Bankruptcy

Law Office of Erich M. Niederlehner, PA

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What information is required for my initial FREE CONSULTATION?

The least you will need to know is your gross monthly income for the last six months for all wage earners in the household, regardless of who may be filing and/or responsible for the debt. Plus, you will need to know your necessary monthly expenses such as rent, mortgage, food, gas, car payment etc.

Other information that will allow for a more detailed analysis of your situation is listed below.

1. A List of Creditors setting forth a pretty good idea of who your creditors are and how much you owe. If bankruptcy is the right option for you, we will help you get a copy of your credit report.

2. A copy of your most recent pay stub showing net and gross income and year-to-date earnings. Additionally the attorney will ask you for your gross earnings for the prior two (2) years. If you are self employed, then a month-to-month Profit and Loss statement will be required for the past six (6) months.

3. The payoff amount on any automobiles that you are financing. Information as to mileage on the vehicles.

4. Copies of all judgments and lawsuits and liens pending against you. If your wages are being garnished, a copy of the wage garnishment order and your employer's fax number will expedite our office stopping this action.

5. Any and all information you have regarding student loans, tax obligations or co-signed obligations, if applicable.

6. A payoff amount on any real property that you are financing.

7. A copy of any Trust instrument in which you have a beneficiary interest.

8. If you are married and filing a separate case, a copy of your spouse's paycheck stub showing net and gross income.

What happens if I file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy?

In Florida, filing a petition with the bankruptcy court commences a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding. The person filing a Chapter 7 is referred to as the "debtor."

The debtor is required to disclose to the court all of his or her property and debts and turn over all nonexempt property to the bankruptcy trustee, who then converts it to cash for distribution to the creditors. The debtor then receives a discharge of all dischargeable debts.

How long does it take to rebuild credit?

Generally it will take about two years to substantially rebuild your credit. In 18-24 months after a bankruptcy, you may be able to qualify for a mortgage.

If I co-signed for a debt, does bankruptcy affect the obligation?

If the debt is a dischargeable debt then you will not have to pay it. Your co-signer will become primarily responsible for the debt.

What if I do not list a creditor on the bankruptcy papers?

You are required to list all creditors. If you intentionally omit a creditor from your schedules, it is perjury and you may lose your bankruptcy discharge. However, if a creditor is not known to exist at the time the schedules are filed, you may amend your schedules at any time the case is open to add an additional creditor.

Can I discharge student loans?

Generally, student loans are not discharged in bankruptcy. Although there are possible exceptions to this general rule if you can overcome an undue hardship on the debtor and/or debtor's dependents - very hard to overcome.

Will bankruptcy stop an eviction?

It may delay it, but the owner is entitled to possession of the property and will be able to resume eviction proceedings with court approval or after the discharge.

Filing a Chapter 7 solely to avoid an eviction might be considered an abuse of the bankruptcy law.

If the Bankruptcy Court finds that this is true, then the court can immediately dismiss the bankruptcy and impose other legal and monetary sanctions on you.

Is spousal support dischargeable?

Spousal support and child support payments generally are not dischargeable. Certain other dissolution related obligations, such as payments to others, hold harmless provisions and property settlement obligations, are not dischargeable if the debtor has the ability to pay them and the detriment to the spouse outweighs the benefit of the discharge to the debtor.

Will bankruptcy stop a wage garnishment?

Yes.

Will bankruptcy stop a foreclosure?

Temporarily, yes. However, the lender is entitled to seek relief from the automatic stay to allow it to continue foreclosure proceedings.

Usually, to keep a home that is in foreclosure, the debtor will have to reach an agreement with the lender and resume making payments.

Does a bankruptcy relieve me of all my debts?

No. There are many debts which Congress has excluded from discharge. A few of these are:

   1. Debts incurred by fraud or false pretenses;
   2. Debts incurred by a false statement in writing (such as false credit application);
   3. Debts incurred by embezzlement or larceny;
   4. Spousal support or child support obligations;
   5. Debts incurred by willful AND malicious injury;
   6. Debts resulting from death or personal injury by debtor operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated;
   7. Criminal fines and restitution;
   8. Income taxes for tax years less than 3 years ago;
   9. Fines and penalties owed to a governmental unit;
10. Student Loans (unless you can prove "undue hardship” which is almost impossible to do).

These are the main types excepted from discharge, although there are others that are not listed here.

What happens to my personal property, real property and other assets?

