How do you successfully file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Georgia? With an attorney’s help is the best way.
Why? Filing any form of bankruptcy requires a lot of work. Not only do you need someone to submit all the documentation, but you also need someone to handle the in court case, help you decide your options, and educate you on the process.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy, unlike Chapter 7, is a lengthy process. Chapter 13 typically takes 3-5 years before it’s over. Filing under Chapter 7 takes a matter of months.
What is Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
Chapter 13 bankruptcy is more common than ever because of new bankruptcy laws, as if you have a median income too high–over about $40,691 in Georgia for a single filer–you are not eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Many, however, want Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a debt repayment plan which buys you time to pay back major bills. For example, if you are behind on your mortgage payments, falling into credit card debt, and your options of paying them in the short term are dismal, Chapter 13 can help. This is where the length of the process is advantageous. The reason Chapter 13 takes 3-5 years is that’s the time allotted to you to pay back outstanding debts.
Advantages of Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Since residents of Georgia sometimes make too much money to file Chapter 7, it’s clearly important to know why Chapter 13 bankruptcy is still a good option. Say you are behind on your bills, you make over $41,00 a year as a single resident of Georgia, creditors are harassing you, and you fear home foreclosure. Your best option may be to file for Chapter 13, mainly because you can buy time to pay back outstanding bills, save your home, stop any wage garnishments, and effectively stop creditor harassment of all kinds.
Hiring a Georgia Bankruptcy Attorney
Since these laws change and can get complex, it’s clearly just as important in Georgia Chapter 13 to hire an attorney as Georgia Chapter 7. A professional attorney can see what you’re eligible for, tell you your best options, help you save your home from foreclosure, stop all creditor harassment, and give you the peace of mind of being able to pay bills.
If you’ve never been in court, you might fear standing in front of a judge and pleading your case. While Chapter 13 you must be present, with a bankruptcy attorney working with you, what you’re needed to do is minor.
Clearly, filing bankruptcy is a big step. And just as you would not handle a major lawsuit against you alone, you also should hire a professional Georgia bankruptcy attorney for help. This could impact your finances for the rest of your life.
