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(2) Doing things that cannot be accomplished by filing under Chapter 7: This section would be better named: "Reasons to file Chapter 13 instead of Chapter 7." Why....you might ask...would anyone in his or her right mind file a bankruptcy under Chapter 13 which requires you to pay back a part of the debt, when you can file Chapter 7 and get released from all of it? That's a good question and here are 9 good answers:
( 3) Gets rid of "debt" stress and worry.Getting rid of certain types of unsecured debts is important, but it's mostly important because it helps you achieve an even more important goal. It gets rid of some...and hopefully all...of the stress and worry that comes with having to deal....day in, day out.... with crippling amounts of debt, not to mention that most clients save hundred of dollars per month in total monthly payments. I have found that....until people find out how bankruptcy really works...people believe there is nothing they can do to get rid of debt...that they will be in debt for the rest of their lives...that there is no hope....that with so much debt, their families will have to go without...that with so much debt, they will never get ahead.....and that they will never be able to buy anything again. What a relief they feel when they come into our office and find out how bankruptcy really works. I cannot describe what a surprise this is for many people. For many...it seems like a dream come true. And...it is....a dream come true, thanks to the wisdom of your United States Congress...which created the Bankruptcy Laws. I have found that people generally don't file bankruptcy to get rid of debt. They file bankruptcy to get rid of the stress...the stress of dealing with debt...that hopeless feeling of dealing with something that has gotten out of control....something that has taken over their lives and all their waking moments. The look on many people's faces when they find out how much debt and stress they can get rid by filing bankruptcy is almost comical. People deep in debt are so used to feeling stressed out...so used to worrying and feeling helpless....that they don't know how to act when they find out...for the first time.... how much debt bankruptcy can actually get rid of. When we tell them how much debt they can get rid of ....permanently....and how easy it is to file bankruptcy....it's like there is a heavy anvil being lifted from their chests. It doesn't seem normal to them. We have to keep saying words to the effect that "It's true. Believe it or not....it's true. Bankruptcy really does this." For a while, they just go on saying things like "But I thought" this...or "But I thought" that, and we have to keep reassuring them that what we are telling them is true. Giving people news that brings this kind of relief...to people who have been struggling with overwhelming debt for months and years....is what its all about for lawyers....like me. This benefit of filing
bankruptcy is much the same in Chapter 13.... as
in Chapter 7.
(4) Keep and protect property you want to keep. For whatever reason, people think that if they file bankruptcy, they will lose everything that they have. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most of our clients keep everything they own...and lost nothing. Why? Because there are these things called "exemptions". We talked about them in the section entitled: "Learn About Chapter 7.". The same exemptions apply to help protect property in cases filed under Chapter 13. In the occasional case where it looks like a client has too much "stuff" to cover with exemptions...that is where Chapter 13 comes to the rescue. In Chapter 13, people can keep all their stuff; they just have to pay in a little more money....as mentioned above. Using California as an example....there are exemptions to cover lots of things including houses, mobile homes, land, cars, trucks, household goods and furniture, wages, life insurance cash value, personal injury and worker's compensation claims, tools of trade, retirement plans, IRA's, and the list goes on. Just like with Chapter 7....a big part of the process of analyzing a potential client's case...is making a determination as to what the client's property is worth, so that we can figure out whether there are sufficient available exemptions to protect all the property. That is, we have to put a value on each piece of property. This is a fairly complicated....but extremely important.... part of the process. The problem is....there are values and then there are values. For purposes of applying "exemptions"....it is important to determine what we call the "liquidation" value as opposed to the listing value, the value to the client, what the client paid for the property, what the client would like the property to be worth, etc., etc. For purposes of applying the "cram down" provisions...on the other hand...we have to determine "replacement" value. Filing bankruptcy does NOT mean you get to keep the property for free. If there is a lien against the property.....as in the example above with the house....the creditor holding the lien still needs to be paid. In our house example above, equity is no problem, but the client....if he or she wants to keep the house....would still have to keep current on the $105,000 mortgage. The same would apply for a
car loan. Generally, when you get a car loan, you
give the lender a lien against your car title.
