finance 123

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

How the bankruptcy automatic stay can provide relief

By Josh Ramos

For anyone experiencing the burden of high credit card debt (or other kinds of debt), finding a way out can be an incredibly stressful problem that can wreak havoc on your family life and health. Is there any light at the end of the tunnel?

Well, one option that you will want to consider is bankruptcy, even though it isn't appropriate in all situations. One of the benefits of bankruptcy is the automatic stay, which actually makes it illegal for creditors to try to collect the debt until you have finished your bankruptcy application.

Automatic stay gives you some temporary relief by preventing creditors from beginning foreclosure proceedings or trying to repossess your assets. The bankruptcy court actually prevents any of this from taking place.

In fact, your creditors are not supposed to even contact you if you have initiated bankruptcy proceedings. If they do, they will have to answer to a Federal bankruptcy judge.

The automatic stay is a temporary provision that protects you from bill collectors. Whether you have to pay any of your bills in the future depends on the outcome of your bankruptcy case. But you definitely have at least a temporary reprieve from having bill collectors harassing you all the time.

One thing you may be worried about is whether the new bankruptcy law makes you ineligible to file for bankruptcy. The truth is that most people who would have qualified previously are still eligible to declare bankruptcy.

Some of the new requirements include mandatory financial management courses in credit counseling. Also, depending on your annual income, you may have to go through additional hurdles to prove that you really do need bankruptcy. However, it remains a viable option for most people who would have previously qualified.

The new process is more involved, but your bankruptcy lawyer can help you navigate through the maze. You'll definitely need to contact the bankruptcy lawyer for the details, and you'll want to learn as much as possible before making your first visit. - 16931

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