Tag Archive for: ClearwaterBankruptcy

Should you Reaffirm a Mortgage In Bankruptcy?

My answer is NO.

Reaffirming a debt means that if you don’t make your future payments the mortgage company can sue you for the balance due after your Chapter 7 is over.   The debt is not discharged if you reaffirmed the debt.

Debtors are required to reaffirm their car loans in bankruptcy in order to keep their vehicles, even if they are current on the vehicle.  Mortgages are a different story however, you can just continue to pay the mortgage and keep the house, without reaffirming the debt.  The mortgage company will not report your mortgage payments, on time or late to the credit bureaus.

If the debtor stops paying the mortgage and has not reaffirmed the debt, the most the mortgage company can do is to take the house back in foreclosure.  The mortgage company will not be able to obtain a personal judgment against you if you have a bankruptcy discharge and did not reaffirm the debt.

This means if later you decided you do not want to keep the home any longer, you can strategically default on your mortgage and just walk away.  This is very valuable.

Why would you consider reaffirming a mortgage then?

If the mortgage company agrees to modify one or more of the mortgage terms so the mortgage is more beneficial to the Debtors you could consider reaffirming.   Possible modifications terms could be a lower interest rate, a lower monthly payment, placing arrears on the back end of the mortgage, or deeming a default current on your credit report.

Reaffirming a mortgage debt requires a complex multi-page agreement which must be approved by the Court.  Unless the Debtor is receiving a  benefit from the mortgage company, most attorneys will not sign off on the agreement and it will require a court hearing.

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney

What Debts Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Wipe Out?

  • Credit Card Debts
  • Hospital Bills
  • Most Lawsuit Judgments
  • Wage Garnishments
  • Payday Loans
  • Utility Bills
  • Foreclosure Deficiency Balances
  • Vehicle Repossession Deficiency Balances

In Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, the remaining balance of these debts, if any, is WIPED OUT after making monthly payments for 36-60 months.  Schedule your free bankruptcy consultation to learn more.

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

How Do I Qualify For a Chapter 13?

    • I Have Regular Income
    • I Don’t Qualify For A Chapter 7 under the Means Test
    • I want to Save a House in Foreclosure
    • I want to Save A Car From Repossion
    • My Unsecured Debts (Like Credit Cards) Are Under $419,275*
    • My Secured Debts (Like Mortgages) Are Under $1,257,850*  

 

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

  • *As of April 1, 2019

What Does Chapter 13 Do?

  • Stop Foreclosures
  • Cure Mortgage Loan Delinquency
  • Reduce Principal Debt On Car Loans
  • Wipe Out Second Mortgages
  • Stop IRS Collections

 

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

Qualifying For A Chapter 7

  • Your Income Barely Covers Your Bills
  • You Can Pass The Bankruptcy “Means Test” Or You Have Exceptional Circumstances
  • You Don’t Have Enough Assets To Pay Off Your Debts
  • Your Debts are Non-Consumer
  • You are a Business Liquidating

 

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Overview

This is a slide show presentation on Chapter 13 click  the link to continue

https://www.haikudeck.com/copy-of-haiku-deck-in-action-business-presentation-74c47b369e

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

Middle District New Administrative Order

  • The Third Amended Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Chapter 13 Cases and the revised Model Plan, effective September 6, 2016, require debtors who modify their mortgages during their Chapter 13 case to include the modified mortgage payments in their Chapter 13 plan payments to be paid through the Chapter 13 Trustee’s office. 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated in Canada and the United States as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. It is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. Thanksgiving has its historical roots in religious and cultural traditions and has long been celebrated in a secular manner as well.

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

 Clearwater Bankruptcy Attorney, Clearwater Bankruptcy Lawyer, Clearwater Bankruptcy, Clearwater Estate Planning Attorney,  Pinellas Estate Planning Attorney, Pinellas Probate Attorney #FileLocallyDontOverpay #ClearwaterBankruptcy #ClearwaterBankruptcyAttorney #ClearwaterEstatePlanning #ClearwaterProbate