Economics Finance

For people in dire financial straits who are considering bankruptcy, one major hurdle or deterrent can be the question of the cost to declare bankruptcy. But few people actually know exactly what it will cost to declare bankruptcy. This article tackles that subject.

The first thing to consider is the court costs. At present, those are $274 for Chapter 7 and $189 for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. This might seem a little excessive considering the fact that the very reason you require such a service is because you are in a difficult financial situation. However, when you consider the potential of what bankruptcy can do in terms of relieving your financial stress, these costs seem far more reasonable. Continue reading ‘Cost to Declare Bankrupt – Fees That Should Not Be Overlooked When You Are Considering Bankruptcy’ »

One of the biggest concerns in contemplating the filing of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is how to go about reestablishing credit after the discharge is (hopefully) received and the bankruptcy case closed. Of particular importance is that the debtor regain the ability to qualify for a car loan and, ultimately, that he or she might in the not too distant future qualify for a mortgage loan. Here are some relatively simple steps to help achieve those goals:

1. Start small, but steady: As soon as your case is closed, apply for a credit card with a very low spending limit. Even if that limit is as modest as, say, $250, this fact is much less important than the fact that you must stay completely current on the account. Meaning that you should not merely make the minimum payment every month; rather, you should pay the entire account balance in full, and well before the due date. This will help you establish with the credit reporting agencies a track record of repaying debts reliably and on time. Continue reading ‘Recovering From Bankruptcy – It’s Easier Than You Think’ »

Contrary to popular belief, despite changes made in 2005, bankruptcy is still a possibility for the vast majority of people for whom is was prior to the congressional changes of that year. But as with any financial decision, it is one that should be carefully thought out. And you cannot possibly make a decision before educating yourself on the pros and cons of declaring bankruptcy.

And when it comes to the pros and cons of declaring bankruptcy, the obvious place to start is with the major benefit and reason that people opt for it in the first place. The possibility of having your debts completely wiped out, being gifted a fresh financial start and the opportunity to essentially start again in financial terms. This can be such a huge relief to those who have been dogged with unmanageable bills for months and months and who have been terribly frightened for their future. However, bankruptcy will not eradicate all bills. While it will deal with credit card bills and medical bills, as well as other unsecured finance, it will not wipe out, generally speaking, student loans, criminal fines, alimony or child support. Continue reading ‘What Are the Pros and Cons of Declaring Bankruptcy? Find Out Here’ »

The credit industry simply hates to see someone declaring personal bankruptcy. After all, for those who provide unsecured finance, this means that they are unlikely to see that money repaid, in the case of chapter 7. As such, many credit industry figureheads tend to make out those who are declaring personal bankruptcy as being scam artists who simply want to evade their debts and avoid responsibility to paying them. They make out that anyone who decides to declare personal bankruptcy is someone who will avoid repaying their debts at the expense of other hard working Americans.

This, of course, is not the case. Anyone can get in over their head financially. Even the federal government has!! But the point is that, while consumers should absolutely take complete responsibility for their bad spending habits, people who declare bankruptcy often have no other choice. If you are in a situation whereby, even with all the possible changes you can make to your spending habits, you would still be entirely unable to pay off your outstanding debts in the foreseeable future, then you probably have little choice but bankruptcy.

Continue reading ‘Declaring Personal Bankruptcy – Debunking the Myth of People Who File For Bankruptcy’ »

If you are one of the many Americans researching and considering declaring yourself bankrupt, then you have probably already heard about the relief that it can bring from financial problems that have been getting you down for months. Of course, it has its advantages as a legitimate and viable means of granting you a fresh financial start. But declaring yourself bankrupt does not come without catches!

The worst effect, by far, will be the damage it does to your credit rating. It might not seem like such a big deal right now, after all if you are on the brink of declaring yourself bankrupt the last thing you are probably thinking about is taking more credit! But in the long term this could be an issue. Bankruptcy stays on file for ten years. And if, later on, you need to get credit or loans for any reason, you are going to have a hard time. And even in cases where it proves possible for you to obtain credit, you will be subject to a much higher rate of interest. Continue reading ‘What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Declaring Yourself Bankrupt?’ »

The failures of large corporations in recent years have garnered intense media attention: from the infamous Enron case to the more recent bank collapses, corporate bankruptcy often has negative consequences for a large number of people. Small businesses, on the other hand, usually go unnoticed by the mass media.

