Debt Settlement, Chapter 13, Or Chapter 7: Which Is The Optimal Choice For You?
When economic times are bad, many people have questions about how to deal with their financial problems. Which solution is simplest? Which will cause the least long-term financial damage? Which will cost the least amount of money in the long run? How can you get the answers to these dilemmas? In Wisconsin, a Milwaukee bankruptcy attorney has the answers you need. A skilled Milwaukee bankruptcy lawyer can lead you through the process to your best solution. As an extra added bonus, you will emerge from the process equipped with the knowledge needed to handle your future finances with skill. What are your options when you decide to get help with your financial problems? A competent bankruptcy attorney can present you with the viable options and help you to select the one that will work best for you. This lawyer will suggest three options, debt settlement, Chapter 7, and Chapter 13.
Debt settlement is the easiest, least drastic solution. When you opt for debt settlement, your lawyer can work with you and your creditors to work out a plan for your entire debt total to be paid off. Your creditors would prefer payment to bankruptcy. This gives the lawyer some leverage on your behalf. As the lawyer works with the creditors to negotiate a plan, he or she can present the prepared schedules for bankruptcy as a means of working out the most advantageous plan for you. In some instances, a large payment may be required. If this is a viable possibility for you, the lawyer can work out the details with you.
If debt settlement cannot work for you, the next decision is which type of bankruptcy is best for you. In certain times and in many situations, Chapter 13 is the option for you. The first requirements are a small fee and some classes. The first class is the same one that is provided to people pursuing debt settlement. The second class is the 341 creditor meeting. During this meeting, the meeting normally consists of the lawyer, the debtor, and the bankruptcy trustee. (Creditors do not always attend.) During this meeting, the bankruptcy plans are laid out so that everyone has all the facts. These facts include the reason for the bankruptcy filing and the list of all monies owed. Third is a financial management course. The value of these meetings should be obvious if your true desire is to get a fresh start and handle your money responsibly in the future. The goal of Chapter 13 is that you will repay an agreed-upon portion of all debts.
If the financial problems is extreme then filing for Chapter 13 may not be the best choice for you. In such cases, Chapter 7 will be the answer. For this option, the same meetings and classes must also be attended. The outstanding characteristic of Chapter 7 is that the debts are not paid back—they are wiped clean. Under this plan, you are allowed to retain assets such as your home, car and personal property as long as their value does not exceed the bankruptcy exemptions that you are allowed to take. On the other hand, you are not able to escape certain debts, some of which include taxes owed to the IRS or state, student loans, alimony, and maintenance or support payments.