2010 June | Georgia Debt Law ::. Bankruptcy Blog

Unsecured Debt and Filing Atlanta Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Secured debt is money you owe with assets such as your home and car. A mortgage would be a secured debt, because the home would be like collateral to be taken if you fall behind in payments. Unsecured debt, on the other hand, is actually debt with no collateral. Though creditors can still take collections against you, sometimes get rights to your property, the debt is different. Unsecured debt can be credit card debt, medical bills, and deficiencies after a foreclosure.

One of the best ways to eliminate unsecured debt is Chapter 7 bankruptcy. For Atlanta residents, Chapter 7 has many advantages. You can halt all collection efforts. You can eliminate debts you simply cannot afford. If you fear assets may be taken or other legal action will ensue, you can be protected under law. There are some disadvantages too. This will be a mark on your record for 10 years. You won’t be able to file again for 8 years (or 6 years if you filed Chapter 13 first). Some assets by law can be liquidated in order to pay back some of these debts; assets like a home and car are rarely included, but it happens.

Atlanta Chapter 7 bankruptcy isn’t always your best option. Sometimes filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy has more advantages. As long as your unsecured and unsecured debts are not too high, you are eligible to file, where you may not be eligible for Chapter 7 if you make too much money. If you have a lot of assets, if you’re home is in danger of foreclosure, you can keep these assets and pay debts in manageable installments.

How does Chapter 7 liquidate assets?
You will be charged with a Georgia bankruptcy trustee who will oversee your case. This trustee has the power to sell assets. However, few will lose anything: the great majority of Chapter 7 filers lose no assets. So don’t be afraid of losing your home and car. By following the laws and hiring an Atlanta bankruptcy attorney, you can save assets and discharge debt.

Will all unsecured debt be discharged?
No, the big three debts most people have are credit card, medical, and mortgage. These debts can technically be discharged, though you may lose the home if you do not pay on it. Say you have $20,000 in credit card debt; in this case, filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy can discharge these debts in a matter of months. Or say you have $50,000 in medical bills; once again, filing Chapter 7 can eliminate these debts.

Debts you can’t discharge include alimony, child support, and back taxes. These are unsecured debts, but by law you have to pay them.

How much does it cost?
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is very reasonable for Atlanta residents looking to eliminate debts. You pay only $299 to file with the court. You should also hire a lawyer. A lawyer will cost more, from $1,000 to $2,500 depending on the time involved for your case.

Why a Lawyer?
There are hundreds of Atlanta bankruptcy lawyers who can help you, but not all are equally experienced and have fair prices. You need a professional, experienced lawyer who will walk you through this process. A lawyer actually saves you time and money, allowing you to discharge the most debt in a timely manner.

Filed under: Bankruptcy Information — Tags: Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney, Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyer, Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Creditor, discharge debt, Foreclosure, Liquidation, Qualify For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Unsecured debt — jmalewitz @ 1:09 pm

Creditors and Filing Georgia Bankruptcy

By nature, creditors are nice when paid, but once you start missing payments, the relationship can go downhill. Of course, it makes sense that creditors want their money, just like you want your money from an employer. However, many creditors and debt collection agencies treat you inappropriately. It’s something you deserve to be angry about if they’re calling you night and day, being rude, and generally ruining your day.

Is this really that big of a problem? Yes, creditor harassment is a very big problem. In fact, 2009 saw creditor harassment not only continuing, but on the rise. Even in 2010 creditor harassment is still a major problem. Studies pointed out that debt collection agencies and creditors in general caused more complaints in 2009 than in 2008. This is common during tough economies, you might think, but it doesn’t make it any better. For one, creditor harassment to most extents can be illegal. There are tens of thousands of complaints to the Federal Trade Commission every year. For example, in just the first half of 2009, the Federal Trade Commission Reported 45,000 complaints about debt collection agency practices, a significant increase over the first half of 2008.

What are creditors doing to cause complaints? It may seem obvious – calling people like you night and day. Contacting your work. Contacting outside family members. Calling you into the night or very early in the morning. Some are even contacting consumers asking for payments on things they never bought. Still more are saying people owe more money than they really do. In the worst of cases, creditors are acting like some form of government or law enforcement agency, threatening seizure of assets like homes and cars if no payment is made.

