Answer the bankruptcy questions that keep you up at
night.
Trying to decide whether or not to file for bankruptcy? This new
Quick
& Legal book from consumer debt expert Robin Leonard addresses
questions and concerns that may be keeping you up into the wee hours.
If I file for bankruptcy...
Will I wipe out all of my debts? Probably. And if not all of them, at
least most. (See Chapter 3.)
Will I lose my house? If you are up to date on your mortgage payments
or can get up to date, you're not likely to lose your house. (See
Chapter 4.)
Will I lose my apartment? Not if you're current on your rent. (See Chapter 4.)
Can I keep my car and other property? Most likely. Most people lose no
property when they file for bankruptcy. (See Chapter 5.)
Can I keep my credit cards? Probably not--but there's no reason
to. (See Chapters 6 and 9.)
Will I lose my job? No. An employer may not fire you solely because
you filed for bankruptcy. (See Chapter 7.)
Will I lose custody of my children? No. Divorce judges see a lot of
people who file for bankruptcy. (See Chapter 7.)
Will I go to jail? Not unless you commit perjury, defraud the
bankruptcy court or commit a similar act. (See Chapter 7.)
Will someone from the bankruptcy court visit my home or business?
No. (See Chapter 7.)
Can I move? Yes. (See Chapter 7.)
Can I change jobs? Yes. (See Chapter 7.)
Can I get divorced? Yes. (See Chapter 7.)
Will my friends and neighbors find out? It's unlikely, unless you tell
them. (See Chapter 7.)
Is it hard to file? It's about as hard as filing a 1040 long-form tax
return. (See Chapter 8.)
Will I be able to get credit in the future? Yes--and more than likely,
fairly soon after your bankruptcy case ends. (See Chapter 9.)
Will I be able to rent an apartment in the future? This is the one
area in which people sometimes run into problems. But there are steps
you can take to help yourself. (See Chapter 9.)
Is bankruptcy even necessary? Not everyone needs to file or should
file. An alternative might be the answer. (See Chapter 10.)
Attorney Robin Leonard has been featured as a money and credit advisor on Good Morning America and CNN, and in publications across the country, including Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Money, Forbes and the Los Angeles Times. She is the author of many Nolo books including Money Troubles: Legal Strategies to Cope with Your Debts, Credit Repair, Take Control of Your Student Loan Debt, and Bankruptcy: Is It the Right Solution to Your Debt Problems? and co-author of How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and A Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay Couples.