However, for purposes of Chapter 13....there is
one absolutely huge difference....and it has got a
name....and its name is called "cram
down". The All Powerful "Cram Down" Provision: Cram down is a right you have whenever you file a case under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code....and it works like this. It allows you to pay less than what you owe on certain cars, trucks, business equipment, and mobile homes....assuming that the value of the items is less than the amount owed. This is a very complicated issue and subject to great variance in interpretation from Bankruptcy Court to Bankruptcy Court....but to use the Central District of California as an example....it works like this: Say you have a car (one that was bought more than 2 1/2 years ago) that....according to the NADA "blue" book has a "retail" NADA value of $10,000....but that....for whatever reason....you owe $15,000 on it. Chapter 13 allows you to "cram down" the creditor...which means you can set up your Chapter 13 plan to pay the creditor $10,000 (the value of the car) rather than $15,000 (the amount owed). This can translate into huge savings for you....in addition to the other benefits of filing bankruptcy...and can make all the difference between your ending up with a Chapter 13 plan you can afford and one that you cannot.
(5) Get out from under debt on property you are willing to say "goodbye" to. Just like in Chapter 7 ....Chapter 13 can help a client get out from under the certain property and the debt associated with it. For instance, say you own a mobile home that is worth $15,000, but you owe $25,000 on it. You have tried unsuccessfully to sell it, but the people who want to buy it cannot get approved for the financing to complete the sale. And say you have had to move elsewhere. Unless you can figure out a way to get rid of the mobile home and the debt owed on it, you are stuck. Just like with Chapter 7....Chapter 13 can provide a solution. What happens is this. As part of the bankruptcy, you "surrender" (give back) the mobile home to the person or company that holds the lien against the mobile home...in our example the person or company that is owed $25,000. Once you do this, they have a right to sell it. Outside of bankruptcy, once they sold it...they would come back at you to collect any money they did not get from the sale. In our example...if they sold it for $15,000, you would still owe them for the residual $10,000. But not in bankruptcy. In Chapter 13...under the law....after you surrender property back to a lender....all that's left is an "unsecured" claim against you....and....as you now know....all that generally has to be paid on unsecured claims is pennies-on-the-dollar, and NO interest. Problem solved. Thank you...Chapter 13. The same result can also generally be achieved with respect to other types of property you want to get rid of. Disclaimer: Results
will vary somewhat, depending on the jurisdiction
where you live and on your particular assets,
debts, income and expenses.
(6) Stopping Lawsuits and Creditor
Harassment. Just like with Chapter
7....one of the most powerful things about Chapter
13 is the "automatic stay". To recap
what you read in "Learn About Chapter
7"....the words "automatic stay"
don't sound very powerful, but...believe
me....this thing called the automatic stay is very
powerful. What happens is this. At the end of your Chapter 13 case, the automatic stay expires.....but in most cases....it doesn't matter. Why? Because....with respect to all the debts that get "discharged" (which means "gotten rid of"), it is immediately replaced with a "permanent" order to protect you. This order is called the "permanent injunction". In addition, many of your secured debts will have been paid off during your Chapter 13, so that you no longer need the protection of the automatic stay. At the end of your Chapter
13 case, creditors with
"non-dischargeable" debts, like alimony,
child support, and student loans can take up where
they left off. The good news is
that....hopefully....if you got rid of enough
other debts in your bankruptcy case.....you will
now have more income and you will be in a better
position.... and a better frame of mind..... to
deal with these residual
"non-dischargeable" debts.
(7) Free up income for your family. The whole idea of getting rid of some debts....and paying less on others...is so that you don't have to pay out as much of your income on those debts. This relieves stress and lots of it.....but to recap what we said about Chapter 7.....it also does something else. Most of our clients...by filing bankruptcy... lower their total monthly expenses by hundreds of dollars per month. This is huge because it frees up substantial amounts of your income to take care of other more important things....like your normal monthly living expenses. And, this means that....hopefully....as long as you hold onto your job.....you are in a better position to take care of your family. And, being in a better position to take care of your family can get your life started again. Not filing bankruptcy can
mean you get "stuck in neutral" or
worse, "stuck in reverse". Filing
bankruptcy....be it Chapter 7 or Chapter 13....and
getting rid of some of the burden of
debt....generally means you and your family can
start moving forward again. No stress and a chance
to move forward. A second chance at a fresh
start.....It doesn't get any better than that.
(8) Puts you in position to earn more money and save. For most people with mounting bills, it usually ends up being a situation where you have to "Borrow from Peter to Pay Paul" just to stay current. For most people....not filing bankruptcy means that the more you earn, the closer you get to breaking even each month. But forget about "saving for a rainy day". The worst comes when you don't earn enough and you can't borrow any more money from "Peter" to pay "Paul". Then....you're in big trouble. Filing bankruptcy solves a
lot of these problems. The idea is this.
