Practical guidance on Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure defense, and debt relief for North Carolina families.
You must disclose all of your assets when you file bankruptcy, regardless of whether you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. If you do not disclose all of your assets, they cannot be protected from the bankruptcy court and your creditors.
If you have received a discharge in a previous Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you are not eligible to file another Chapter 7 bankruptcy for eight years. The eligibility is eight years from the date of the filing of the first bankruptcy. If you have received a discharge in a previous Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you are generally not eligible to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy for six years; however, there are some exceptions. You can refer to Title 11, Section 727 for the exceptions.
These are common questions that many people have about bankruptcy. In an effort to provide you with information we have provided these frequent questions. However, it is important to realize that each state has different rules and these answers are not meant to be legal advice. Contact a bankruptcy attorney to learn more.
If you purchased your car more than 910 days (2 ½ years) prior to the date you filed bankruptcy, you may be able to reduce that amount owed on the car to the value of the car based on National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), plus a portion of the amount owed greater than the value. This is known as a cramdown. Use this time duration calculator to see if you have had your vehicle more than 910 days.
Fraudulent transfer of an asset in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or a Chapter 13 bankruptcy usually occurs when a person knowingly transfers an asset – house, car, equipment, business, cash, stock, etc. – to another person or company to avoid losing the asset to a creditor or to the bankruptcy court. A fraudulent transfer can be reversed or voided by the bankruptcy court resulting in the loss of the asset after all.
If you have recently sold your home, you may still be able to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy on your other debts. If you sold your home for more than you owed on the property, the bankruptcy court will want to know what you did with the excess money.
If you have received notice of a sale date on your home, we strongly suggest you schedule a consultation as soon as possible, since there is considerable information needed to file your bankruptcy prior to the sale of the property and avoid the eviction.
In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the court will send a Notice of Meeting of Creditors within a few days of filing, notifying the creditors of your bankruptcy filing and the date of the meeting of creditors. In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the attorney for the debtor will send a notice to the creditors within a few days of filing. The court will also send a Notice of Meeting of Creditors but it usually takes longer in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Filing either a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy will stop your creditors from taking legal action against you without first obtaining the bankruptcy court’s permission. The filing of bankruptcy can stop foreclosures, repossessions, wage garnishments (with some exceptions), lawsuits, etc. Bankruptcy creates an automatic stay.
The bankruptcy code allows for only once spouse to file for bankruptcy. However, at times, it may be wise for both spouses to file to ensure that your assets are completely protected and to make sure that as much debt is wiped out so you can create your fresh financial start for your family.
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