Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Information

The following Chapter 7 bankruptcy information may help if you are going to be filing for bankruptcy.  You might be, or be forced to be, filing under Chapter 7. If you are a business, this means that the business is going to be ceasing operations and having a Chapter 7 Trustee appointed right away, who will sell all of the assets and distribute the money to the creditors.

It might or might not mean that the people who work for you will lose their jobs. Sometimes, when a company is sold off, it is kept intact or partially intact, and business might proceed as usual, simply with a different person in charge.

Chapter 7 can also be filed by an individual. This is going to mean that you can keep certain property that is exempt. However, some liens, such as real estate mortgages, are going to be kept intact. Any assets that are not exempt are going to be sold off by the trustee in order to pay back the creditors.

This is going to mean that the other types of unsecured debts that you have will be canceled. Even though most other types of unsecured debt are canceled, there are some that you are still going to have to be responsible for. This includes child support, most taxes, most student loans and any fines or restitutions that you are responsible for regarding any crime you might have committed.

If you file for bankruptcy, you are going to be able to start again because most of your debts will have been canceled. Of course, anything that you have of any value will have been sold, so you are going to have to start over when it comes to that as well. Another disadvantage is that you are going to have a record of the bankruptcy on your credit report for 10 years. It might mean that you aren't able to get loans or other types of credit, but this effect could happen just as easily with high debts.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy information offers some "food for thought" before filing Chapter 7. There are some cases in which you can avoid being forced to file on the grounds that it is abusive. You might be able to opt for Chapter 13 instead, which means you can pay off all or some of your debts if you have more time, and if this happens you won't have to have your property and assets sold off. 

However, if you do declare Chapter 7 bankruptcy, here is how it will play out:

First, your declaration officially begins when you sign the paperwork and file the proper documents with a bankruptcy court. In most states, you have to finish a counseling course regarding bankruptcy so that you can be sure this is the correct option for you. This can be done no longer than six months before file your paperwork.

Upon filing, your wages will no longer be garnished and your creditors can no longer proceed with legal actions against you or, in most cases, even call you regarding your debt. The court will contact your creditors.

Next, you must meet with your creditors in what is called the 341 meeting. Creditors may or may not choose to attend, but you must be there. A trustee will be assigned to your case and presides. This meeting will typically only last five minutes, and creditors usually do not show up.

Afterwards, your trustee will sell any of your possessions that are nonexempt. Creditors have up to 90 days to then file claims. A bankruptcy lawyer will be assigned to help you through this process.

After the 90 days are over, or after all of your creditor have files their claims (whichever comes first), you will be discharged and all of your debts will be written off, except certain exceptions, like student loans and child support payments. Other debts that cannot be wiped clean from your slate include alimony obligations and taxes.

Be aware that most of your possessions can be sold when you file for bankruptcy and will be sold rather quickly. In many cases, it is better to sell them yourself for more money before you declare bankruptcy and use them to help pay off debts. If you can do this effectively, you might not have to declare bankruptcy at all.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy information provides ideas for options that may enable you to avoid bankruptcy. You have choices, and debt counselors can help you figure out a financial plan that is right for you.