Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

What Bankruptcy Does to Your Credit Score

A common concern people have when filing for bankruptcy is the effect it will leave on their credit score and their ability to access credit, again. While bankruptcy does affect your credit score, it is sometimes the last resort to rebuild your credit and your financial future. In fact, it is oftentimes easier to reestablish your credit after filing for bankruptcy, because you are essentially given a “clean slate.”

It helps to sort through the myths and facts before making that final decision, and if you do choose to file for bankruptcy, this does not mean all hope is loss. There are proven ways to rebuild your credit score after bankruptcy, and our clients are proof!

My credit score said on all three reports 775, I couldn’t believe that I had such a great score before 10 years. Tim for me was the best move I have made for my situation. I have no regrets, I am glad the past is the past. – Bill T.

Hi Tim- I just wanted to send a quick note and thank you and your team for handling my bankruptcy case.  It is only a month or two after discharge, and my credit scores are already in the upper 600’s. – C.S.

The effects of bankruptcy on a person’s credit score depends on the score the filer had before filing for bankruptcy. If you have a higher credit score, the effect the bankruptcy will have will be more noticeable. However, if you have a lower credit score to begin with, the change may not be as much after filing for bankruptcy.

According to data from FICO, for individuals who had credit scores of 780 or more, the average amount of decrease is around 240, with a resulting credit score of 540. If the filer had a fair credit score of around 680, the decrease is on average 150 points, resulting in a score of 530. Both scores end up at roughly the same point, but the drop that the filer sees in getting to that score is noticeably different.

The good news is the American credit scoring system allows consumers to rebuild their credit score quite quickly after filing for bankruptcy. Even with a credit score at 550, you can still get back to a respectable score within one to two years through demonstrating good financial habits.

These habits include monitoring your credit report on a regular basis, ensuring that any accounts that are at a zero balance. Many financial experts recommend using a secured credit card to use for purchases to rebuild credit. After some time has passed and you have successfully used the secured card for a period, you may be able to slowly take on new credit, although it is never recommended that you have more than one account opened within a six-month period.

Rebuilding your credit is important for many reasons, the main one being it will allow you to be able to borrow in the future. Many filers worry that they will never be in the financial situation to purchase a home or qualify for another loan- these are all bankruptcy myths. Stick to a budget and a sound financial plan following bankruptcy, and you will be back on your feet before you know it.

If you have questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

 

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Foreclosures, Timothy Kingcade Posts

If you are facing foreclosure, Bankruptcy can help.

Every month, there are a number of Americans who fall behind on their mortgage payments. Some homeowners are able to work out loan modifications with their lenders, but many are not. It may seem counter-intuitive, but when someone is facing foreclosure and is in the middle of a major financial crisis, bankruptcy can be a viable option to help save that person’s home. Ultimately, it depends on your specific financial situation and the type of bankruptcy you file – but bankruptcy can be used as a tool to help keep your home.

The Power of the Automatic Stay

If your home is already set for a foreclosure sale, you may be asking, “how can I make it stop?” Filing for bankruptcy can put a stop to the process or at the very least postpone it. As soon as a petition for bankruptcy is filed, the court issues an order called an “automatic stay,” which puts an immediate halt to all collection activities that were happening to the homeowner before the petition was filed. This automatic stay also applies to foreclosure cases.  Creditors (including your mortgage lender) must immediately cease collection attempts. Even if the mortgage lender has the home scheduled for a foreclosure sale, the sale will be postponed during a pending bankruptcy.

How a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy can Help:

Chapter 7 bankruptcy cancels all the debt secured by the home, including mortgages and home equity loans. This type of bankruptcy also goes a step further, thanks to a new law, Chapter 7 also forgives the homeowner for tax liability for losses the mortgage or home-improvement lender incurs because of the homeowner’s default.

How a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy can Help:

If you want to stay in your home and do whatever possible to get caught up on past-due mortgage payments, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be the best option. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is also known as a reorganization bankruptcy. It allows you, as the bankruptcy filer, to work with the bankruptcy trustee to create a repayment plan to catch up on qualifying payments. Chapter 13 bankruptcy plans normally last anywhere between three to five years.

Florida’s Bankruptcy Exemptions

Florida has one of the most generous homestead exemptions in the country and allows homeowners to claim an unlimited value of their primary residence (if the property is not larger than half an acre in a municipality or 160 acres in a non-municipality). To use Florida’s exemptions, you must have resided in Florida for at least 730 days before filing your bankruptcy petition.

Although bankruptcy and foreclosure can be damaging to your credit, sometimes filing for bankruptcy can be the start of rebuilding your credit because it allows you to obtain a fresh start.  Foreclosure not only damages your credit, but you are left with the mortgage debt, which will likely result in creditors not considering you for future mortgages.  If you find yourself facing foreclosure and are concerned about your financial future, remember that filing for bankruptcy may help save your home.

If you have questions on this topic or are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade Garcia McMaken has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade Garcia McMaken website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.