Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: The Essential Facts You Need to Know

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If you have a significant amount of debt, making your monthly payments along with paying for your bills and your other necessities can be almost impossible. However, you have more options to make your debt manageable than you may think — and one of the best options for doing this is by filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy with the help of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney.

Here are the top four questions normally asked about Chapter 13 bankruptcy, along with their answers:

Q: What is Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
A: Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the second-most common form of bankruptcy in the United States. Unlike Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which requires you to sell your assets and belongings to repay your liquidated debts, Chapter 13 bankruptcy is more of a reorganization of your debt. You can work with a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney to create a debt repayment plan, which makes paying off your debt manageable for your financial situation.

Q: Should I hire a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney?
A: If you make the choice to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, hiring a specialized Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney is your best bet for success. Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys are used to working with people in situations just like yours, and know how to file for bankruptcy so the courts will approve your petition.

Q: What are the advantages of filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
A: As it was mentioned before, you get to keep your possessions when you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which makes it an appealing option for many people who would rather not sell their house or car. You can pay back the debts you can afford to pay back with Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The amount of debts you can’t afford to repay in a three- to five-year period are forgiven.

Q: Can I afford to hire a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney?
A: Yes. You might think that filing for bankruptcy without a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney will save you money, but in the long run, you might have your petition denied because you didn’t know how to fill out your paperwork properly. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney also offers protection from creditor harassment and a number of other benefits, including a wealth of Chapter 13 bankruptcy information you might not have access to otherwise.