Tag: Florida Bankruptcy Exemptions

Bankruptcy Law

What Assets are Exempt in Bankruptcy?

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Bankruptcy filers often fear losing everything they own when going through a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. You may think that filing for bankruptcy means you have to give up your home, your car, and other important assets.  This is simply not true. The vast majority of Chapter 7 cases are no-asset cases, meaning the debtor gives up no possessions. This happens for two reasons. First, you can allot for basic assets, called exemptions that are necessary for day-to-day living. What you can exempt varies from state to state, so be sure to discuss exemptions with an experienced bankruptcy attorney. For possessions that are not part of the exemption, creditors likely don’t want them.  Under Chapter 13, you keep all of your assets, but the value of them figures into your repayment plan.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Code and Florida bankruptcy laws protect a great deal of a consumer’s property, if used appropriately.

Bankruptcy Law, Car Repossession, Consumer Bankruptcy

What Happens to My Car During Bankruptcy?

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Will filing for bankruptcy cause me to lose my car? The fear of losing everything is a very real fear for many bankruptcy filers. However, this is one of the most common bankruptcy myths, and can keep individuals who are drowning financially from filing for bankruptcy. One concern many filers have is, what will happen to my car during bankruptcy?

The good news is most filers will be able to keep their vehicles after filing for bankruptcy. Florida bankruptcy laws offer generous exemptions which allow individuals to keep various types of property, including their vehicle. Under the Florida Motor Vehicle Exemption, bankruptcy filers can exempt up to $1,000 in motor vehicle equity. This amount can be even more if a married couple is filing for bankruptcy jointly.

Bankruptcy Law

What Assets are Exempt from Creditors in Florida?

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Bankruptcy filers often fear losing everything they own when going through a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. The good news is the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and Florida bankruptcy laws protect a great deal of a consumer’s assets and property, if used appropriately.

The State of Florida has some of the most generous bankruptcy exemptions in the country. For these exemptions to apply, the consumer must have lived in the state for at least two years before filing. Otherwise, federal exemptions apply.

Bankruptcy Law, Consumer Bankruptcy

Understanding Bankruptcy

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Many people view bankruptcy as an intimidating and complicated process. While bankruptcy can have its complications, many of the fear surrounding it has more to do with consumers not fully understanding the process itself. Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding that allows individual consumers or businesses who are struggling with debt to eliminate these debts and start over. The process is meant to help consumers and is not something to be feared.

All bankruptcy filings are heard in special federal courts set up throughout the 50 states. Bankruptcy procedures are governed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, although states, including Florida, can enact their own rules that preempt federal procedures.

Consumer Bankruptcy

Fear Holds Many People Back from Ever Filing Bankruptcy

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There are many people who can benefit from bankruptcy, but put off filing due to fear and the myths surrounding bankruptcy. Bankruptcy offers consumers a fresh financial start and relief from the burden of debt, but for many, it is the fear of the unknown that holds them back from ever taking the first step. Every year, only a small portion of consumers who could benefit from bankruptcy actually move forward with starting a case.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, approximately 14 percent (14%) of U.S. households or nearly 17 million consumers owe more than they own. While most of these individuals could benefit from bankruptcy, less than one percent (1%) of them file for bankruptcy annually. In 2020, there were only 752,160 personal bankruptcies filed. 

Bankruptcy Law

What is a ‘No Asset’ Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Case?

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In a no-asset Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, the person filing for bankruptcy keeps all of their property because it falls within the exemptions provided under federal law or the law in their state.

With a Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy, a filer surrenders their assets to the bankruptcy estate, which uses them to pay off creditors. But in reality, this is only true of non-exempt property. Many of our cases, are in fact, ‘no asset’ cases. Bankruptcy law recognizes that filers need to retain some property so they can survive the process with something on which to build a future after bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy Law

How Will Filing For Bankruptcy Affect My Spouse?

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Filing for bankruptcy when someone is married can be a joint process, or it can be done by only one spouse proceeding with the case. Ultimately, it depends on the type of debt and the financial situations for both spouses. For example, if one only spouse owes a specific debt or debts, then that spouse may be able to proceed on a bankruptcy alone, especially if the other spouse has good credit and very few other debts. Proceeding with a single bankruptcy case while married can be complicated, and in certain situations, it can adversely affect the non-filing spouse, but not always.  

Joint Debts

In any marriage, parties bring in their own, individual debts, and debts are almost always incurred during the marriage, as well. One spouse may choose to take out a loan, not naming the other spouse on the debt, which means only the spouse whose name is on the debt is responsible for what is owed. If that spouse is not able to continue making payments on the debt, he or she can proceed with a bankruptcy to discharge that debt. If the debts listed in that bankruptcy case belong to the filing spouse alone and not the non-filing spouse, discharging the filer’s debts and liabilities should be a straightforward process. It becomes more complicated if any of the debts listed in the bankruptcy case belong to the non-filing spouse. In these situations, these joint debts will normally remain with the non-filing spouse. 

Bankruptcy Law

What Happens When You File for Bankruptcy? 

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The bankruptcy process is meant to give consumers who are struggling financially a fresh start. However, many consumers hold off due to the fear of filing for bankruptcy, even if it is the best option. Bankruptcy cases have both positive aspects, as well as negative ones, that go along with beginning and successfully finalizing a case. It is important to understand how a bankruptcy case works before moving forward with filing so that the person filing knows what to expect.  

Automatic Stay 

One of the most positive aspects of proceeding with a consumer bankruptcy case is the automatic stay that accompanies the filing. As soon as a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy case is initiated, an automatic stay of all collection efforts against the filer is issued. What this means is the consumer’s creditors are temporarily blocked from moving forward on collecting any outstanding debt. This stay also stops wage garnishments, foreclosures, or completion of legal collections cases. The purpose of the automatic stay is to give the consumer a chance to work with the bankruptcy trustee on determining how various debts should be handled. A creditor can file a request to continue collection even though an automatic stay has been issued, but they can only continue if the request is granted.  

Bankruptcy Law

Tips to Keep in Mind Before Filing for Bankruptcy in Florida

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Many people view bankruptcy as this great unknown and truly do not understand the process before filing. However, it helps to understand what is involved when filing for bankruptcy and what to expect during the process.

What Is Bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy is a legal proceeding that basically provides the filer a fresh financial start. While it does involve putting the filer’s financial situation in the hands of the bankruptcy court and bankruptcy trustee, it can give the person a chance to breathe and get back on his or her feet. Bankruptcy will put all collection proceedings and foreclosure cases at a stop through the automatic stay and will also stop creditors from continuing to contact the consumer.

Bankruptcy Law, Debt Relief

Which Type of Bankruptcy Eliminates the Most Debts?

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When it comes to filing for bankruptcy, several different options are available, depending on the filer’s financial situation and types of debt owed. Two of the most common forms of consumer bankruptcy filings are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.

Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy that wipes out most of your general unsecured debts such as credit cards and medical bills without the need to pay back balances through a repayment plan.