Stop Foreclosure By Filing For Bankruptcy?
Articles - Mortgage
Knowing that your home is facing foreclosure is one of the most stressful events you can experience. Chances are, you would do almost anything to be able to stop worrying and know that your home is safe. When you file for chapter thirteen, you are able to stop foreclosure on your home.
by GingerTaylor


Knowing that your home is facing foreclosure is one of the most stressful events you can experience. Chances are, you would do almost anything to be able to stop worrying and know that your home is safe. When you file for chapter thirteen, you are able to stop foreclosure on your home.

Filing for bankruptcy is bad for your credit, but sometimes it can save a home from foreclosure. Under chapter thirteen of the US bankruptcy code, debtors are allowed to submit a plan for repaying their debts. The foreclosure process is halted as soon as you file for chapter thirteen. However, your repayment plan is subject to review by creditors and must be approved by the bankruptcy court.

You can't file for bankruptcy until after you have completed credit counseling. This requirement serves the purpose of making sure that bankruptcy is really the only way you will be able to pay off your debts. The credit counseling company will work with you try to come up with a way for you to repay your debts without bankruptcy. Their proposed plan must be submitted when you file.

Within fourteen days after you file for chapter thirteen, you must file your repayment plan. This is usually done at the same time as the original filing, but it can be done later if you are not quite ready yet, as long as it is on file with the court within fourteen days.

After filing, a creditor's meeting will be set up. You must appear at this meeting to answer your creditors' questions about your repayment plan. Some of your creditors may question the amount you are proposing to pay. They want to make sure that you will not have any money left over after paying your debts and necessary living expenses.

After the creditor's meeting has been completed, your repayment plan will be reviewed by the court to make sure that it meets the requirements set forth in the bankruptcy code. It can take up to 45 days for approval, but you have to start making payments according to the terms of the agreement within 30 days.

The biggest drawback to using chapter thirteen bankruptcy to stop foreclosure is that if you are unable to pay the payments as agreed, you could still end up going through foreclosure. The judge can dismiss your case or make you go through chapter seven, where your assets are sold to cover your debts, if you don't pay everything as agreed. For this reason, you should consider all of the potential risks and benefits before deciding to go ahead with filing for bankruptcy.



DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice.