BANKRUPTCY UPDATES

• Book Publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Files for Bankruptcy (May 17, 2012)
• Las Vegas Tycoon Lists $500 Million in Debts in Bankruptcy Filing (May 15, 2012)
• Luxury Boat Builder Files for Bankruptcy in Wake of Rising Debts (May 16, 2012)
• Television Service Provider Capitol Infrastructure Files Bankruptcy (May 10, 2012)
• Potential ResCap Bankruptcy Filing Spells Trouble for Ally Financial (May 14, 2012)

Car Loans and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Filing Ch 13 Could Prevent Repossession and Lower Your Loan

When finances spin out of control, creditors become aggressive. Bankruptcy is designed to help you keep your automobile, even if you've fallen behind on car loan payments.

Filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a popular alternative for people whose income is barely enough to make ends meet, and are facing repossession, lawsuits, and other debt collection tactics.

By filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may be able to have all of your debts consolidated into a single court-protected repayment plan. Many people are able to have their total amount of debt reduced, including their car loan amount.

To learn more about how Chapter 13 bankruptcy could save your car, speak with a bankruptcy attorney today. Simply fill out the form below to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation.

How Car Loans Work in Chapter 13

As a general rule, individuals who file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy get a chance to keep their property. The bankruptcy court creates an affordable plan to repay debts, which lasts 3 to 5 years. This payment must be made in addition to any regular loan payments.

A key benefit of filing for Chapter 13 is the automatic stay. In a nutshell, features of the automatic stay include:

• An instant, although temporary, prohibition on creditors from continuing collection efforts against you.
• Prevents the distributor of your car loan from immediately repossessing your car.
• If your repayment plan, which is determined by the bankruptcy court, allows you to stay on top of your payments, the creditor will not be able to repossess your car in the future.
• Also, if your car was repossessed before you filed for bankruptcy, you may be allowed to retrieve it during the bankruptcy proceedings.

So, what is this court-ordered repayment plan? Briefly, it is a new payment plan that allows you to reorganize your debts in a fashion that allows you to make reasonable payments while still affording to make basic living expenses.

Chapter 13 Basics

In order to qualify for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, a filer must meet a couple requirements. First, he or she must have a regular source of income. In addition, this income must be healthy enough to allow for payments on debt while supporting necessary living experiences.

Finally, the bankruptcy filer must fall within specific limits for secured and unsecured debts. A local attorney can help you determine these limits in your state.

If you do qualify, many people who file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy find that it can help them with:

• Paying off tax debts that are not dischargeable under Chapter 7.
• Discharging student loan debts. This option is only available in narrow circumstances, but your lawyer can help you determine your options.
• Keeping non-exempt property. Under Chapter 13, a filer may be able to prevent non-exempt assets from falling into the hands of creditors if they can make reasonable payments on their debt.
• Protecting co-signers on certain debts.
• Holding on to other secured property, such as your home, while you continue to make payments on your debts.

To learn more about Chapter 13 bankruptcy, call a local bankruptcy lawyer today. Take the next step by filling out the free case review form below.