Law Office of Allan P. Turnage

Frequently Asked Bankruptcy Questions

What is Bankruptcy?
How can it help me?
Liquidation or Reorganization?
Can I keep my property?
Does bankruptcy hurt my credit?
What about my small business?

What is Bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy is a federal law that allows individuals and businesses to re-adjust their relationships with their creditors. Bankruptcy can eliminate a portion of an individual's debt through the grant of a "discharge" of debts. A Discharge is an order of the Bankruptcy court mandating that the affected creditors must cease all collection efforts against the debtor, forever. Although some debts may not be discharged (child support, for example), most can. Medical bills, credit card debt, and other unsecured debts are generally subject to discharge; secured debts, such as car payments and house payments, may only be discharged if the collateral securing the debt is returned to the creditor. However, most secured debt may be restructured in a Chapter 13 Plan of Reorganization.

A husband and wife may file a single bankruptcy case together as joint debtors, or one spouse may file individually. Wherever the term "Debtor" is used on this site, a husband and wife should consider the information as applying to them either jointly or individually, depending on whether they file a case together.

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How can bankruptcy help me?

The help provided by bankruptcy is as varied as the numerous types of relations between debtors and creditors. Generally speaking, bankruptcy can resolve most problems incurred by debtors who are unable to pay their creditors. To begin with, when a person files a bankruptcy, all creditors must cease all collection activities against the debtor. Creditors may not continue to call an individual that has filed a bankruptcy, and any pending lawsuits or repossession activity must be halted when a bankruptcy is filed. Even the Internal Revenue Service is prohibited from continuing collection activity against a bankrupt debtor. Of course, the particular avenue required for complete relief (liquidation or reorganization) varies depending on the individual's circumstances.

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Liquidation or Reorganization?

Individuals and most small businesses are eligible for bankruptcy relief under Chapter 7, Liquidation, or Chapter 13, Reorganization. The primary difference between these two types of bankruptcy assistance is defined by the effect on the debtor's secured creditors.

In a Chapter 7 Liquidation case, the debtor must continue to maintain contractual payments to any secured creditor whose collateral the debtor intends to retain. For example, if the debtor wishes to keep a car, he must generally continue to make all regular payments even after his Chapter 7 case is filed.

In contrast, a Chapter 13 case may reorganize or restructure all payments except mortgage payments on a primary residence. The debtor will continue regular payments on his mortgage, while all other debts (car payment, furniture payment, IRS, unsecured debt) are paid through the Chapter 13 repayment plan. The Chapter 13 plan may be used to cure arrearages on a mortgage, however, and by using this cure and reinstatement option a debtor may prevent a foreclosure action.

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Can I keep my property?

The broad general answer to this question is "yes", any property you wish to keep can be kept if certain conditions are met. First, if the property has a lien against it, the lien must be paid either under the terms of the contract or under a restructured payment in a Chapter 13 plan. Second, property which is fully owned and has no lien may be protected by State exemption laws. Florida has a generous homestead exemption but its protection of personal property is sharply limited; the opposite is true in Georgia, where most personal property is protected but equity in real estate is more vulnerable. Property which cannot be protected must be surrendered to the Trustee for liquidation. Non-exempt equity in real or personal property may be retained by paying a dividend to unsecured creditors in a Chapter 13 plan or by repurchasing the property from the Chapter 7 trustee.

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Does bankruptcy hurt my credit?

Yes, of course. Filing a bankruptcy of any description is a serious decision with potentially long-lasting repercussions on one's credit. However, this impact must be viewed in relation to the alternatives: foreclosure, repossession, lawsuits, garnishments, IRS levies, and harassment from creditors. Anything other than full repayment on the creditor's terms may damage one's credit as much or more than a bankruptcy filing. Non-bankruptcy credit relief agencies also reflect negatively on a credit report, and may provide less complete relief than a bankruptcy filing.

Simply not paying one's debts will also damage credit ratings, as do referrals to collection agencies. In addition, the simple stress of continual calls from creditors can harm one's health and wellbeing. Thus, the damage done to credit ratings must be put in perspective. While bankruptcy is unlikely to be anyone's first choice, it can provide a useful and necessary alternative to more destructive collection mechanisms.

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What about my small business?

If a small business is a sole proprietorship, such as an unincorporated trade name or d/b/a, assets and liabilities of the business are treated as the personal property of the debtor. A debtor may continue to operate a business after filing a Chapter 13, but may have reporting and credit restrictions to deal with. When the owner of a sole proprietorship files a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the business must generally cease operation in order to prevent the dissipation of assets. The Trustee is free to review the assets for liquidation or surrender. Corporations and partnerships are not eligible for Chapter 13 relief and business entities other than sole proprietors seeking to reorganize must do so under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy code.

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Again, please bear in mind that the selection of an attorney is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisement. All persons are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any attorney being considered. Please write or call me for information regarding my experience and qualifications, and bear in mind that the general information on this web-site cannot be construed as legal advice. If you would like to discuss your options under the Bankruptcy code and live in Southwest Georgia or the Tallahassee area, please call to make an appointment and I will meet with you at a mutually convenient time. I wish you the best of luck in the resolution of your financial situation.

