subject: Wise Strategies In Personal Bankruptcy - A New Breakdown [print this page] The decision to file for personal bankruptcy is a decision that is to be taken very seriously. To come to the best decision for your situation, you need a few tips and pieces of advice that can help. Take the time to read the following article and you should be better prepared for the process of bankruptcy.
When attempting to get a loan post-bankruptcy, make sure to obtain a current copy of your credit report. Yes, your credit score will be lower following a bankruptcy discharge, but your bankruptcy should be listed on your credit report. What this does show lenders is that you do not have an outstanding credit balance, which actually makes you less of a risk when it comes to lending.
Work with a reputable credit counseling agency. If you have decided to file for bankruptcy, work with a credit counseling agency that has the approval of the US Trustee's Office. They will provide a 90 minute mandatory counseling session, after which they will determine if you qualify for a Debt Management Plan. They will also issue you with a certificate that allows you to file for bankruptcy.
A good personal bankruptcy tip is know where you stand when you're marrying someone who's in a rough financial situation. A lot of times, spouses think they'll be liable for the other's debt, but this is only so when they've made a voluntary agreement to be responsible for the spouse's debt.
Find out what items you are allowed to keep before you consider filing for personal bankruptcy. You may need to surrender certain assets that you are not prepared to let go of. In this case, it might make more sense to try consumer credit counseling first. Consumer credit counselors negotiate with your creditors on your behalf, so that you can pay back debts on a schedule that you can afford.
When you file personal bankruptcy, this is a matter of public record. You need to be aware that your name may appear in the news and in newspapers. If you do not want people knowing your financial situation, this may not be the best option for you and your situation.
Do not take filing for bankruptcy lightly. Remember, your bankruptcy will appear on your credit report for ten years after you file, and you are unable to file again for six years. You may have a difficult time securing credit or low interest rates in the future, so make sure that you save this option until you truly have no alternatives.
Do not go and apply for quick loans when you know that you are about to file for bankruptcy soon. You may think of this as free money, but if your lender realizes that this was why you applied for the loan you can be prosecuted and made to pay back the money.
Realize that you can obtain credit even a short time after having a discharged bankruptcy. Many lenders and creditors will make smaller loans or amounts of credit to people who have recently filed bankruptcy. They actually view you as less of a risk than you might think. You are prohibited by law from filing another bankruptcy for a certain period of time, and you likely have few, if any, major debts to maintain payments for - both of which make you a less risky debtor in the eyes of some creditors.
A great personal bankruptcy tip is to go over your credit report very carefully to make sure there are no errors on it. Overlooking a bill as small as forty dollars can come back to haunt you and can even make your credit score drop. The resulting drop will put you in hot water with your bank.
A great tip for filers of personal bankruptcy is to thoroughly prepare for the initial meeting with the bankruptcy attorney. By assembling every piece of relevant financial documentation, including mortgage documents, auto finance agreements, credit card statements, tax records and bank statements, you can be certain that your bankruptcy petition and supporting documentation includes all information required for a comprehensive filing.
Once you have filed for bankruptcy, you will have to do your best to build your credit all over again. Do not be tempted to allow your credit account to have nothing on it, so it will appear to be fresh. This will send a bad signal to anyone who is looking at it.
You should now be better prepared for the plethora of decisions that you will face, if you have decided to go through with bankruptcy. Use all of the tips and advice that were included in this article, to help walk you through the long process of filing personal bankruptcy, the best way possible.