All of the property you own at the time of the filing bankruptcy, and your right to receive property in the future, become the property of the bankruptcy estate. This means that the bankruptcy trustee may take control of this property and liquidate it to satisfy your creditors.

Certain property is exempt and you will be able to keep that property. We will discuss what property is exempt and how it may apply to your situation during your free initial consultation.

What is an exemption?

Certain property is protected from creditors in bankruptcy. This property is known as exempt property.

After bankruptcy, can I obtain new credit?

Yes. The decision of whether to extend you credit belongs to each particular lender. However, the fact that you filed bankruptcy, if properly explained, can be less damaging than a history of unpaid accounts.

Will the fact that I filed bankruptcy appear on credit reports?

The bankruptcy will be listed in credit reports for a period of up to 10 years.

If my creditors ignored the automatic stay, what could be done?

Make sure the creditor is aware that you filed bankruptcy and ask it to stop collection efforts. If the creditor does not respond, you may seek a court order enjoining the creditor from further action.

If you are an individual and are injured by your creditor's willful failure to comply with the automatic stay, the law allows you to recover actual damages, including costs and attorneys' fees, and, in some circumstances, punitive damages.

What is the "automatic stay?"

At the moment a bankruptcy petition is filed, your creditors are automatically restrained from taking any action to collect the debts owed them.

There are some exceptions, for example, a bankruptcy petition does not stay the commencement or continuation of a criminal action, an action to collect spousal support, or an action to enforce a government's police or regulatory power.

What happens after I file a bankruptcy petition?

The bankruptcy court will mail to each of your creditors a "Notice of Commencement of Case", informing them that you have filed the petition and advising them of the date of the First Meeting of Creditors.
About 30 to 40 days after filing the bankruptcy petition, you will be required to attend a hearing presided over by a bankruptcy trustee. This hearing is called the First Meeting of Creditors. The trustee is not a judge, but an individual appointed by the United States Trustee to oversee bankruptcy cases.

At the First Meeting of Creditors the trustee will ask you questions under oath regarding the content of your bankruptcy papers, your assets, debts and other aspects of your financial situation.

In an ordinary chapter 7 proceeding the Bankruptcy Court will automatically grant an Order of Discharge 60 to 75 days after the First Meeting of Creditors.

Are pension plans and 401(k) plans exempt?

The United States Supreme Court has held that pension plans, 401(k) plans, and other "ERISA-qualified plans" are generally "excluded" from the bankruptcy estate.

Can I keep my home and automobile?

In many cases, you can retain your home and automobile in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding. You will keep your home or automobile in a Chapter 7 if

1. you are current in making payments on a loan secured by the home or automobile; and

2. the home or automobile does not have equity (a liquidation value in excess of the amount owed to creditors with liens against the property) in excess of what you are allowed to exempt.

In the event you want to keep your home or automobile, you must continue to make payments after your petition is filed.

Do I have to attend a Financial Management Course or receive a Discharge under Chapter 7 Bankruptcy or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

Yes. Under new bankruptcy legislation enacted in October, 2005, before the court will sign off on your discharge, you must attend a course on financial management.

Do I have to attend Credit Counseling to file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protection?

Yes. Under new bankruptcy legislation enacted in October, 2005, before you can file a petition under the bankruptcy code under either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, you must seek Credit Counseling first.

Can I go to jail if I don't pay my debts?

No, unless you are wilfully evading your tax debts.

Can my employer fire me for filing bankruptcy?

No. The law prohibits government units and private employers from discriminating against you because you filed a bankruptcy petition or because you failed to pay a dischargeable debt.

Will my employer find out about my bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy petitions are public records. However, under normal circumstances, unless your employer is a creditor, it will not know you filed a bankruptcy petition.

If your employer is a creditor, it must be listed as a creditor on the schedules and will receive notice of the bankruptcy proceeding.

Who deals with my creditors during the bankruptcy?

We will deal with your creditors once you officially retain our office for representation.

Who notifies the creditors?

After the bankruptcy petition is filed, the court mails a notice to all the creditors listed in the schedules. This usually takes a few days.

How long after filing will the creditors stop calling?

Once a creditor becomes aware of a filing for bankruptcy protection, it must immediately stop all collection efforts. After you file the bankruptcy petition, the court mails a notice to all the creditors listed in your bankruptcy schedules. This usually takes a few days. Creditors will also stop calling if you inform them that you filed the bankruptcy petition, and supply them with your case number.