Despite the greater number of people affected in cases like Enron, the effects of small business bankruptcy can be much more severe on the owners and any employees. Since they have more limited means than larger companies, small businesses can be more susceptible to fluctuations in local economies. Local restaurants, for example, commonly go out of business during economic downturns, because people are less likely to dine out when the economy is weak.

Continue reading ‘Small Businesses and Bankruptcy’ »

If you are filing for bankruptcy, then the simple fact of the matter is that you are doin so because your finances are so poor that you have no choice. After all, it isn’t like you are filing for bankruptcy for fun and games! It is natural then that you would want to avoid further debts or bills of any sort.

It is often for that reason that so many people filing for bankruptcy ask about the possibility of going it alone, without the services of an attorney. Often these people have been advised by friends and family that it is possible, they sometimes know someone who has done it themselves successfully.

Continue reading ‘Filing For Bankruptcy – Important Factors to Know Even Before You Consider to Proceed’ »

Being in debt is hugely stressful and the constant calls from creditors demanding money that you simply do not have is most definitely something that will probably keep you awake at night! Being hassled repeatedly by those demanding money is terribly stressful. If you are in a position where it seems highly unlikely that you would be able to pay off the debts, even with changes to your spending habits, within a few years, then you are likely to be looking at the possibility of bankruptcy. And there is a provision in deciding to declare bankruptcy that eases that stress hugely.

This relief is known as the bankruptcy automatic stay and gets your creditors off your case. The second that you file your bankruptcy petition with the court, this bankruptcy automatic stay means that no creditors or debt collectors at all are permitted to contact you. Any ongoing wage garnishments are completely stopped and any foreclosures or repossessions under procedure are also stopped immediately. Continue reading ‘What is Bankruptcy Automatic Stay and How Does it Provide Relief For You?’ »

If you are in a situation where you are simply unable to pay off your outstanding debts and even with significant changes to your expenditures you will be unable to pay them in the foreseeable future, then the chances are that you really should think about declaring yourself bankrupt. However, many people even knowing that this is the best move for them are put off by the cost of declaring bankruptcy. Some are completely unaware of the cost of declaring bankruptcy but just assume it to be higher than it actually is.

The court fees are relatively small. Chapter 7 bankruptcy incurs a fee of $274 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy incurs a fee of $189. Now, this might seem a fairly hefty fee for someone who has pretty much nothing, but consider the fact that bankruptcy can secure your long term financial freedom and this is pretty good! Continue reading ‘Wondering About the Cost of Declaring Bankruptcy? Find Out the Facts Here’ »

There is no doubt that bankruptcy can provide much-needed debt relief, particularly if you are overwhelmed with debt problems. However, it is normal that you might be concerned about its potential impact on your job and career. However, unless it is a clear violation of the terms of your contract of employment, it would be illegal for your current employer to sack you simply because you have filed for bankruptcy. Your employer could be prosecuted in such a scenario. However, when you are talking about prospective employers, they are a completely different kettle of fish. To start with, it’s pretty standard for financial, gaming and government employers to conduct background checks.

In spite of the global recession, there has been a marked increase in organisations that are checking out the credit reports of prospective employees. These employers may not want to employ you, particularly if they have taken the time to perform such checks. The reason for this is that such employers are of the view that reliability and creditworthiness go hand in hand. They tend to view how you handle things personally as a probable sign of how you would handle their company’s assets.

They may therefore be of the opinion that people who are unable to take responsibility for the financial affairs may end up blaming other people for their own failings and mistakes. Basically, these employers will want to be assured that you will not be a high risk investment if you are hired. So even though there are laws that forbid an employer from discriminating against a prospective employee solely because the applicant has declared bankruptcy in the past, the possibility exists that the employer may choose to look elsewhere. However, there are also many employers that do not do any such checks, and don’t care whether you’ve been bankrupt before.

Now you might be thinking that filing for bankruptcy rules you out of the running for jobs that require background checks. Not necessarily. You should never underestimate or overlook the ability of employers to be sympathetic. They are human after all. If the only negative thing on your credit file is the bankruptcy, then you stand a much better chance than if you have lots of other negative things in your report. Having bad credit is bad, but personal bankruptcy IS a solution. Filing for bankruptcy demonstrates that you identified a problem in your financial life and took steps to rectify it. Bankruptcy hasn’t ruined your employability. It has made landing your dream job more difficult, but by no means impossible. Continue reading ‘How Bankruptcy Affects Your Job and Career’ »