Posted on October 06, 2014 in Chapter 13

For most people who file bankruptcy, the process is very unfamiliar. Many filers focus on the negative aspects of bankruptcy: its effects on credit, potential loss of assets, and others. What is important to understand, however, is that bankruptcy is not financial suicide; it is an opportunity to save your home, reduce monthly payments, and end harassment from creditors.

Unlike Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which involves the liquidation of assets to pay off debts, Chapter 13 involves the restructuring of debt. The debtor pays “priority debts” first. These include taxes, alimony, child support and any owed wages. After these, car loans and mortgages are usually next. These debts are scheduled into an approved payment plan that takes income and overall debt into account.

Unsecured debts, such as credit cards or medical bills, are often handled last. Depending on whether these can be paid in full, there may be restructuring options available.

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 Posted on December 13, 2013 in Chapter 7

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a common form of bankruptcy because it excuses the filer from all eligible debts.  It is commonly referred to as a liquidation bankruptcy because debts are eliminated by the sale of property and other assets. Creditors are repaid through the proceeds of those transactions.

A Chapter 13 is also called the wage-earner’s bankruptcy.  If someone is earning an income but cannot keep up with past due payments, then a Chapter 13 bankruptcy can give them time to pay those debts. There is a repayment plan that last from three to five years and is based on each person’s income.

Occasionally there are cases when nether Chapter of bankruptcy is appropriate. While a Chapter 20 bankruptcy is not a term found in the bankruptcy code, it is a common strategy to get a fresh start.  It is the process of filing two bankruptcies right after each other to resolve difficult financial situations.  The approach is filing for Chapter 7 protection and then for Chapter 13.

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 Posted on October 30, 2013 in Bankruptcy

Since the economy has taken a turn for the worse, the IRS has be relatively aggressive in coming after income tax debt. If you are being contacted by the IRS about existing tax debt and you are feeling overwhelmed with your finances, you need the advice of a San Antonio bankruptcy attorney.

The IRS can use levies to pay your taxes if you do not make payments or arrangements for payments to cover a tax debt. The IRS can take and sell any type of personal property that you own or have interest in. This includes the cash loan value of your life insurance policy, commissions, your wages, bank accounts, licenses, rental income, dividends, and retirement accounts. The IRS may also seize and sell property such as houses, boats or cars.

The tax levy can be completed after the IRS assessed the tax and provided you with a Notice and Demand for Payment, you refused to pay the tax or ignored the notice, and you received a "Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Notice of Your Right to a Hearing." Generally, you will receive this last piece of information about 30 days before the levy. Taxes are extremely complicated and contacting the IRS may not clear up your questions. This is a sign to reach out to a bankruptcy lawyer.

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 Posted on April 16, 2013 in Bankruptcy

Debt consolidation has long been hailed as an alternative to bankruptcy. Consolidating debt can make large debts manageable, enabling the debtor to wrap his head around the money that he owes and conceive of a plan to pay it off. Yet lately many debt consolidation companies have come under fire for shady practices, meaning that in the end of the day, it might be better to file bankruptcy. According to US News and World Report, “debt consolidation loans are like a politician during an election year—they make a lot of promises, but don’t always deliver.” Some of these promises include (but are not limited to): convenience, lower interest rates, and lower monthly payments. Yet most debt consolidation companies fail to mention that many plans leave debtors with “high fees, greater debt and potentially more interest payments,” according to US News and World Report. 

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