The Last Bankruptcy Entry You’ll Ever Need

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Business In The BK Lounge

So you're in debt. Can't see the bills for the past due notices. Collection agents ring the phone day and night. Bankruptcy protection seems the obvious choice, but it's actually much trickier to declare than most borrowers would ever imagine. Pretty much everyone needs a lawyer these days before they even consider filing Chapter 7 or 13, but bankruptcy attorneys charge a pretty penny for even the initial consultation - and, oddly enough, they don't take credit.

It can be endlessly boring for most people to try and parse the scads of documents available, and, even if they make it through all pages, the legalese jargon requires a translator. You'd think somebody would just explain what information we actually need to know.


Stands to reason that a bunch of consumers are in the same boat - investigating options and burying themselves in research. Here, we're just looking to illustrate the procedures and give some advice throughout. Just as the bankruptcy laws continue to evolve, we're continuing to improve this page and invite all readers to share their own opinions or experiences.

Personal Bankruptcy Explained 

How Bankruptcy Works And Why You Should Care

Basically, bankruptcy protection's a safety net for borrowers with debts no honest man can pay. Whenever the bills pile up, our government provided us with bankruptcy as a last resort.

Everything's based on a couple of different aspects like borrowers' earnings or their recent history. The Chapter 7 plan eliminates debt (and gets rid of assets) while Chapter 13 offers an easier schedule for repayment

Post-Bankruptcy Loans - Do They Exist? 

Anybody that's had difficulties with credit availability or troubles meeting their bill schedules has probably thought about the new industries promising debt relief .  You've seen the commercials?  Seems nice, yes?  Sudden elimination of credit balances overseen by well-groomed counselors?  The reality isn't quite so pretty.  Nothing's ever changed overnight, and, regardless of advertised guarantees, consumers too often return to their credit counselors only to discover failure's written in to the fine print of their contract.  Sometimes, they find the company's vanished altogether.


Credit problems can still be dealt with by borrowers themselves, but the solutions require discipline, time, and a mastery of legal arcane.  Helpful material may be available on-line or provided by debt professionals that will explain the importance of credit reports, how best to improve credit scores, and the methods used when building a foundation of good credit.  Consultation with specialists - especially debt settlement counselors offering free initial meetings - should help sort things out.

How Credit Reports Work And Why You Should Care. 

Lenders have to think about several different aspects of a borrower's finances before approving any loans, but the majority of creditors depend largely upon credit scores and a history of payment schedules when considering any applicant's viability. In order to find out the potential borrower's past credit history, lenders can instantly check with the three main credit bureaus and print out a report. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion collect data about every borrower and, for a price, show that information to creditors in order to better analyze the borrower's potential for speedy repayment. At the same time, the credit report also mentions the applicant's address, employers, and anything (bankruptcies, say) stored within public records.
Most Americans' credit reports feature credit card payments as well as those payments made upon secured loans or any other installment account. These payments are then entered into the FICO scoring system, an eventual number (between 350 and 800) is calculated, and, from that number, credit analysts gauge whether or not the borrower should be trusted.
Past payment schedule that shows payments made on time to lenders is the most important element when trying to attain further credit. Certain lenders won't risk offering credit to those borrowers who haven't yet achieved any credit history, and notations of bankruptcy, foreclosure, repossession, liens, judgments, or thirty (or sixty, or ninety) day lates generally preclude future credit opportunities. For borrowers that find themselves in such a situation, take care not to blindly follow commercials boasting immediate approval of credit accounts regardless of payment history or credit scores. Any trustworthy lender should base their approval process upon the borrower's credit report. The availability of credit waits upon the creditor's whim, of course. No borrower can ever be sure of eventual loans.

Helpful Links 

These sites provide you with more information and help on bankruptcy and debt settlement
Bankruptcy Questions
Learn more about bankruptcy

More Resources on Amazon 

Here are some more resources that can help you understand bankruptcy

The New Bankruptcy: Will It Work for You? (2nd edition)

Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

Bankruptcy And Debtor/creditor: Examples And Explanations (Examples & Explanations)

Amazon Price: $39.55 (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

2008 U.S. Bankruptcy Code & Rules Booklet

Amazon Price: $25.00 (as of 07/11/2009) Buy Now

Blog on Debt and Bankruptcy 

Informative blog on debt and bankruptcy

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creditrepairservices wrote...

GREAT article. Bankruptcy is an often misunderstood debt relief practice that isn't the best solution for 80% of the debtors out there. Take the time to research bankruptcy alternatives, like Debt Settlement, before you commit to a bankruptcy solution.

ReplyPosted July 10, 2008

by Cole_C

Hi, my name is Cole. I've been involved in the financial planning field for many years. I have both professional and personal experience with debt and... (more)

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