Bankruptcy Attorney
A trusted bankruptcy attorney Meriden, CT residents can count on, from The Law Offices of Ronald I. Chorches knows that filing for bankruptcy might be the right thing for you to do during hard times. Bankruptcy is often misunderstood as a hopeless situation with no alternatives or prospects. However, this misconception couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, filing for bankruptcy can provide you and your family with newfound opportunities and a fresh start. It serves as a pathway towards reclaiming your financial independence and starting afresh with a clean slate.
Common Reasons People File for Bankruptcy
Individuals choose to file for bankruptcy for various reasons. Every situation is unique. However, here are some common reasons for bankruptcy that we often see in our practice:
Job Loss
For many people, recovering from a job loss is highly challenging. Reduction in income makes it difficult to pay for necessary expenses and keep up on important payments. Moreover, finding a new job is not always easy, and a prolonged job search period is faced. This leads individuals to seek bankruptcy protection to reorganize their debts in a more manageable way.
Divorce
It’s no surprise that divorce can come with a hefty price tag in some situations. Establishing separate living arrangements and buying household goods to make the new place home requires a lot of money. Moreover, divorce’s legal fees and other costs can quickly become financially burdensome. For these reasons, divorce is a common reason for bankruptcy.
Medical Expenses
Unfortunately, medical expenses for ongoing health struggles or emergency services can be extremely costly. We’ve seen clients with insurance who still have substantial debt due to co-pays, high deductibles, and uncovered treatments.
Foreclosure
An automatic stay goes into effect once a bankruptcy is filed. This automatic stay immediately halts foreclosure proceedings. Therefore, bankruptcy allows people to explore options to address their mortgage debt and potentially keep their property.
Business Failure
Some businesses fail to generate enough revenue to pay for their operational costs, including rent, utilities, inventory, payroll, and other expenses. When this happens, significant debt from various sources, such as loans and credit lines, starts to add up quickly. Bankruptcy allows business owners to restructure or liquidate the business.
Overwhelming Credit Card Debt
When people depend too heavily on credit cards, interest rates can quickly spiral out of control. As of May 2023, the average credit card interest rate is 24.14%, according to Forbes Advisor’s weekly credit card rates report. When interest accumulates, and minimum payments become unmanageable, many people go bankrupt as a way out of their heavy credit card debt.
How do I know which kind of bankruptcy to file for?
When you decide to file for bankruptcy, you may be wondering if you are able to choose the type of bankruptcy you file for. For the most part, you will file for either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Chapter 7 bankruptcy can allow you to truly get a fresh start because it will allow you to pay off your creditors. With this method of bankruptcy, you will need to give up many of your assets to pay off creditors and may not be able to keep your house or your car. If you are hoping to pay off your debts and do so quickly, this may be the right bankruptcy to file for.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. With Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you can work with your bankruptcy attorney to create a repayment plan so that you can start paying back your debts. This will usually be in the three- to five-year range and you will be able to keep your property. It is also possible to keep your home if you are worried about foreclosure.
Which one is right for you?
Don’t worry about choosing. When you work with an attorney, they will examine your finances closely, look at your debts, and look at your assets. They can help determine which bankruptcy you are qualified for and help you create a plan.
Are there debts bankruptcy cannot fix?
There are certain debts, called nondischargeable debts, that you will not be able to be erased with bankruptcy. Some of these debts are alimony, child support, tax debt, and student loans (though the latter can be erased in certain circumstances).
If you are considering filing for bankruptcy and would like the help of a bankruptcy attorney from The Law Offices of Ronald I. Churches, give us a call now.
Bankruptcy Lawyer
No one wants to file for bankruptcy but if you have found yourself in the situation where you need to then talk to a bankruptcy lawyer is often in your best interest. Many people are unaware that filing for bankruptcy is fairly common. In the last year 884, 956 American households filed for bankruptcy.
Like many unpleasant and scary procedures bankruptcy’s reputation is based on the few tidbits of truth combined with plenty of falsehoods. This can make filing a very terrifying process and many people will go out of their way to avoid it. The truth is, bankruptcy is not nearly as frightening once you understand it.
Have bankruptcy questions?
To learn more about what we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact The Law Offices of Ronald I. Chorches today to schedule a free review of your case.
Our service area also includes Bridgeport, Waterbury, and Middletown.