Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding in which people who cannot pay their bills can get a fresh financial start. The right to file for bankruptcy is provided by federal law, and all bankruptcy cases are handled in federal court. Filing bankruptcy immediately stops all of your creditors from seeking to collect debts from you, at least until your debts are sorted out according to the law.

What Can Bankruptcy Do for Me?
Bankruptcy may make it possible for you to:

Eliminate the legal obligation to pay most or all of your debts. This is called a "discharge" of debts. It is designed to give you a fresh financial start.

Stop foreclosure on your house or mobile home and allow you an opportunity to catch up on missed payments. (Bankruptcy does not, however, automatically eliminate mortgages and other liens on your property without payment.)

Prevent repossession of a car or other property, or force the creditor to return property even after it has been repossessed.

Stop wage garnishment, debt collection harassment, and similar creditor actions to collect a debt.

Restore or prevent termination of utility service.

Allow you to challenge the claims of creditors who have committed fraud or who are otherwise trying to collect more than you really owe.

What Can Bankruptcy Not Do?
Bankruptcy, however, cannot cure every financial problem. Nor is it the right step for every individual. In bankruptcy, it is usually not possible to:

Eliminate certain rights of "secured" creditors. A "secured" creditor has taken a mortgage or other lien on property as collateral for the loan. Common examples are car loans and home mortgages. You can force secured creditors to take payment over time in the bankruptcy process and bankruptcy can eliminate your obligation to pay any additional money if your property is taken. However, you generally cannot keep the collateral unless you continue to pay the debt.

Discharge certain types of debts singled out by the bankruptcy law for special treatment such as child support, alimony, some student loans, court restitution orders, criminal fines, and some taxes.

Protect cosigners on your debts. When a relative or friend has co‑signed a loan, and the consumer discharges the loan in bankruptcy, the cosigner may still have to repay all or part of the loan.

Discharge debts that arise after bankruptcy has been filed.

MANY FAMOUS PEOPLE, CELEBRITIES, PRESIDENTS, BUSINESS MOGULS, ACTORS AND ACTRESSES, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS SUPERSTARS HAVE FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY.

Many of these people went to succeed and make fortunes after bankruptcy. The others simply went on with their lives. Misfortune can befall anyone. There is life, i.e. the FRESH START, after bankruptcy.

Note:The Information you obtain at this site is not intended to be legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your own situation.

The material on this website is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice nor provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship. As a result, Richard J. Hackerman, P.A. and Richard J. Hackerman, are not responsible for any information contained on or omitted from this website or any site hyperlinked to this website.