So there are a lot of reasons for complaint. What can you do? If you’ve truly fallen behind in debts, you may think paying them gets creditors off your back. In fact, you may be paying on the wrong debts or nonexistent debts. You will never be arrested for debts, unless a court orders it (which is quite rare). If they threaten to take your wages, it’s usually beyond their ability to do so unless they win in court against you. If they threaten to take your home, there is some truth in this statement. Technically, creditors can take you to court and obtain a lien on your property; that’s if they win in court; chances of that are slim.

You can stop creditor harassment in a variety of ways. If you really have a lot of debt, filing Georgia bankruptcy is one move to make. But don’t do it just because you have creditors harassing you. If that’s the case, you can write the creditor a letter asking them to stop contacting you; by law they must agree to this. Bankruptcy has many advantages, and stopping creditor harassment is one. Creditors will have no reason to call you anymore once the courts are involved; if they continue to call you, refer them to your lawyer.

Creditor harassment works because they strike fear in you. Take back control of your life. If you’re unsure of your rights, contact a lawyer.

Filed under: Bankruptcy Information, Bankruptcy News — Tags: Chapter 13 Title 11 United States Code, Chapter 13 bankruptcy Atlanta, Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Georgia, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Chapter 7 bankruptcy Atlanta, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Atlanta, creditor harassment, creditor laws, Foreclosure, handling creditors, handling debt collection agencis — jmalewitz @ 1:57 pm

Major Benefits of Atlanta Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Filing bankruptcy in Georgia is unfortunately a bitter reality. Georgia has been in the top 5 for bankruptcies since the mortgage crisis began. What happened was sub prime mortgages, where people could no longer afford to pay on homes they likely should not have ever bought, forced many to start filing for help. Because of this, the economy was hurt, and there have been millions of bankruptcies since 2006.

There are some basic statistics on who’s filing for bankruptcy. The average filer is about 38, about half who file are couples, women file alone more than men, filers are actually better educated than most others, the majority have lost a job, and almost half have had major health problems. The numbers point out this isn’t only happening to one group, but to many. Both single men and women are filing, but a small percentage more are single women. Though job loss is a prime reason in many cases, the key result of many Chapter 7 bankruptcies in Atlanta and Georgia is a serious health problem which leads to medical bills.

That may all be a lot to swallow. Unfortunately, we are not quite through all of it, but in Georgia and other states jobs are starting to be created. More jobs mean more income which in turn means a better economy. Still, filing for bankruptcy is far from giving up. In fact, it’s about stepping up, deciding you want to rebuild, and taking the advantages.

What are the main advantages of Chapter 7 bankruptcy?

Medical Bills
If you got sick or someone you love got hurt, and you had no insurance, it’s very common to have tens of thousands in medical bills. Many have no medical coverage, and going to the emergency room or staying in a hospital for weeks can empty your checking account quickly. Chapter 7 bankruptcy can eliminate this debt in a matter of months.

Credit Card Bills
Just like medical bills, credit card debt can be discharged with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Many Atlanta residents had no problem with credit card payments until they lost jobs or were hurt. If you owe more money than you can ever pay, Chapter 7 bankruptcy is very smart.

Mortgage Debt
The bad news is you may lose your home in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The good news is that you can either negotiate to keep it or file for bankruptcy and discharge any debt you have. If you discharge the debt, you will likely lose the home and have to find a new residence. You do get some time before that happens. If you decide you want to file bankruptcy and keep your house, you can negotiate with the creditor and make payments on it.

No Job
If you have no job, Chapter 7 bankruptcy is very smart. You have little to no income coming in, so you rarely can pay on debts. Chapter 7 can discharge them and give you a fresh start. When you start working again, your paychecks can be used for something other than credit, medical, and mortgage debt.

It’s Cheap
Finally, it costs you a fraction of the amount for an Atlanta Chapter 7 bankruptcy than your debts actually are. You hire an experienced lawyer, and that does cost you money. You need an experienced bankruptcy lawyer who can make your case for Chapter 7 case successful. They cost about $1,000 to $2,000. Then you pay a court fee of $299. That’s it. You can have $50,000 in debt and be free of it for a fraction.

Filed under: Bankruptcy News, Economic News — Tags: Atlanta Bankruptcy, Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney, Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyer, Atlanta Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney, Atlanta foreclosure, Chapter 7 bankruptcy Atlanta, Georgia bankruptcy — jmalewitz @ 2:48 pm

Tips on Atlanta Joint Bankruptcy

Joint bankruptcy is an important subject because of the major differences with individual bankruptcy, and that so many couples in Georgia have questions on whether joint bankruptcy is right for them and their families. If that sounds like you – if you’re on the fence about joint bankruptcy – this post can help.

