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Category: Chapter 13
Steps to purchasing a car during Chapter 13 bankruptcy

On Behalf of O’Brien Law Firm, LLC

Posted on: June 14, 2018

It is possible for Mississippi residents to get financing for a car while in Chapter 13 bankruptcy. However, the process may take longer and be more difficult than for people who are not in bankruptcy. The first step is to find a lender and dealer. If finding a lender is not possible, the next step is to look for a subprime dealership. They specifically work with lenders whose specialty is people with bad credit.

The dealer will create a buyer’s order once the terms of the loan have been agreed upon and the vehicle has been chosen. This must then be submitted to the trustee along with paperwork that includes an explanation of why the vehicle is needed. A trustee is not likely to approve a luxury vehicle, so making the right choice is important.

The information in the Motion to Incur Additional Debt that the trustee files with the court will also be sent to creditors. Creditors have the option to object, but this is not an automatic rejection. The debtor would have to attend a hearing. A debtor receives an Order to Incur Additional Debt if the court approves the loan. This then must be taken to the dealer. If the loan is not approved, a debtor can try with a different car or try again later.

Some people may be reluctant to file for bankruptcy because they are afraid it will ruin their credit. However, this is not necessarily the case. Bankruptcy does damage a person’s credit, but so does unmanageable debt, and it is possible to rebuild credit after a bankruptcy. Furthermore, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which involves creating a payment plan to repay creditors over several years, can make it possible to keep some assets such as a house.

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Understanding Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy

On Behalf of O’Brien Law Firm, LLC

Posted on: June 8, 2018

For people in Mississippi struggling with unrepayable debt, bankruptcy can be a way out from financial disaster. However, the types of debt that can be wiped away in bankruptcy vary depending on the type of bankruptcy a person pursues. In addition, some types of debts are almost always dischargeable while some types of debt are notoriously difficult to discharge.

Most consumers who file for bankruptcy pursue either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, both of which help people to find a new financial lease on life after debt. Only people who make below a certain income, usually the state median, can file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Under this type of filing, a person’s assets are liquidated while the funds are distributed to creditors to satisfy the debt. Some assets are exempt from liquidation, including those necessary for life such as a car or tools used on the job. After this process, remaining debt that is qualified for discharge will be fully released, and creditors will need to stop their attempts to collect these debts.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is different because debt is restructured rather than instantly discharged. People enter a new period of repayment of the restructured debt, and after that payment period is over, qualifying debt could also be discharged. In general, mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, medical bills, credit card debts, unpaid utility bills and similar debts can be discharged in bankruptcy. Student loans are the most difficult type of debt to discharge along with child support and spousal support or government fines.

People struggling with debt can often be eligible for Chapter 13 bankruptcy regardless of their income level. When considering options to escape from the spiral of personal debt, people may consult with a bankruptcy lawyer for advice on the type of bankruptcy that is best to pursue in each individual circumstance.

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Credit repair strategies after filing for bankruptcy

On Behalf of O’Brien Law Firm, LLC

Posted on: May 9, 2018

People in Mississippi with bankruptcies on their records naturally await the day when their credit reports no longer show their defaults. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows credit bureaus to report bankruptcies for up to 10 years from the date of filing. Until then, former debtors can take steps to improve their credit ratings and potentially remove bankruptcies from their records.

A certified financial planner said that Chapter 7 bankruptcies remain on record for 10 years, but Chapter 13 cases can come off records after only 7 years. People might have the ability to remove these events from their credit reports if the credit agencies have recorded them inaccurately. To begin, a person would examine credit reports from all three major credit reporting companies. If any errors are present, then the person could dispute the entry. A credit agency’s inability to verify a bankruptcy might enable a person to have the record removed. Another tactic involves contacting the court house where the bankruptcy filing took place. If the court did not verify the bankruptcy for the credit agencies, then it would be an unverified entry. After obtaining a written statement about this, a person could ask the credit bureaus to erase unverified entries.

Whether a bankruptcy remains on record or not, people have the ability to improve their credit ratings by paying bills on time or early. Avoiding new debts could also help people keep their records clean.

A person contemplating bankruptcy may wish to consult an attorney. A legal evaluation of the person’s finances might show that a Chapter 13 filing could pave the way to a fresh financial start. The attorney may help the person create a manageable payment plan that repays creditors at least partially before the court dismisses remaining debts.

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Tax debt and bankruptcy

On Behalf of O’Brien Law Firm, LLC

Posted on: April 20, 2018

Mississippi residents who find themselves with debts they cannot afford to pay have the option of voluntary bankruptcy. A voluntary filing means that a debtor chooses to file for bankruptcy without being petitioned to do so by a creditor. While bankruptcy can wipe out many types of debt, some debts are excluded. For example, taxes owed are often not allowed to be dismissed in bankruptcy. It all depends on what type of taxes, what type of bankruptcy and whether or not the taxes in question meet some very specific criteria.

For individuals and couples, there are generally two types of bankruptcy. Chapter 7 dismisses allowable debt and liquidates some assets to pay creditors. On the other hand, Chapter 13 requires making payments to creditors for a period of time under an affordable payment plan. When the payment plan is completed, remaining debt is dismissed.

Taxes can sometimes be eliminated by bankruptcy, but there are very stringent rules about this. Generally, taxes can be discharged if they are associated with a tax return that was due at least three years before the bankruptcy was initiated and filed at least two years before the bankruptcy. If an associated return was never filed, the taxes cannot be discharged. The taxes must also have been assessed at least 240 days before bankruptcy was filed.

This is only a partial list of the criteria that must be met for taxes to be dischargeable. Additionally, the rules could be different if the bankruptcy is involuntary.

When someone is considering bankruptcy, they might not have the option of filing for Chapter 7 if they do not meet the income requirements. Chapter 13 is considered to be bankruptcy for wage earners who have steady income and can make payments under a payment plan. A lawyer could help a debtor decide which type of bankruptcy to file.

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Bankruptcy and credit myths

On Behalf of O’Brien Law Firm, LLC

Posted on: March 21, 2018

People in Mississippi who are struggling with debt might hesitate to file for bankruptcy because of certain myths they believe about bankruptcy. There are a number of misconceptions about filing for bankruptcy and what happens to a person’s credit afterward.

The main impact of a bankruptcy on a credit score is the bankruptcy itself. In other words, the score is unlikely to be mitigated by positive information on the credit report. The amount of debt discharged may affect the severity of the drop in credit score. Furthermore, debts that cannot be discharged, such as student loans, will remain on the report. However, it is important to remember that a bankruptcy eventually falls off the credit report. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy remains on the credit report for 10 years. All other information, including a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and things like liens and judgments discharged in bankruptcy, are removed from the report after seven years.

Even while the bankruptcy is still on the report, it is possible to improve the credit score significantly. It is possible to begin rebuilding credit with a secured credit card or a loan and by paying all bills on time. In the end, while bankruptcy represents a short-term hit on a person’s credit, getting free and clear of that debt may allow a person to rebuild a stronger credit record than before.

Another misconception people might have about bankruptcy is that they will lose all their assets. Even in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, certain assets are exempt, but in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, a person may be able to keep assets such as a home. Filing for bankruptcy can halt, at least temporarily, actions such as foreclosures, and the person works out a plan to pay creditors over three to five years. This plan must be approved by the court and is supervised by a bankruptcy trustee.

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