Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are the preferred routes taken by individuals filing for bankruptcy. Each has specific requirements that you must meet if you wish to get your debts discharged. According to Los Angeles based bankruptcy law firm Recovery Law Group , you need to be current on your payments and protect all home equity through bankruptcy exemptions in the case of Chapter 7. While in Chapter 13, you get a chance to catch up on missed mortgage payments through arrearage in the repayment plan.
Both state and federal government offer exemptions to protect your equity in the property when you file for bankruptcy. You might be able to choose between either of those options or make the best of the state exemptions. Before filing for bankruptcy, it is important to consult bankruptcy lawyers to know which chapter of bankruptcy will result in saving more property. Call 888-297-6023 to clear your doubts regarding exempt property and bankruptcy. The exemptions vary from state to state. In the case of chapter 7 bankruptcy, any non-exempt property will be sold, and the proceeds distributed among your creditors by the bankruptcy trustee. Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to keep your non-exempt property if you pay your creditors an amount equal to the amount of non-exempt property you are keeping. This proves to be costly and will not be approved unless you can show you have enough disposable income to repair creditors.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows you to get rid of unsecured debts relatively quickly. In most cases, people can protect their exempt property and have to let go home a small amount of non-exempt property. You can keep your home in this case of bankruptcy if:
- you are current on your mortgage payments;
- bankruptcy exemption protects your entire home equity;
- you can afford to make payments on the loan in the future
However, this chapter does not allow you to catch up on past due payments. In case you have a lot of equity in the house, it is difficult to protect it from being sold by the bankruptcy trustee to repay your creditors.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
This is a better option if you wish to keep your home when you have a lot of equity and have previous due payments to catch up on. Incidentally, it also helps in getting rid of second or third mortgages. This involves a repayment plan through which you can pay back your creditors over 3 to 5 years’ time frame. You could also ensure that a separate debt is added to the repayment plan which addresses your mortgage arrearage. You need to show that you have enough income to make regular mortgage payments along with your plan payments during bankruptcy.
Chapter 13 also prevents creditor to take any foreclosure action on the mortgage as long as you are making regular payments as per your repayment plan. Lien stripping helps you get rid of any junior lien on your home in case of Chapter 13 bankruptcy Los Angeles. This takes place only in case the property is now worth less than the balance of the primary loan. evidence pertaining to this if submitted bankruptcy court might make any junior lien void. Any debt owed to that creditor is treated as unsecured debt and is wiped out along with other similar debts at the end of your bankruptcy case.