What is individual bankruptcy?
Individual bankruptcy, still important to consider even if you and your spouse want joint bankruptcy, is the most common form. It’s the basic form of bankruptcy you feel as a single person, either with Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. In most cases, debt and/or foreclosure are the key reasons for filing. For Atlanta residents with higher than average incomes, filing under Chapter 13 is becoming more common as Chapter 7 has new rules for eligibility based on income.

What is joint bankruptcy?
Joint bankruptcy is simply you and your spouse filing together. You can file either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. In some cases you are not eligible for bankruptcy, or at least joint filing. If you or your spouse filed for individual bankruptcy a few years ago, that person will not be eligible to file again. You need to wait 7 years between bankruptcies, and you or your spouse will have to file individually. Also, the median income for Georgia residents determines Chapter 7 eligibility. If you make too much money for a family your size, even if it’s just the two of you, you won’t be eligible. If on the other hand you have hundreds of thousands in secured and unsecured debt, you may not be eligible for Chapter 13.

What differences are there?
With joint bankruptcy, the process can be much easier than filing separately. You hire one lawyer, pay one fee to him or her, pay one fee to the court instead of two, and you don’t have to worry about you or your spouse being stuck with debts if only one files. Individual bankruptcy is not necessarily bad; it just saves time and some money if you file together. In some cases, filing together is not an option.

Why file Atlanta joint bankruptcy?
Filing together has some major pluses, as just pointed out. What we didn’t mention was the documentation. Every bankruptcy, no matter if it’s Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, takes time to file for. If you can combine your documents, putting both your bankruptcies together, you can save time. That may seem minor. You can also save $299 for filing Chapter 7 and $274 for filing Chapter 13; small, but it’s money. You will appear in Georgia bankruptcy court together. And you do not have to worry about your spouse who didn’t file being harassed to pay your debts (or the other way around).

If you’re still unsure if filing jointly is smart, contact an Atlanta bankruptcy attorney today.

Filed under: Bankruptcy Information — Tags: Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney, Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyer, Atlanta Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney, Atlanta foreclosure, atlanta joint bankruptcy, filing joint bankruptcy, Foreclosure, Georgia bankruptcy, Georgia bankruptcy lawyer, georgia bankruptcy tips, Liquidation, tips on joint bankruptcy — jmalewitz @ 2:49 pm

Before You File Georgia Chapter 13, Read This

Why not file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy instead of Chapter 13? Before you start making decisions, there are some key points you need to know. First, let’s talk eligibility for Georgia filers.

Bankruptcy Eligibility
For Chapter 7 filers, you have to be below the median income for Georgia. For Chapter 13 filers, it’s uniform: your secured debts cannot exceed $1,010,650 and your unsecured debts must be lower than $336,900. Secured debts are items such as your home and car, where the creditor can take if no payment has been made. Unsecured debts are different in that the creditor has no leverage on you via assets, such as with a credit card or medical bills.

Changes in the Bankruptcy Code several years ago instituted new eligibility requirements, which tend to change based on income and debts. The numbers for Chapter 13 will change again in a few years, as that’s how it works. The changes have made it more difficult to file Chapter 7, making Chapter 13 more common than before.

Why File Chapter 7?
For Georgia residents with little to no income and minor assets, Chapter 7 is much better. It can discharge credit and medical debts of high amounts. If your problem is you don’t have enough money and that may not change – perhaps because of a job loss – you are likely eligible for Chapter 7. The good news here is you often lose nothing, though your credit will be hurt for several years and if you intend to buy a new home or car soon you may have some trouble.

Why Chapter 13?
Georgia residents who have an income, perhaps a home and car, can utilize Chapter 13 bankruptcy in a different way. For one, you pay back some if not all the debts, but you also gain some benefits. It’s been talked about quite often on the Georgia Debt Law blog, and it should be repeated: Chapter 13 is your best option to avoid foreclosure, keep all your assets, and sometimes to avoid wage garnishments. If you file Chapter 7, your assets can technically be liquidated, though that’s not common. But if you have an expensive home you’ve been paying on for 10 years, you may want to avoid losing it. In this and similar cases, Chapter 13 is very smart.

Making the Decision
Bankruptcy isn’t always your best option, but at the least you can sit down and talk with professional counsel about all your options. You may be able to pay these debts yourself. However, if you fear medical or credit card bills will ruin you, hiring a lawyer for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is smart. If you fear home foreclosure, hiring a bankruptcy lawyer to help with Chapter 13 can save it.