In urgent cases, we will contact the creditor immediately upon filing the bankruptcy petition, especially if a lawsuit is pending. If a creditor continues to use collection tactics once informed of the bankruptcy, it may be liable for court sanctions and attorney's fees for this conduct.

Will bankruptcy stop creditor calls?

When we help you file for bankruptcy, we ensure that an "automatic stay" goes into effect and is enforced. The automatic stay prohibits virtually all creditors from taking any action to collect the debts you owe them unless the bankruptcy court lifts the stay and lets the creditor proceed with collections.

Most importantly, once you have retained an attorney, the creditor will be referred to your bankruptcy attorney, and then, by law, the creditors will cease their harassing calls.

What is the general process in consumer bankruptcy cases?

In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, we will file several forms with the bankruptcy court disclosing your personal and real property, your income and expenses, debts and property transactions. The Bankruptcy Court will appoint a person called a "Trustee", who is assigned to oversee your case.

About 30 days after your case is filed, we will accompany you to the "Meeting of Creditors" where the trustee reviews your case, verifies your identity, and may have a few basic questions.

Despite the name, creditors rarely attend. The meeting lasts only a few minutes. A couple of months later, you should receive a notice from the court that "all debts that qualified for discharge were discharged."

Does the spouse of a married person also have to file bankruptcy?

No. In some cases where only one spouse has debts, or one spouse has debts that are not dischargeable, it might be advisable to have only one spouse file.

Can I keep any credit cards?

Under some circumstances you may be able to keep some credit cards if the creditor agrees. However, it is normally not wise to reaffirm unsecured credit card debt.

There are many factors that must be considered, including the credit card balance at the time of the bankruptcy, what terms the credit card company is willing to accept and your ability to pay the present and future credit card debt.

What should I do if I find mistakes in my credit report?

As you read through your report, make a list of everything that is out-of-date. The credit bureaus should remove this information from your credit report.

• Lawsuits, paid tax liens, accounts sent out for collection, criminal records, late payments and any other adverse information older than seven years.

• Bankruptcies older than ten years from the discharge or dismissal.

• Credit inquiries (requests by companies for a copy of your report) older than two years.
Next, look for incorrect or misleading information, such as:

• Incorrect or incomplete name, address, phone number, Social Security number or employment information.

• Bankruptcies not identified by their specific chapter number.

• Accounts not yours or lawsuits in which you were not involved.

• Incorrect account histories -- such as late payments when you paid on time.

• Closed accounts listed as open -- it may look as if you have too much open credit, and

• Any account you closed that don't say "closed by consumer."

After reviewing your report, an attorney can help you contact the credit bureau and launch an investigation on incorrect items. Once it is confirmed that certain items are incorrect, or the creditor who provided the information can no longer verify it, the credit bureau must remove the information from your report.

How can I get a copy of my credit report?

There are three major credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) entitles you to a copy of your credit report, and you can get one for free if:

1. You've been denied credit because of information in your credit report and you request a copy within 60 days of being denied credit;

2. You're unemployed and looking for work;

3. You receive public assistance; or

4. You believe your file contains errors due to fraud.

What is a credit report?

Credit reports are compiled by credit bureaus - private companies that gather information about your credit history and sell it to banks, mortgage lenders, credit unions, credit card companies, department stores, insurance companies, landlords and even employers.

Credit bureaus get most of their data from creditors. They also search court records for lawsuits, judgments, bankruptcy filings, and recorded liens (legal claims). To create a credit file for a given person, a credit bureau searches its computer files until it finds entries that match the name, Social Security number and any other available identifying information.

Credit reports also include non-credit data such as names you previously went by, past and present addresses, Social Security number, employment history, marriages and divorces.

Do I have to disclose all my assets?

Yes. If you knowingly and fraudulently conceal an asset from the court you have committed a felony and can be fined up to $500,000 imprisoned for up to five years, or both.

In addition, the court can deny you your discharge, or dismiss or convert your bankruptcy proceeding.

Can I file bankruptcy to delay a creditor?

The Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure require you or your attorney to certify that your petition is not filed "for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay."

Bankruptcy is intended as a tool for dealing with debts that can not otherwise be paid. You should not file a bankruptcy petition for the sole reason of delaying a creditor's actions.

Can I file a bankruptcy for my debts, but not include my assets?

No.

What should I do to prepare for filing bankruptcy?

