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Fall River MA:
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Fall River MA:
508-673-9500
Taunton MA:
508-821-7979
New Bedford MA:
508-993-6700
LOW COST!Bankruptcy is a legal method of eliminating debts or providing a method of controlling debts for debt-oppressed people and businesses. It allows people to get a fresh start in life. In many cases, bankruptcy means eliminating the debts you owe to your creditors and receiving protection from the Bankruptcy Court against your creditors. Primarily, there are two forms of personal bankruptcy available, Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
The vast majority of people who file for bankruptcy get all or most of their debts discharged (wiped out) without giving up any of their property. Both the Federal and State laws provide exemptions for your property such as homes, household goods and furnishings, automobiles and personal belongings which you may keep despite the bankruptcy. Essentially, bankruptcy is designed to give you a fresh start in life.
Although the bankruptcy filing will technically appear on your credit for up to 10 years, often by making payments on time subsequent to your bankruptcy you can begin rebuilding your credit very soon afterwards. Many people have bad credit when they file for bankruptcy and the bankruptcy ironically may actually help because eliminating your debts greatly improves your debt to income ratio which is a major factor creditors use in determining your credit worthiness. In fact, most former clients report receiving credit cards within weeks after the discharge and are able to buy homes and cars relatively soon afterwards. By all accounts, bankruptcy does not have the stigma attached to it that it once did.
Yes, when you file bankruptcy the Federal Law imposes an "automatic stay" which stops your creditors from taking any action to collect debts. This includes court judgments, lawsuits, and wage attachments against you.
This is commonly referred to as "straight bankruptcy" and is the most commonly form of bankruptcy filed. In the majority of cases it is used by individuals who have debts that they are unable to pay, whether it is credit cards, medical bills, loans, etc., and whose assets are fully protected. Commonly, people are allowed to discharge their unsecured debts and keep their home, automobile, possessions and belongings.
In a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, the debtor proposes a 3 to 5 year repayment plan to the creditors offering to pay all or part of their debts from the debtor's future income. The monthly amount to be paid back is usually determined by the debtor's monthly disposable income after all reasonable living expenses. To file under Chapter 13 you must usually have a regular source of income and some disposable income.
There are several situations where a Chapter 13 is a better alternative to Chapter 7. Commonly, people file Chapter 13 when they are behind on their mortgage or when they are behind on a mortgage and they are trying to avoid foreclosure to save their home. A Chapter 13 Bankruptcy allows you to catch up on the overdue payments over time and reinstate the original loan agreement. Also, a Chapter 13 is normally used for people who have too much income to file a Chapter 7 or have the kind of debt that is not dischargeable in a Chapter 7 (for example: child support and certain taxes). You should schedule a free consultation to see which alternative is best for you.
Not unless you tell them or they go out of their way to search the public records. Bankruptcy filings are not normally published in the newspaper and therefore the only people who find out are the creditors whose debts you have listed on the petition.
For the most part, the answer is no. For specific property (usually secured property) such as car loans and home loans that you plan to keep you should continue making the regular monthly payments on time. Also, for day to day expenses like rent and utilities you should continue making the payments. You should stop making payments on the other old debts incurred prior to the bankruptcy such as credit cards.
For a typical Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, about 90 days. For a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case, anywhere from 3 to 5 years.
No, if your employer finds out about your bankruptcy it is against federal law to discriminate against someone for filing bankruptcy.
Usually within a couple of weeks of the filing the Bankruptcy Court Clerk mails out a notice to all of your creditors. Until the creditors receive notice, you may tell your creditors that you have filed, give them the case number, the attorney's name and telephone number and they must stop contacting by telephone and by mail. Usually, once the bankruptcy is filed, that is the last you will hear from the creditors.
Yes! Bankrutpcy is still an available option and tool for most if not all people who are honest and overwhelmed by debts and or facing foreclosure. The new laws are very complex and it is very important that you consult with a qualified bankruptcy lawyer.
Anyone who lives in or does business in the United States can file for bankruptcy relief.
Yes you can still file bankruptcy. Whether you were simply living beyond your means and the interest rates and minimum payments became overwheling or if some unforseen circumstances in your life caused your inability to pay you may still file for bankruptcy and get a fresh start.
In Massachusetts, your primary residence (home) may be protected from your creditors by filing a Declaration of Homstead. It is very important that you consult with a Massachusetts bankruptcy attorney before filing for bankruptcy to determine the status of your homestead exemption. If you do not have a Declaration of Homestead on your property, we will draft one for you.
Yes. Generally, if a creditor files a lien against your property and that property is exempt, you may avoid and eliminate the lien. However, not all liens may be avoided such as child support liens and tax liens. A qualifed bankruptcy attorney can evaluate this for you.
We help people file bankruptcy in Massachusetts and particularly Southeastern Mass., including Fall River, Seekonk, Swansea, Somerset, Westport, New Bedford, North Dartmouth, South Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Acushnet, Wareham, Taunton, Middleboro, Lakeville, Dighton, North Dighton, Raynham, Norton, Attleboro and North Attleboro.
For information about filing for bankruptcy in Rhode Island, please contact bankruptcy Attorney John Simonian at 401-941-4800 or at www.law-ri.com.