Before you file bankruptcy, the best choice you can make is hire a professional Georgia bankruptcy lawyer.

Filed under: Bankruptcy Information — Tags: advantages of chapter 13 bankruptcy, Creditor, filing chapter 13, filing chapter 7, Georgia bankruptcy, Georgia bankruptcy attorney, Georgia bankruptcy law, Georgia bankruptcy lawyer, Liquidation, qualify for chapter 13 bankruptcy, Unsecured debt, why file chapter 13 — jmalewitz @ 8:59 pm

Why You Shouldn’t Fear Georgia Bankruptcy Court

The process for Georgia bankruptcy court is quite simple, and easy if you have an experienced bankruptcy lawyer. We went over it in a previous post, on “What Happens in Georgia Bankruptcy Court,” but it bears further consideration as many filers are scared of what may happen, or better, what may go wrong in court. You will be called irresponsible, a burden, a failure … well, maybe not that bad, but you get the point.

In reality, many myths abound about what really happens in any bankruptcy court, no matter the state. Let’s focus on the myths first, then we’ll go over why fear is unnecessary.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Myths

You will lose your home right? The fact is, most Georgia bankruptcy filers lose absolutely nothing. As proof, you can look over the government information on bankruptcy. You will technically lose assets which your trustee sells to pay your debtors; however, if you have the means, you can keep all your assets by setting up a separate agreement with your trustee to pay for them. Again, most all filers lose nothing, even with homes and cars included.

More myths: the process will take forever, you will be dragged through the courts, and you’ll never be able to get a loan again. Actually, the process takes months, you rarely even appear in court and if so briefly, and if everyone who filed bankruptcy could never get a loan, there would be some big problems for the economy.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Myths

Chapter 13 is used less in Georgia, but there are still myths about it. First, it should be made clear how you avoid foreclosure. If you’ve read any previous posts, you might have noticed how Chapter 13 can save your home from foreclosure. The side note after that is you can stop foreclosure before the process starts, not after. That’s on the downside. On the good side, in this form of bankruptcy you are paying on debts over a longer period so you can afford them, and you lose nothing.

Lawyer Myths

Yes, lawyers often make a high wage, but the best Georgia bankruptcy lawyers save you time and money, they do not take it from you. If you hire the right one, myths about overcharging, having a less experienced lawyer handle your case, or just treating you like a number will be gone.

What Happens in Court

Fear can be left at the door. Most bankruptcies are quick. If you hire an attorney, he or she will make it seem quick. For Chapter 7, you will rarely appear in court, your paperwork will be gone over, and you’re done. For Chapter 13, you do appear in court, but the process is still quite simple.

The Benefits of Filing

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is popular because it allows you to discharge quite a large amount of your debt. If you have a huge medical bill because you lost your insurance for a month, as an example, a bankruptcy can discharge this. And we mentioned that Chapter 13 has the bonus of keeping your home; if you’ve spent years paying on it, that’s likely a welcome benefit.

Filed under: Bankruptcy Information — Tags: Chapter 13 Title 11 United States Code, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Georgia bankruptcy, Georgia bankruptcy attorney, Georgia bankruptcy law, Georgia bankruptcy lawyer, myths of bankruptcy — jmalewitz @ 3:03 pm

Options to File Bankruptcy In Atlanta Georgia

You have many options when it comes to bankruptcy – which form of personal bankruptcy, how to handle creditors, how to handle debt not discharged or paid, and perhaps often ignored but still important, what bankruptcy lawyer to hire. This blog guide gives you the key options for filing bankruptcy in Atlanta, Georgia.

What Form?
Well, we go over the forms of bankruptcy often on this blog, but if you’re new to Georgia Debt Law, you may wonder exactly what your options are. You have Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Each form has different positives and negatives, which an experienced Atlanta bankruptcy attorney can help you with.

Chapter 7 is used over 75% of the time by Atlanta residents; it discharges major debts such as credit and medical debt. Chapter 13 is your only other option, but it’s benefits can be supreme – save your home from foreclosure and keep your other assets.

No matter what you choose, you may wonder how creditors should be handled.

Creditors Do What?
Technically, after you file bankruptcy creditors have no more reason to contact you. In some cases, they might appeal your bankruptcy, still hoping to get their money. Most of the time these attempts fail, but be mindful if the appeal is made. You can, even before bankruptcy, write letters to your creditors asking them to stop contacting you. By law they have to. If you file, and they continue to call, refer them to your Atlanta bankruptcy lawyer.