Copyright 2007 Website Diner LLC


	• Info from the United States Trustee • Notice to Individual Consumer Debtors • Bankruptcy Statement Mandated by Congress 2344 Centerville Road Tallahassee, FL 32308 View Map Phone: (850) 224-3231 Fax: (850) 224-2535	Frequently Asked Bankruptcy Questions What is Bankruptcy? How can it help me? Liquidation or Reorganization? Can I keep my property? Does bankruptcy hurt my credit? What about my small business? What is Bankruptcy? Bankruptcy is a federal law that allows individuals and businesses to re-adjust their relationships with their creditors. Bankruptcy can eliminate a portion of an individual's debt through the grant of a "discharge" of debts. A Discharge is an order of the Bankruptcy court mandating that the affected creditors must cease all collection efforts against the debtor, forever. Although some debts may not be discharged (child support, for example), most can. Medical bills, credit card debt, and other unsecured debts are generally subject to discharge; secured debts, such as car payments and house payments, may only be discharged if the collateral securing the debt is returned to the creditor. However, most secured debt may be restructured in a Chapter 13 Plan of Reorganization. A husband and wife may file a single bankruptcy case together as joint debtors, or one spouse may file individually. Wherever the term "Debtor" is used on this site, a husband and wife should consider the information as applying to them either jointly or individually, depending on whether they file a case together. Back to Top How can bankruptcy help me? The help provided by bankruptcy is as varied as the numerous types of relations between debtors and creditors. Generally speaking, bankruptcy can resolve most problems incurred by debtors who are unable to pay their creditors. To begin with, when a person files a bankruptcy, all creditors must cease all collection activities against the debtor. Creditors may not continue to call an individual that has filed a bankruptcy, and any pending lawsuits or repossession activity must be halted when a bankruptcy is filed. Even the Internal Revenue Service is prohibited from continuing collection activity against a bankrupt debtor. Of course, the particular avenue required for complete relief (liquidation or reorganization) varies depending on the individual's circumstances. Back to Top Liquidation or Reorganization? Individuals and most small businesses are eligible for bankruptcy relief under Chapter 7, Liquidation, or Chapter 13, Reorganization. The primary difference between these two types of bankruptcy assistance is defined by the effect on the debtor's secured creditors. In a Chapter 7 Liquidation case, the debtor must continue to maintain contractual payments to any secured creditor whose collateral the debtor intends to retain. For example, if the debtor wishes to keep a car, he must generally continue to make all regular payments even after his Chapter 7 case is filed. In contrast, a Chapter 13 case may reorganize or restructure all payments except mortgage payments on a primary residence. The debtor will continue regular payments on his mortgage, while all other debts (car payment, furniture payment, IRS, unsecured debt) are paid through the Chapter 13 repayment plan. The Chapter 13 plan may be used to cure arrearages on a mortgage, however, and by using this cure and reinstatement option a debtor may prevent a foreclosure action. Back to Top Can I keep my property? The broad general answer to this question is "yes", any property you wish to keep can be kept if certain conditions are met. First, if the property has a lien against it, the lien must be paid either under the terms of the contract or under a restructured payment in a Chapter 13 plan. Second, property which is fully owned and has no lien may be protected by State exemption laws. Florida has a generous homestead exemption but its protection of personal property is sharply limited; the opposite is true in Georgia, where most personal property is protected but equity in real estate is more vulnerable. Property which cannot be protected must be surrendered to the Trustee for liquidation. Non-exempt equity in real or personal property may be retained by paying a dividend to unsecured creditors in a Chapter 13 plan or by repurchasing the property from the Chapter 7 trustee. Back to Top Does bankruptcy hurt my credit? Yes, of course. Filing a bankruptcy of any description is a serious decision with potentially long-lasting repercussions on one's credit. However, this impact must be viewed in relation to the alternatives: foreclosure, repossession, lawsuits, garnishments, IRS levies, and harassment from creditors. Anything other than full repayment on the creditor's terms may damage one's credit as much or more than a bankruptcy filing. Non-bankruptcy credit relief agencies also reflect negatively on a credit report, and may provide less complete relief than a bankruptcy filing. Simply not paying one's debts will also damage credit ratings, as do referrals to collection agencies. In addition, the simple stress of continual calls from creditors can harm one's health and wellbeing. Thus, the damage done to credit ratings must be put in perspective. While bankruptcy is unlikely to be anyone's first choice, it can provide a useful and necessary alternative to more destructive collection mechanisms. Back to Top What about my small business? If a small business is a sole proprietorship, such as an unincorporated trade name or d/b/a, assets and liabilities of the business are treated as the personal property of the debtor. A debtor may continue to operate a business after filing a Chapter 13, but may have reporting and credit restrictions to deal with. When the owner of a sole proprietorship files a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the business must generally cease operation in order to prevent the dissipation of assets. The Trustee is free to review the assets for liquidation or surrender. Corporations and partnerships are not eligible for Chapter 13 relief and business entities other than sole proprietors seeking to reorganize must do so under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy code. Back to Top Again, please bear in mind that the selection of an attorney is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisement. All persons are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any attorney being considered. Please write or call me for information regarding my experience and qualifications, and bear in mind that the general information on this web-site cannot be construed as legal advice. If you would like to discuss your options under the Bankruptcy code and live in Southwest Georgia or the Tallahassee area, please call to make an appointment and I will meet with you at a mutually convenient time. I wish you the best of luck in the resolution of your financial situation. Copyright 2007 Website Diner LLC