Bankruptcy should be seen as the last resort for people who have got themselves into too much debt. It may seem the answer to all your prayers but bankruptcy is only able to solve certain debt issues. Remember, if you have filed for bankruptcy you may find it difficult to obtain credit in the future unless your bankruptcy has been cleared, or discharged for a number of years.

Bankruptcy is very good for wiping out credit card debt. Unless you have a special secured credit card, your credit card balance is an unsecured debt. That means that the credit card company has no hold on anything that belongs to you if you do not pay back your debt. This is specifically the kind of debt that bankruptcy is designed to remove. Apart from credit card debt, you may have other unsecured debts, and bankruptcy can eradicate these as well. However, bankruptcy will not discharge your obligations to some other kinds of debts, including child support, alimony, tax debts, student loans, and any secured debts.

If you are reading this then the chances are that you are considering filing for bankruptcy. Your debts have got to the point where you cannot afford the monthly payments that your creditors are demanding. However, there are numerous bankruptcy alternatives. The most important thing is not to panic and to sit down and look at your financial situation.

If you reach the stage where you are in so much debt that you are considering bankruptcy then there are a number of measures that you can take to avoid bankruptcy. Firstly, you should cut up all of your credit cards. This may seem drastic, but it is the only way to avoid bankruptcy by guaranteeing that you do not increase your level of debt by charging more onto your credit cards.

All lenders would prefer to receive some money rather than none at all and when you file for bankruptcy a number of your creditors will receive little or none of the proceeds. This is especially the case with your unsecured loans, such as credit cards. You should contact all of the people that you owe money to and explain the situation. Most will work out a repayment schedule with you as a bankruptcy alternative, giving you longer to pay off what you owe and sometimes even freezing the interest.

About the author:

John Rivers is owner of Financial Advisory Network. His website offers information on financial planning, estate planning, and investment management.

John Rivers

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Thanks to the new bankruptcy reform laws, many Americans who are overburdened by their credit card debt will no longer qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. However, consumers need to know that an alternative exists for people to walk away from 100% of that debt, without bankruptcy, consolidation, or refinancing. The program is applicable to all major credit cards, unsecured lines-of-credit, and signature loans. The process that is used to discharge debt is based off of U.S. Supreme Courts decisions, Title 15 United State Code (USC) section 1692, the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, section 1601, the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), section 203, and numerous Banking
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"Unsecured Personal Loan After Bankruptcy If you've been through a bankruptcy proceeding, you will have experienced its effects on your life first-hand. Since a bankruptcy declaration is a civil case, all matters related to your private financial situation become a matter of public record for at least 10 years after the event. A declaration of bankruptcy affects your ability to get a job, a personal loan and a place to live. What's more, your financial affairs are now managed by a trustee, who is appointed immediately after you file for bankruptcy. However, we at Anycredithistory believe in getting people a second chance, if they're prepared to act responsibly by doing their bit.
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