Duncan Law Resource Center
Your Complete Guide to
Bankruptcy in North Carolina —
Find What You Need, Fast.
This page organizes every guide, article, and tool on the Duncan Law website by topic. Whether you are just starting to explore your options or dealing with a specific financial crisis right now, find what you need below — or call for a free consultation.
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Deciding Whether Bankruptcy Is Right for You
Not sure if bankruptcy makes sense for your situation? These guides walk you through the decision — what bankruptcy costs, what it affects, whether you qualify, and what happens to your property.
Do I Need Bankruptcy?
A step-by-step decision guide covering the warning signs that bankruptcy may help, alternatives to consider first, and a 15-question FAQ.
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Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13
Side-by-side comparison covering eligibility, timelines, property impact, effects on co-signers, and which chapter fits your specific goals.
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Cost to File Bankruptcy
Court filing fees, attorney fees, payment plan options, and fee waivers — what the true cost of filing looks like in North Carolina.
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How Bankruptcy Affects Your Credit
What actually happens to your credit score on filing day, how long it stays on your report, and how quickly most people rebuild.
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Will I Lose My Property?
North Carolina exemptions explained clearly. What you can protect, how home equity is calculated, and why most filers do not lose their house or car.
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Bankruptcy Tools & Calculators
Seven interactive tools: eligibility quiz, means test, Chapter 13 payment estimator, NC exemptions checker, 910-day vehicle rule, tax dischargeability, and re-filing eligibility.
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NC Bankruptcy Means Test
The income and expense test that determines Chapter 7 eligibility. Current NC median income figures, how the allowed-deduction calculation works, and what failing the test actually means.
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Bankruptcy Process Timeline
How long does bankruptcy take in NC? Chapter 7 step by step from filing to discharge in 4 to 6 months. Chapter 13 from petition through plan completion over 3 to 5 years.
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12 Bankruptcy Myths Debunked
Will you lose your house? Does bankruptcy ruin your credit forever? Do employers find out? Straight answers to the 12 most common NC bankruptcy myths — from property to retirement accounts.
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Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
The Fresh Start Option
Chapter 7 discharges most unsecured debts — credit cards, medical bills, personal loans — in 4 to 6 months. It is the fastest path to a clean slate for people whose income is at or below the means test threshold and who do not have significant non-exempt property at risk.
The main guide covers eligibility requirements, which debts are dischargeable, what you can keep under North Carolina exemptions, what the 341 meeting of creditors looks like, and the complete timeline from filing to discharge.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
The Repayment Plan Option
Chapter 13 lets you reorganize your debts through a 3 to 5 year court-approved plan. You keep your property and pay what you can afford. It is the preferred option for people who want to save a home from foreclosure, catch up on car payments, or repay priority debts like taxes over time while keeping other assets.
The main guide covers how the plan payment is calculated, what happens to mortgage arrears, how co-signers are protected, what to do if you miss a payment, and what life during the plan looks like day to day.
Related Articles
General Timeline for a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Can Chapter 13 Reduce My House or Car Payment? Can My Chapter 13 Plan Payment Change? Can I Buy a Car While in Chapter 13? What If I Owe Taxes While in Chapter 13? Can I Take a 401(k) Loan After Filing Chapter 13? Can the Trustee Increase My Chapter 13 Payments?
Problems We Solve
Stopping a Financial Crisis
If something is happening right now — a foreclosure notice, money being taken from your paycheck, relentless creditor calls — start here. Each guide explains the legal options and what filing does and does not stop.
Stop Foreclosure
How bankruptcy stops a foreclosure through the automatic stay, the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 when saving a home, and what happens to mortgage arrears in a plan.
Read the Full GuideStop Wage Garnishment
How bankruptcy stops most wage garnishments through the automatic stay, North Carolina's specific rules on what creditors can garnish, and how quickly the protection takes effect.
Read the Full GuideStop Creditor Harassment
How the automatic stay stops collection calls, letters, and lawsuits the moment a case is filed — and what to do if a creditor keeps calling after filing.
Read the Full GuideStop Repossession
How filing can stop a repossession that has not yet happened — and in some cases help recover a recently repossessed vehicle — through the automatic stay and Chapter 13.
Read the Full GuideDebt Lawsuits & Judgments
What happens when a creditor sues you, how judgments become liens on your home, and how bankruptcy addresses active lawsuits and existing judgment liens.
Read the Full GuideTax Debt & Bankruptcy
Which tax debts can actually be discharged, the rules for older income tax, how the automatic stay temporarily halts IRS collection, and how Chapter 13 handles non-dischargeable taxes.
Read the Full GuideCredit Card Debt & Bankruptcy
How unsecured credit card debt is treated in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, the rules around recent charges and cash advances, and what the discharge process looks like.
Read the Full GuideLife After Bankruptcy
Rebuilding After Your Discharge
The discharge is not the end — it is the starting line. Most people who file begin rebuilding credit within 12 to 18 months and are mortgage-eligible within 2 to 4 years depending on the chapter filed. The goal after bankruptcy is the same as before: stable finances, manageable payments, and a path forward.
This section covers what to do in the first year after discharge, how to approach your credit report, which financial products make sense early in the rebuild, and realistic timelines for major milestones like buying a home or a car.
Related Articles
How Does Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Affect Your Credit? Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13: Which Is Better on a Credit Report? How Long Does Bankruptcy Stay on Your Credit Report? What to Look for in a Credit Card After Bankruptcy Do Credit Repair Services After Bankruptcy Actually Work? Building an Emergency Fund
Tools & References
Interactive Tools, Deep Reference & The Process
Run your own numbers, get answers to specific questions, watch short explanations, and understand exactly what working with Duncan Law looks like from your first call to your discharge.
Bankruptcy Tools & Calculators
Seven free tools: eligibility quiz, means test, Chapter 13 payment estimator, NC exemptions checker, 910-day vehicle rule, tax dischargeability checker, and re-filing eligibility.
Bankruptcy FAQ — 83 Questions
Organized by category: qualifying and eligibility, the filing process, what happens to specific debts, property and exemptions, life during bankruptcy, and the discharge.
Bankruptcy Video Library
Over 400 short videos organized by topic. Find answers about your specific question without having to sort through content that does not apply to your situation.
What Happens in a Consultation?
What to expect from a free consultation with a Duncan Law attorney — what questions you will be asked, what to have ready, and exactly what happens after the call ends.
Read the guide →Why Choose Duncan Law?
The firm's background, board certification, how the practice is structured, and what sets a specialized consumer bankruptcy practice apart from high-volume general legal shops.
Read the guide →Looking for something more specific?
The Duncan Law blog has over 400 articles covering every aspect of bankruptcy — eligibility, specific debts, property questions, life during a case, and rebuilding afterward.
Browse All Bankruptcy Articles 400+ articles organized by topicOur Offices
We Serve Clients Across North Carolina
Duncan Law has six offices across North Carolina. Every client speaks directly with a licensed bankruptcy attorney — not a paralegal, not a case manager. Find your nearest location below.
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