CORONA
BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY

Corona Bankruptcy Lawyer

The stress of financial pressure can be overwhelming. Whether from overreaching credit or unexpected healthcare bills, no one deserves to suffer the weight of harassing phone calls and fears of forfeiture. The fear of losing your home or business due to debt is a serious concern. If you are in such a situation, a Corona bankruptcy attorney may be able to help.

Contact our firm today to learn what your options for bankruptcy are.

Regardless of your debt, you may be able to move forward by declaring bankruptcy. This could help you offer some peace of mind difficult this situation, keep aggressive creditors at bay, and protect the assets you have. The team at the Law Office of Christopher P. Walker offers quality legal representation and advice to those filing for bankruptcy throughout the Corona area.

Corona Bankruptcy Attorney

UNDERSTANDING DEBT AND BANKRUPTCY LAW

Bankruptcy is a legal process that involves reducing the debts you owe that you are unable to pay off on your own. Typically, you sign agreements for money lending by acknowledging that you intend to pay back your debt or accept the consequences that were outlined in these contracts.

Bankruptcy is a method that helps people overcome oppressive financial situations. This process stops creditors from taking legal action against you, meaning you could reduce your debt or, in some situations, eliminate it completely.

There are two main types of bankruptcy, each with its own conditions; they are:

  • Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The most filed form of bankruptcy across Corona, Chapter 7 requires debtors to give up non-exempt property to an official, known as a bankruptcy trustee. Debtors can keep certain types of property, including their homes, cars, clothing, household items, and more. The non-exempt assets get placed into an estate, which the creditors can eventually sell to recover their owed funds.
  • Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Unlike Chapter 7, Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows the debtor to keep ownership of their property and renegotiate payment terms with creditors. Through this method, a debtor can keep their assets and other property that wouldn’t be exempt under Chapter 7 filings.

While filing for bankruptcy may be overwhelming, most people who go through the process find filing for Chapter 7 or 13 to be worth going through. These processes are designed to prevent the seizure of assets and protect you from creditors. This also puts debtors on track to repay their entanglements.

WHAT DEBTS ARE NOT COVERED BY BANKRUPTCY?

While bankruptcy may not eliminate all a person’s debt, it can absolve them of much. For debt that can’t be discharged because they are tied to assets – like cars or homes – sometimes you can create payment plans for what isn’t covered.

Unfortunately, some debt can be part of a bankruptcy filing at all. Generally, loans that involve the government can’t be discharged, nor can backpay from domestic situations like divorce.

Some of the debts that aren’t covered by bankruptcy include:

  • Student loans
  • Spousal and child support
  • Some income tax

Types of debt that can be discharged include:

  • Medical bills
  • Some personal loans
  • Credit card debt/unsecured loans

Just like no one’s financial situation is the same, no bankruptcy case in Corona, CA is the same as another.

Because everyone’s situation is unique, it’s important to be clear about all your debts and even bills you expect not to be able to pay. The stigma around bankruptcy can make some people apprehensive and cause others not to be as forthright as necessary.

Any income not listed in the bankruptcy can’t be eliminated or restructured, so being clear about your assets and debts as you begin the process can ensure you get the most optimal outcome from bankruptcy.

DO I QUALIFY FOR BANKRUPTCY IN CORONA, CA?

Bankruptcy laws in California have changed drastically over the past few decades, and unfortunately, this means qualifying for bankruptcy is more challenging. For instance, if you file your paperwork improperly or fail to attend credit counseling, you could be denied bankruptcy entirely. In this case, you could lose many of your assets and still be required to pay your debt on your own.

If you believe filing for bankruptcy could help you eliminate or reduce your debt, contact our firm to see how we can help.

One qualification for bankruptcy is your income. If your monthly income exceeds the state median, which is roughly $103,000 for four-person households, you must go through a means test. A means test requires you to input your financial information and calculate if your Chapter 7 filing is considered “presumptively abusive.”

To avoid being considered presumptively abusive, you must show special circumstances that require additional expenses or changes to your monthly income. If you can’t accomplish this, your case may convert to a Chapter 13 filing.

Bankruptcy laws in California change frequently, and many debtors do not know if they can qualify for bankruptcy in the first place.

HOW MUCH DO BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEYS CHARGE FOR THEIR SERVICES?

No attorney charges the same, and the type of bankruptcy you file matters to the cost as well. Chapter 7 bankruptcy generally costs less than Chapter 13. For instance, a Chapter 7 attorney could charge around $1,500 to $2,000, whereas a Chapter 13 attorney may charge $3,000 to $5,000.

AM I REQUIRED TO HIRE A BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY?

It is technically possible to file for bankruptcy on your own, but it isn’t usually the wisest course of action. You could risk your financial future and credit history with a few small mistakes. Even though working with a finance lawyer isn’t mandatory, it can help ensure you are treated fairly and receive the most optimal outcome for your particular situation.

Hiring a bankruptcy attorney comes with many benefits, such as:

  • Full knowledge of the legal process. You may not understand the legal proceedings that come with filing for bankruptcy, but your attorney can help. Whether there’s something on a document you need help filling out or you’re asked a question at a hearing that seems confusing, your attorney can provide you with the guidance needed to navigate the situation.
  • Defense against creditors. • Creditors can sometimes be intimidating or tactical, and they may use certain strategies that affect your mental health and force you to make difficult financial choices. Depending on the situation, these creditors can include wage garnishments, contempt orders, lien priority, and more.Creditors could call you on the phone constantly, or they may ask questions that seem unusual in an attempt to gather information. Bankruptcy can help keep the efforts of creditors under control and keep you in charge of your money and assets.
  • Peace of mind. No matter if you have a large family, a notable business, or both, you are likely working to keep your financial assets in order. It’s rare for someone to have time to research the most optimal bankruptcy path for your situation. A bankruptcy attorney’s entire job is to protect you and examine your scenario fully. If you don’t have the means to defend yourself when it comes to bankruptcy filing, an attorney could be your ideal strategy.
  • Improved negotiations. Depending on your situation, you may have to negotiate to make changes to your financial situation. However, negotiating is tricky, especially if you don’t have any experience doing this. Bankruptcy attorneys have the experience necessary to negotiate and potentially improve your situation. Our firm has decades of experience protecting people from aggressive lending tactics through bankruptcy.

Even though you legally do not have to hire a bankruptcy attorney for your case, you may not get the results you need without one. While you focus on other matters important to you, our firm can begin gathering the details of your bankruptcy situation and forming a case that protects your financial future.

THE LAW OFFICE OF CHRISTOPHER P. WALKER IS THE RIGHT TEAM FOR YOU

For nearly 30 years, the staff at the Law Office of Christopher P. Walker has offered bankruptcy guidance and legal services to those overwhelmed by their position. No matter if you’re concerned about your student loans, credit card debt, or threats from creditors, we have the skills necessary to help you get through it all. The process could be lengthy and difficult, but we’re committed to representing you.

Bankruptcy can be tough to deal with, especially if you have no knowledge of how to advocate for yourself. We hope to provide a clear and concise case for you so you can begin recovering your debt while protecting what you care about. Prolonging your situation or neglecting to hire an attorney could be disastrous down the line, and you may lose certain assets that you want to hold onto.

We understand the difficulty of admitting you need help, but our compassionate and knowledgeable team can offer you a path out of the financial stress you’ve been living under. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at the Law Office of Christopher P. Walker today. If you’re unclear about how bankruptcy works or if you need legal guidance that you can trust, our team, which is based in Corona, is ready to help.

To learn more about bankruptcy laws, as well as how we can defend you, contact us today to set up a consultation.

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