What Debts are Discharged?
In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the biggest debts discharged are credit card, medical, and mortgage debt. Some debts cannot be discharged, including alimony, child support, and back taxes.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is different, as you’re only discharged from the debts after your debt repayment plan is finished.

What Lawyer Should You Hire?
You want to file Atlanta bankruptcy, but when it comes to lawyers experienced in Georgia law, you’re just out of options. Hiring a lawyer is neither a race to find the first one nor the search for the cheapest. There are many experienced Atlanta bankruptcy lawyers who show value, because, after all, by doing this you’re saving far more money and assets than you lose.

Yes, hiring an experienced lawyer can be hard. You have many options in Atlanta. You do likely have a budget – most bankruptcy lawyers charge flat rates for helping you file successfully. Query 5-10, compare rates and experience, and give one a try.

Filed under: Bankruptcy Information — Tags: Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney, Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyer, Atlanta Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney, Atlanta foreclosure, Chapter 13 bankruptcy Atlanta, Chapter 7 bankruptcy Atlanta, Creditor, Georgia bankruptcy — jmalewitz @ 2:38 pm

Georgia Foreclosure Process Differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13

Georgia bankruptcy can be a complex process, which is quite often why some appeal for the experienced help of an attorney. There are some things you simply have to decide your own – namely, if bankruptcy is right for you. For home owners, there is this big burden on your shoulders called a mortgage, and a fear of that old enemy foreclosure. This blog post won’t say whether to choose Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, but what it will do is guide you through the key differences when it comes to foreclosure. If you want to save your home, or get out while you can, this guide is for you.

The Discharge
Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharges debt. That’s the most simple way to describe it. And remember that major debts included are your mortgage. What any personal bankruptcy will do is put into place an immediate “automatic stay” on your home. It will be the same with your money, and your other assets. You can’t do much, your debtors really can’t do much either. If your home is in the foreclosure process, the automatic stay delays it. A creditor can appeal to the court to let the foreclosure continue. In this case, you have a 1-2 months to stay at your home until the foreclosure makes you leave. It may seem odd that you have some benefit here – free rent for a few weeks – but really it buys you just enough time to get in somewhere else.

On the other hand, if your home isn’t in foreclosure, you have more options. You can technically keep the home in many cases. Rarely do Chapter 7 filers lose assets. It’s up to the trustee, court appointed to liquidate your assets, and the law on what can be sold. In many cases, you can negotiate directly with your trustee to keep certain assets, such as your home or car.

The Hard Work Option
Chapter 13 bankruptcy for Georgia residents is quite different, and somewhat more effective to stop a foreclosure, but less common. Here again the judge will put an automatic stay on your home. As long as your lender has not put a foreclosure in the works, you can keep your home in most all cases. What happens is the court halts any further foreclosure, you are able to create a debt repayment plan, and with this plan you can pay an affordable rate on the home and your other debts. While you still have to pay, you have 3-5 years and you keep all assets. Chapter 7 is sometimes called the “wipe out,” Chapter 13 the “work-out”, for obvious reasons.

Bankruptcy is not for every situation. Just because you fear losing assets does not mean you should file. However, it’s a very good option to file Chapter 7 if you cannot afford to pay back debt, and Chapter 13 is smart if you want to stop a foreclosure before it begins. While not for everyone, each have immense benefits when it comes to saving money and assets.

Filed under: Bankruptcy Information — Tags: advantages of foreclosure, Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney, Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyer, Chapter 13 Title 11 United States Code, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Foreclosure, Georgia bankruptcy, Liquidation — jmalewitz @ 12:21 pm

Downfalls of Bankruptcy Alternatives

Bankruptcy is clearly not for everyone, but sometimes the alternatives to filing have too many downsides. Instead of dong nothing, working with debt counseling agencies, or stopping creditor harassment yourself, you should be aware of the benefits of filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Advantages of Chapter 7
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is also not for everyone, but it’s your best option in certain cases. If your problem is high debts you simply cannot pay back, you can discharge most common debts. This includes the big 3: medical debt, credit card debt, and mortgage debt. Also, you can stop creditor harassment, negotiate with your trustee to keep certain assets, and get a fresh start.

Advantages of Chapter 13
Chapter 13 bankruptcy is used about 25% of the time, while Chapter 7 gets the majority at 75%. Why? This is because you don’t discharge debts with Chapter 13; you pay back all debts. However, you also get to keep all your possessions. Technically, you may lose your home via Chapter 7, while Chapter 13 can effectively stop a foreclosure. If you discharge mortgage debt with Chapter 7, you can lose the home, but with Chapter 13 you are allowed to make payments you can afford.

