Posts Tagged ‘Bankruptcy’

How to Improve Your Credit Rating After Bankruptcy

Friday, February 13th, 2009

Bad credit and bankruptcy are the two most dreaded words in the financial world. These two things can greatly impact your financial situation. But what you are not aware of is the fact that you can improve your credit rating after bankruptcy.

Your credit rating and bankruptcy are related to each other. People with credit tend to make full use of it. This results in a big debt that makes it very difficult to repay. This results in bankruptcy. Though many consider bankruptcy to be a blot on their name, it is not necessarily true. Once you declare bankruptcy, you get a fresh chance to start working on getting good credit again.

After you declare bankruptcy, certain things occur. The most important thing that happens is that you get a tremendous sense of relief from having to clear off your unsecured debts. But the other side of the coin is that your creditors and lenders will start considering you risky. This will make it difficult for you to get extended credit when needed. Those lenders who agree to give you credit will charge higher rate of interest. But this gives you a chance to improve your credit after bankruptcy.

One of the things you can do is to get a credit card with high interest. But make judicious use of this card while purchasing. Use the card only if you are sure you can repay the loan within a couple of months. Make timely payments. This improves your credit history and will provide a solid base to your credit history. If you persist in this fashion, your credit rating will go up after some time. Since you have declared bankruptcy, your payments for the other debts will be low. This will provide you money to pay off your credit card dues.

What you need to remember is that this process doesn’t happen quickly. It can stretch over months or even years. Once you are through with bankruptcy, your other debts will be cleared, there will be no fresh debts and your credit history will be as good as new.

5 Tips For Getting An Attorney for your Bankruptcy

Friday, February 13th, 2009

With many people trying to live beyond their means combined with job instability has led to the increasing number of people declaring bankruptcy. As a result, a new legislation called the “Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act” has been enacted. Many people cannot pay off their debts and now have to face new laws for filing bankruptcies.

For filing bankruptcy, you need a good bankruptcy attorney. These following tips will guide you in choosing a good attorney:

1. Explore all your available alternatives by asking detailed questions. Question every prospective lawyer thoroughly and if you are not satisfied, do not hesitate to walk out of the meeting. Choose a specialized lawyer with lot of bankruptcy experience behind him. Stay away from a general lawyer who may help you in ordinary case of bankruptcy but will be ineffective when it comes to informing you about the status of your case.

2. Ensure your bankruptcy lawyer takes pain to explain the workings of the new bankruptcy laws. You should understand how these laws help you to get out of the debt and make a fresh start. You should also understand the effect of the bankruptcy code on the bankruptcy proceedings. The lawyer should inform you about the bankruptcy chapter that is applicable to your case, the bills that you can skip, the extensions given for the payments, the belongings that can remain with you and other information about the bankruptcy case.

3. Read the entire representation agreement, the draft schedules, the court notices and communications sent by the lawyer regarding your bankruptcy case. Ask your lawyer to explain any information that is incomprehensible to you. Be honest about your loans and assets.

4. Remain in charge of your bankruptcy case, since you are the only one who is aware of all the details about the case and you will be highly affected by the court decision. Study the effects of filing bankruptcy before actually filing one. This will save you from all the future problems.

5. Ensure that your bankruptcy attorney will get you debt relief and assist you with vital information, services and advice to streamline your finances. He should inform you about the bankruptcy laws and how to make the best use of them in your case.

Bankruptcy law is a specialized field and is not as simple as it seems. There are many matters that are not glaringly obvious. Choose a specialized and expert bankruptcy attorney who will help you clear out the issues, provide options and solutions that you want. You should be comfortable while dealing with the attorney. He should answer all your questions in manner that you can understand.