Bankruptcy can help if you are facing a property tax foreclosure — Chapter 7 by getting rid of other debts, Chapter 13 by buying you lots more time.
Chapter 7 provides no mechanism to cure your mortgage. But Chapter 13 does provide a powerful, realistic, and practical way to do so.
Chapter 13 can be an advantageous way to protect excess home equity that is above your homestead exemption.
Vehicle loan cramdown doesn't just likely reduce your vehicle payments and the total you pay. You'd also not have to catch up on late payments.
To qualify for a Chapter 13 vehicle loan cramdown, mostly your loan must be at least two and a half years old. There are exceptions to this.
Do you owe income taxes for the 2018 tax year AND already owe for one or more tax years? Chapter 13 may be an especially good tool for you.
Bankruptcy is about writing off or discharging debts. The timing of discharge is quite different in Chapter 7 and 13; both are permanent.
Do you expect to owe income taxes for the 2018 tax year? Starting January 1, 2019 you can wrap that tax into a new Chapter 13 payment plan.
Chapter 13 is a riskier, longer, and maybe more expensive way to escape a dischargeable income tax deb--but may still be your best option.
With smart timing you can discharge--legally and permanently write off--more income tax debts, even with a standard Chapter 7 case.
Following up on last week's scenario, here are the financial, credit record, and other disadvantages of a forced 5-year Chapter 13 plan.
Do you need a Chapter 13 case? WHEN you file it can mean the difference between a payment plan that takes 3 years and one that takes 5.
Here's a scenario showing how the timing of your Chapter 13 filing can shorten your payment plan from 5 years to only 3.
You can keep your leased vehicle under Chapter 7 if you're current. If not, or have other reasons to do a Chapter 13 case, that works too.
Chapter 7 gets you out of a vehicle lease owing nothing. Chapter 13 is more complicated but can give you pretty much the same good result.