what is bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy is a federal program established in the United States Constitution to provide debt relief to persons and organizations suffering from financial difficulties. Different types of bankruptcy relief are available under various chapters of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The two primary forms of bankruptcy relief for individuals (consumers) are under Chapters 7 and 13.

The concept of bankruptcy as defined by the American Constitution is unique. American bankruptcy laws are recognized worldwide as much less punitive and much more compassionate to debtors than the bankruptcy laws of most other countries. In this country, bankruptcy is viewed both legally and perceptually as a means to an end, and not as “the end” of a debtor's financial life. The Bankruptcy Act of 1898 was put into law by the United States Congress for the sole purpose of establishing that debtors have a basic right to financial relief.  

The bankruptcy laws change from time to time and reflect a perpetual tug of war between the competing interests of debtors and creditors, but the concept of The Bankruptcy Act of 1898 holds true. That concept is that Americans are entitled to a fresh financial start. By recovering from your burden of debt, you can look to the future and once again be a productive member of society.  

Some of the benefits to filing for bankruptcy protection:

• Bring IRS seizures to a skidding halt.
• Stop repossessions.
• Stop almost every kind of lawsuit.
• Stop most evictions if bankruptcy is filed before a state court enters a judgment for possession.
• Stop foreclosures.
• Prevent your driver's license from being suspended for unpaid fines or judgments.

Some of the actions bankruptcy will not stop:

• Governmental regulatory proceedings.
• Revocation or suspension of your driver's license for failing to pay court-ordered dependent support.
• Criminal prosecutions.
• Proceedings against someone else who cosigned your loan, unless you file a Chapter 13 repayment plan and propose to pay the loan in full yourself.
• Contempt of court hearings.
• Actions to collect back child support or alimony, unless you file a Chapter 13 and propose to pay that obligation during the life of your plan.

Remember:

Your bankruptcy is public information.
Bankruptcy is a matter of public record, but who is really interested? At the rate that bankruptcies are being filed in this country, only a bored or very nosey person will spend the time surfing the Internet or searching court documents to find out the particulars of your case. In most cases, the only people who will know about your bankruptcy petition are your creditors and the people you tell.  

Your credit rating may be affected.
Filing for bankruptcy protection may have a negative effect on your credit rating, but it may be a small price to pay for peace of mind.   Even with a history of bankruptcy, you still have a very good chance of obtaining credit.   With a little work and perseverance, you can quickly reestablish credit.

Negative consequences can result from using inexperienced counsel.
Avoiding unexpected negative outcomes is another one of the many reasons why you should engage a certified bankruptcy law specialist when contemplating bankruptcy. For example, if you have repaid loans to friends or relatives or have given them anything within the year prior to filing your petition, they could be forced to repay a trustee the money they received. Remember, there should be no surprises if you are represented by an experienced debt relief lawyer.