Now let’s go over the downfalls of the alternatives to filing bankruptcy.

Stop Creditor Harassment
There are laws in place where you can stop creditor harassment without filing bankruptcy. If you only want to stop the harassment, writing a letter to your creditors asking them to stop contacting you can stop the harassment. However, you are still liable for all these debts. The point is you stop the harassment, but you still have all these debts and may run into foreclosure, repossession, and credit problems.

Negotiate With Creditors
You can also work with creditors yourself. Some may be willing to renegotiate your payments. You may be able to sell some assets to pay them. If you have no income coming in, however, this just won’t work. If you cannot afford these debts, negotiating with creditors may be next to impossible. Chapter 7 is a better alternative.

Debt Repayment Plan
There are many agencies out there who can help you negotiate with creditors if you’re uncomfortable with negotiating. The problem again is you may not be able to negotiate at all; some creditors simply won’t respond. Other times, you won’t be able to afford the payments, even lowered.

Debt Counseling
This alternative to bankruptcy, specifically Chapter 13, has the most downfalls. Many go into debt counseling thinking it will solve their problems. It works much like Chapter 13 bankruptcy, in that you create a plan where you can pay off debts. The difference is, if you fail to make just one payment, your creditor can stop the plan. With Chapter 13, you are protected by law from such an event.

Bankruptcy sometimes sounds like a total life change. Yet in most cases you lose nothing. Yes, it stays on your credit report, sometimes you can handle creditors without it, but by law Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy protect you far more.

Filed under: Bankruptcy Information — Tags: Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney, Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyer, Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Title 11 United States Code, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Foreclosure, Georgia bankruptcy, Georgia bankruptcy law, Georgia bankruptcy trustee, improving credit score, Liquidation — jmalewitz @ 12:34 pm

How Much is Your Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney Worth?

Your Atlanta bankruptcy attorney can be worth far more than you pay them, especially if you hire the right one. Why are time better than others? Why not save money on one and hire the cheaper attorney? What should you look for in terms of experience?

Before you even hire a bankruptcy attorney, you should have a plan. You need to be direct in asking things like cost, experience, and availability. You should not hire the first one you find, or solely based on a reference. An attorney can be far more valuable if they have experience.

The Costs
How much will it really cost to hire a bankruptcy attorney? Typically, your paying a flat fee and sometimes an additional hourly fee for extra work. The flat fee is very typical, and called a retainer. This should be negotiated so you can afford it and based on the attorney’s experience. Most fair and experienced Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys will charge from $1,000 to $2,500 for a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 case. They are far more valuable than this. When you think about it, you can discharge tens of thousands in debt. If you have a mortgage you want to get out of, some extremely high medical bills,a and high credit card debt, you could save tens of thousands of dollars for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Atlanta Chapter 13 is preferable if you want to keep your home; attorneys are valuable here as one can help save your home from foreclosure.

The Time
While your attorney won’t spend hundreds of hours on your case, his or her experience will shine by making that time more than worth it. They can make sure your eligible, the most debt is discharged, and that the entire court process is smooth. Typically, your attorney will handle all in court work, while you only have to appear briefly.

Creditors
If you’re facing creditor harassment, how much value would you put on ending it? Likely, very much. Technically creditor harassment should end after bankruptcy, but during bankruptcy you can refer them to your attorney. He or she can handle them from now on.

The Knowledge
Attorneys are blessed with skills honed in higher education, but the best knowledge comes from hard work and experience. No single article can teach you all you need to know about bankruptcy, but an experienced attorney can. Their knowledge makes them worth far more than you’re paying them.

Mistakes
Scared you won’t file correctly? If you are unsure if all the documents are correct, if you’re really eligible, or on how the process works, an experienced Atlanta attorney can help.

Success
The best part is that you can either successfully discharge thousands if not tens of thousands of debt with Chapter 7 bankruptcy, or save your home, car, and other assets from being taken with Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The right Atlanta attorney is most valuable when they can save you money.

Filed under: Bankruptcy Information — Tags: Atlanta Bankruptcy Attorney, Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyer, Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Title 11 United States Code, Chapter 13 bankruptcy Atlanta, Chapter 7 Title 11 United States Code, Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 7 bankruptcy Atlanta, Georgia bankruptcy attorney, Georgia bankruptcy law, Georgia bankruptcy lawyer — jmalewitz @ 1:56 pm

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