptcy application to be dismissed. You should work with a good bankruptcy lawyer who understands the bankruptcy law and also the variations in your state so that you can file correctly with the least amount of personal damage.