Monday, December 7, 2009

Bankruptcy Options And Choices

By Adam Sanders

Many people listen to financial gurus who recommend looking at bankruptcy only as a last resort. The problem with this is that many individuals do everything they can to avoid bankruptcy (including liquidating precious assets that would otherwise be protected), only to end up bankrupt anyway. But there are options out there for you. Don't make the wrong mistake. But how to figure it out?

This is a pretty easy one to figure out, but it's also a astonishingly common mistake made. Bankruptcy often gets a bad rap in our culture, but the truth of the matter is that, for many individuals, it is the absolutely best option to escape the stress of insurmountable debt and to gain a fresh financial start. It's far easier to get things under control if you seriously consider bankruptcy as soon as you realize that your finances have become too much for you to handle.

Some choose to use credit cards to try to deflect bankruptcy. This just isn't a very good option for most people. First, you're basically borrowing secured debt to pay off unsecured debt-not a good idea. Don't forget, this method can put your household in jeopardy.

Using a 401(k), IRA, or other qualified tax deferred retirement account to "get out of debt" just isn't the wisest thing to do. First of all, it puts your future financial security in jeopardy-which can really hurt you in the long run. Consider the fact that, while you may have no trouble getting a new or second job right now, later on when you're retirement age it may not be quite as easy as it is now. Why risk the future? Also keep in mind that by cashing out a retirement account now, you will be taxed on that income which could take a bigger chunk out of your funds than you're prepared for right now.

You must reveal all of your creditors on your bankruptcy filing. If you don't do so, any debt you leave off (especially intentionally) will likely not be discharged along with the debt you did reveal. Additionally, you could risk having your bankruptcy case dismissed by the judge if it's decided that you knowingly left any creditors off your petition.

Although this might seem like an extreme scenario, the point is that bankruptcy should not be viewed only as a last resort because it can save some valued assets from creditors. Your home is often protected by a homestead exemption clause in your state, and pension plans and retirement funds are usually also protected. If you would have to put at risk your valued assets that would otherwise be exempt from liquidation, then you need to consider Chapter 7 very carefully.

In total, there are six types of bankruptcy, although the ones that are likely to concern an individual are Chapter 7 and Chapter-. There are significant differences between filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 and filing for bankruptcy under Chapter-, so be sure to talk to a professional bankruptcy lawyer before making your decision.

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