First, you should consult with a bankruptcy attorney. An attorney can help you plan for the bankruptcy, decide when to file a bankruptcy petition, or even avoid filing for bankruptcy. A few specific items are worth mentioning.

1. If you intend to file bankruptcy, you should stop using your credit cards. If you borrow money with the specific intent of discharging the debt in bankruptcy instead of paying it back, the debt may not be dischargeable.

2. Do NOT transfer your assets to friends, family and business associates to protect the assets from your creditors. The transfer may be considered a fraudulent conveyance. If it is, you may lose both the property and your right to a bankruptcy discharge.

3. Don't destroy any business or financial records. You can lose your right to a bankruptcy discharge as a result.

4. Carefully choose the creditors you pay. Some creditors, such as landlords, secured creditors, and some utilities should be paid under most circumstances. If you pay a credit card debt that eventually will be discharged, you may be throwing money away. We can advise you on what debts should and should not be paid while you prepare to file a bankruptcy petition.

Are there alternatives to bankruptcy?

Yes. Sometimes payment plans can be negotiated with creditors. Obtaining loan extensions, compromises and workout agreements require negotiation skills and experience.

These alternatives may alert your creditors to the existence of nonexempt property that the creditor could reach and can involve considerable expense. You also have the option of doing nothing.

In any event, you should seek professional advice in dealing with most of these alternatives.

Will I have to go to court?

Not exactly, sort of. About 30 to 40 days after filing the bankruptcy petition, you will have to attend a hearing presided over by a bankruptcy trustee. This hearing is called the First Meeting of Creditors. The trustee is not a judge, but an individual appointed by the United States Trustee to oversee bankruptcy cases.

At the First Meeting of Creditors, the trustee will ask you questions under oath regarding the content of your bankruptcy papers, your assets, debts and other matters. Creditors will also be permitted to ask you questions, although in the majority of cases creditors do not attend the meeting. Don’t let the name confuse you. Most creditors never attend the hearing.

If we are retained to represent you, we will appear at the First Meeting of Creditors with you.

After the initial meeting, you normally do not need to return to court. However, if a creditor or the trustee files a motion or an adversary action, you may have to appear in court.

Will I have to fill out forms?

Bankruptcy in Latin means filling out forms. Well not really, but that is what it should mean. We will ask you to fill out forms to provide us with the information needed to prepare the bankruptcy petition. We will use the information you provide to complete the official forms.

Who can file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition?

In Florida, almost any individual, partnership, or corporation may file a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition if he or she resides, has a domicile, a place of business, or property in the United States.

If you were granted or denied a Chapter 7 discharge in a prior case within the last 8 years, you might not be entitled to receive a discharge in a subsequently filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Florida.

Will a bankruptcy remove a lien?

Certain liens may be removed, but this requires a motion to be filed with the court. The procedures are complex and are best done with an attorney.

Will bankruptcy stop a judgment?

Yes. Most collection actions are stopped by bankruptcy

How can I re-establish credit after bankruptcy?

You may be able to obtain a secured credit card, where the credit limit is based upon the amount of security given, or obtain credit using a co-signer not long after your case is discharged.

What about non-attorney bankruptcy petition preparers?

Bankruptcy petition preparers are not permitted to provide you with any legal advice. The bankruptcy petition preparer's role is limited by law solely to typing.

A bankruptcy petition preparer can not advise about the law, advise you on how to answer creditor or trustee questions, assist you in planning, or appear with you at the First Meeting of Creditors or in court.

Do I need an attorney to file bankruptcy?

Individuals may file a bankruptcy petition without an attorney. Keep in mind that the bankruptcy code is very complex and filing a bankruptcy petition requires a thorough knowledge of the bankruptcy code and other laws.

Bankruptcy Attorney & Author Erich M. Niederlehner - Office in Pensacola

1202 W Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida 32502 - Main Office

1-888-I'M-BROKE

Law Office of Erich M. Niederlehner, PA

Get Help Now!

Call 1-888-I'M-BROKE or Self Schedule a Bankruptcy Asset Protection Consultation with Erich M. Niederlehner

We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Main office is in Pensacola, Florida. No attorney client relationship is established by using this website. All information while thought to be up to date and reliable may have changed since this site was last updated. All information is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on for specific legal issues. Please always consult with an attorney knowledgeable in the law that applies to your situation. Please do not send time sensitive and/or personal information via this website or email.

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