Hopefully...by filing bankruptcy...you can get rid
of enough debt so that you can live on what you
earn. This is the first step. The second step is
to finish your Chapter 13 plan. The third step is
to earn more money....but without having to use
all of it just to stay current. If you get rid of
enough debt in bankruptcy to really make a
difference....then, and thereafter....if you are
careful....you should be able to start saving
money...especially as you get wage increases or
promotions in your job. Wouldn't that be nice?
(9) Get started re-building your credit: Filing bankruptcy is the first step. In Chapter 13....filing bankruptcy gets rid of certain debts...and lowers payments on others. The second step is to bring your Chapter 13 plan to a successful conclusion. This can take a while...but in the meantime....as long as you make your Chapter 13 payments....at least your creditors are kept under control. The third step...is to start saving some money. Many clients get so much relief from filing Chapter 13 that they are actually able to start saving money while they are still in Chapter 13. These are 3 important steps that need to be taken in order to re-build your credit. Without doubt....if you have gotten to the point where you need to file bankruptcy, your credit is already messed up, maxed out and likely dead. That being the case....the first step in rebuilding credit is to get rid of some debt. To do this....nothing....absolutely nothing..... works better or faster than bankruptcy. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the fastest way....but the second fastest way to get out of debt is Chapter 13. Think about it. Anything is better than trying to pay off debts you can't afford. At the end of your successful Chapter 13 case....all of a sudden, you have less debt. Assuming everything else in your life holds together....you keep your job....you don't get divorced.....there aren't a lot of emergencies....and you get the normal raises and promotions you deserve, then....for the first time in a long time....you can start saving some money. Saving money gives you the necessary down payment for buying new things...and on and on you go in the process of rebuilding your credit. In addition...by getting rid
of some debt ....your debt to income ratio starts
looking better. Over time....you have money in the
bank from saving money on income no longer ravaged
by bills. And then....naturally and
gradually....you start to attract the attention of
more and more willing lenders. And why not? You
are now in the position to handle more credit. At
this point....life is starting to look good again
and you are well on your way to rebuilding good
credit....in no small part because you made a
smart decision to file bankruptcy.
(10) Important Disclaimer. The
bankruptcy laws are extensive and complicated. As
a consequence, most good bankruptcy attorneys do
nothing but bankruptcy. It is a full-time job to
keep up on the bankruptcy laws, exemptions laws,
and procedures....while at the same time serving
all the other needs of our clients. I mention this
because....although all of the information
mentioned before is true, in many....if not
most.... circumstances....(1) Results will vary
depending on your goals, assets, debts, income and
expenses, and (2) Because it was necessary to
oversimplify the information and the conclusions
in order to make important points. The simple
truth is that you cannot become an experienced
bankruptcy attorney or learn enough to become
knowledgeable enough to file your own bankruptcy
case by simply reading the material on this or any
other website. Anyone that would have you believe
otherwise is simply lying to you for their
personal gain....or fooling themselves. The
information on this website is simply meant to
introduce you to important concepts about
bankruptcy and to let you know the truth: That
bankruptcy does NOT work the way you think or the
way you have always been told. The best advice I
can give you is to set up a consultation with the
most experienced bankruptcy attorney you can find.
Most of the time...except...perhaps.... for people
who own and run large...or fairly
large....businesses...you can do so for FREE. My
office...for instance....offers a totally FREE
initial consultation..... so you can learn about
all your rights and all your options....bankruptcy
and otherwise...and so that you can get fast
answers to all your questions about debt and how
to deal with it.
================= /// ================= (1) What does it cost to file under Chapter 13? We can't speak for all attorneys...but generally, subject to certain exceptions....in our office...for purposes of filing cases in the Central District of California....the "up-front" cost for filing Chapter 13 is $200...plus the cost of the filing fee. The filing fee for Chapter 13 is $274. (2) The overall cost of representation in a Chapter 13 case varies from State to State. In California....the cost for the garden-variety Chapter 13 case is set can vary from $3,000 to $4,500 or more depending upon what services are required.
(2) How fast can I get relief? The answer is the same as for Chapter 7. We can't speak for other attorneys....but our answer is this. In most cases...we work as fast you pay us and provide us with the documents and other information necessary to draft the schedules required to file your case. If need be...your case can be filed in as little as a week. In an emergency...if need be....to avoid repossession or to stop a foreclosure....we can free up staff to get a case filed in less than a day.
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