If you are facing an eminent home foreclosure or fear your car will be repossessed any day, it is possible to stop creditors from acting by filing an emergency petition. Filing an emergency petition will result in a federal court order called an 'order for relief/automatic stay' which can protect you from certain actions by your creditors. The emergency petition requires less initial documentation to expedite the process, but you will need to submit a complete filing within a specified time … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2016
Keeping the Essentials – Your Home and Car in Bankruptcy
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy, otherwise known as a liquidation bankruptcy, wipes out debt completely and appeals to many who cannot afford to pay their bills. But what about people who have non-exempt property that they do not want to give up? Chapter 13 is a reorganization bankruptcy and offers an opportunity for debtors to keep their property by agreeing to make monthly payments toward their debt over the course of three to five years. Chapter 13 bankruptcies may allow you to restructure your … [Read more...]
Medical Bankruptcy on the Rise
The leading cause of bankruptcy is not overspending, nor lack of adequate financial planning, but the financial free fall caused by a health crisis. Despite recent advances in the health care policy, American households continue to struggle with medical debt, and it’s only getting worse. Americans are putting more of their take-home pay toward medical costs than ever before and, oftentimes, are not keeping up. Medical debt collected by third-party collections agencies is roughly three times as … [Read more...]
The Difference Between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Illinois
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is what many think of as wiping the slate clean and getting a fresh start. This type of bankruptcy is a liquidation bankruptcy designed to erase general unsecured debts such as credit cards and medical bills. In order to qualify for Chapter 7, you must have little or no disposable income. When you file, a trustee is appointed to administer your case to review your bankruptcy papers, supporting documents, and to arrange the sell of your nonexempt property to pay back your … [Read more...]