Bankruptcy Basics

A bankruptcy attorney will ask you why you're considering filing for bankruptcy and determine whether filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy will help you solve your financial problem ... Read more

Filing for bankruptcy will stop collection lawsuits from proceeding to judgment, which can help prevent property liens and debts from being declared nondischargeable. ... Read more

Concealing assets from the bankruptcy court is serious business and carries stiff penalties. Learn about bank accounts and other property you'll disclose in bankruptcy and the types of inves ... Read more

Most people prove their identity and Social Security number by presenting a state-issued driver's license and Social Security card, however, you can use other forms of identification, too. L ... Read more

After filing for bankruptcy, you'll provide additional documents to support the figures in your bankruptcy paperwork, including your income, the value of your assets, your household expenses ... Read more

The trustee doesn't usually need to visit your house to verify the information you provide to the bankruptcy court. The primary reason a bankruptcy trustee will come to your home is if the t ... Read more

By following tried-and-true settlement techniques, you can increase the chance of settling your credit card debt for less than what you owe. Find out how to negotiate your credit card debt a ... Read more

When your tenant files for bankruptcy, you don't want to get stiffed for the rent. Learn options and how they're affected by the Chapter 13 bankruptcy process. ... Read more

When filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you must continue making your house payment if you want to keep your home. Otherwise, you risk losing it to foreclosure. Learn about ways to catch up o ... Read more

When you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you can "exempt" or keep the property you need to live and work, such as furniture, clothing, and an inexpensive car. Learn what you must do to protec ... Read more

If you owe taxes to a state agency, you might be able to discharge it in bankruptcy, depending on the type. For instance, you might be able to discharge state income tax if it's old enough, ... Read more

Certain creditors, such as the Internal Revenue Service, can file a lien against your property and, when you sell it, get paid out of the sales proceeds. Learn about the differences between ... Read more

Learn about some of the factors you'll want to consider before filing a second bankruptcy such as how long you'll wait before receiving a second bankruptcy discharge and the consequences of ... Read more

You don't have to give up all of your property when you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Your state's exemption statutes tell you how much property you'll be allowed to keep, or ... Read more

Understanding timing issues can help you decide when to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You'll learn why you don't want to run up credit cards before filing for bankruptcy and when you'll hav ... Read more

Learn how to protect property in your possession that you don't own when filing for Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy. You'll find tips for protecting a parent's or child's managed bank account fr ... Read more

If you’re behind on your rent, bankruptcy can stop a pending eviction today. But in many cases, filing for bankruptcy will delay an eviction temporarily. Learn how much time filing for Cha ... Read more

It's best to secure housing before filing for bankruptcy because most people have trouble renting without a cosigner for a year or more after bankruptcy ends. Learn about things to consider ... Read more

Filers don't choose the debts to discharge in bankruptcy. Not including debt isn’t an option. You must list all the debts you owe creditors without exception. Learn when you might find you ... Read more

Creditors rarely appear at the 341 meeting of creditors. However, creditors who show up often ask you questions about your present and past financial situation, business dealings, and proper ... Read more