Federal Bankruptcy Explained
April 29, 2009 by Information About Bankruptcy
Filed under About Bankruptcy
In the United States, federal bankruptcy was designed by congress as a relief measure to persons or organizations who are financially distressed. In other words, in the face of insolvency, an individual or organization can find relief against their debt obligations in federal bankruptcy.
Chapter 7 of the federal bankruptcy code provides for the appointment of a trustee for the liquidation of assets of the debtor for orderly distribution to the creditors. When a debtor’s assets are being liquidated, federal bankruptcy code requires that this should be subject to certain exemptions.
Federal bankruptcy exemptions determine how much property a debtor can keep when they file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and also the category of items. One of the schedules in a debtor’s petition under the federal bankruptcy code is the schedule of exempt property. In essence, Federal bankruptcy law provides that creditors cannot claim certain properties of a debtor.
In the same manner, the debtor cannot be discharged of some debts. In some states, state exemptions are different from federal exemptions (in the United States). Although each state is permitted by law to adopt its own exemption law, certain states allow Federal bankruptcy exemptions and so a debtor may choose to abide by the federal list of exemptions or by that of their home state. But overall, the state decides which exemption is upheld in a bankruptcy court within that jurisdiction. This underscores congress goal to offer protection to financially distressed individuals or organizations. Married couples may double all exemptions under federal bankruptcy code.
Bankruptcy is something that could happen to anyone. Even big organizations do lose their shirts. Since bankruptcy is something that could actually happen to anybody, our laws provide safety nets for people, municipalities and business entities that have financial difficulties. Chapter 12 Bankruptcy deals with family farmer or fisher folks, Chapter 11 Bankruptcy deals with business reorganization, Chapter 9 talks about municipalities while Chapter 15 focus on ancillary and cross-border cases. Although there are many types of bankruptcy, only two of these types of bankruptcies actually concerns individuals like you. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy tell you how you van dissolve you piles of debts.
According to a study in 2007, on the rate of federal bankruptcy and state bankruptcy, businesses are embracing proceedings under state laws rather than federal bankruptcy laws because proceedings under the former is faster, less expensive and more private.
In view of this, the debtor should endeavor to compare Federal bankruptcy exemptions with their states exemptions using the guidance of a solicitor when filling their bankruptcy forms.
Filing Fees For Bankruptcy
Filing for bankruptcy entails some expenses. Just because you are broke that does not mean that you are exempt from court filing fees. However, the good news is that filing fees for individuals are very much lower compared to those filing fees imposed on businesses. For instance, where businesses filing under Chapter 11 Bankruptcy are required to filing fee in the amount of $ 1,039, individuals who are filing bankruptcy under Chapter are only required to pay $299 while those who are filing under Chapter 13 gets to pay $274. Family farmers and fisher folks also get to pay lower fees compared to big companies. Under Chapter 12 Bankruptcy these people are only required to pay $239. Sounds complicated? Not really. If you have experts to guide you through bankruptcy filing and the proceedings that will follow thereafter, you will get through the whole thing without a snag.
No matter the route you choose, guidance and information is very essential. Bear in mind that bankruptcy is not a panacea to financial indiscretion but an opportunity to start afresh and making use of the lessons learnt pre-bankruptcy.
Thanks to Legal Helpers for contributing this article to our Bankruptcy blog:
Chapter 7 of the federal bankruptcy code provides for the appointment of a trustee for the liquidation of assets of the debtor for orderly distribution to the creditors. When a debtor’s assets are being liquidated, federal bankruptcy code requires that this should be subject to certain exemptions.
Federal bankruptcy exemptions determine how much property a debtor can keep when they file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and also the category of items. One of the schedules in a debtor’s petition under the federal bankruptcy code is the schedule of exempt property. In essence, Federal bankruptcy law provides that creditors cannot claim certain properties of a debtor.
In the same manner, the debtor cannot be discharged of some debts. In some states, state exemptions are different from federal exemptions (in the United States). Although each state is permitted by law to adopt its own exemption law, certain states allow Federal bankruptcy exemptions and so a debtor may choose to abide by the federal list of exemptions or by that of their home state. But overall, the state decides which exemption is upheld in a bankruptcy court within that jurisdiction. This underscores congress goal to offer protection to financially distressed individuals or organizations. Married couples may double all exemptions under federal bankruptcy code.
Bankruptcy is something that could happen to anyone. Even big organizations do lose their shirts. Since bankruptcy is something that could actually happen to anybody, our laws provide safety nets for people, municipalities and business entities that have financial difficulties. Chapter 12 Bankruptcy deals with family farmer or fisher folks, Chapter 11 Bankruptcy deals with business reorganization, Chapter 9 talks about municipalities while Chapter 15 focus on ancillary and cross-border cases. Although there are many types of bankruptcy, only two of these types of bankruptcies actually concerns individuals like you. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy tell you how you van dissolve you piles of debts.
According to a study in 2007, on the rate of federal bankruptcy and state bankruptcy, businesses are embracing proceedings under state laws rather than federal bankruptcy laws because proceedings under the former is faster, less expensive and more private.
In view of this, the debtor should endeavor to compare Federal bankruptcy exemptions with their states exemptions using the guidance of a solicitor when filling their bankruptcy forms.
Filing Fees For Bankruptcy
Filing for bankruptcy entails some expenses. Just because you are broke that does not mean that you are exempt from court filing fees. However, the good news is that filing fees for individuals are very much lower compared to those filing fees imposed on businesses. For instance, where businesses filing under Chapter 11 Bankruptcy are required to filing fee in the amount of $ 1,039, individuals who are filing bankruptcy under Chapter are only required to pay $299 while those who are filing under Chapter 13 gets to pay $274. Family farmers and fisher folks also get to pay lower fees compared to big companies. Under Chapter 12 Bankruptcy these people are only required to pay $239. Sounds complicated? Not really. If you have experts to guide you through bankruptcy filing and the proceedings that will follow thereafter, you will get through the whole thing without a snag.
No matter the route you choose, guidance and information is very essential. Bear in mind that bankruptcy is not a panacea to financial indiscretion but an opportunity to start afresh and making use of the lessons learnt pre-bankruptcy.
Thanks to Legal Helpers for contributing this article to our Bankruptcy blog:
Understanding Bankruptcy to Handle the Process Better
April 26, 2009 by Information About Bankruptcy
Filed under About Bankruptcy
The term Bankruptcy means the legally declared inability of an individual or an organization to pay their credits. Involuntary bankruptcy is the situation in which the creditor may file a bankruptcy petition against a debtor to recover a portion of the amount dues him. Generally in a majority of cases, bankruptcy is initiated by the debtor known as “voluntary bankruptcy”. Bankruptcy in the United States is placed under ‘Federal jurisdiction” by the United States Constitution that enacts “uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States’.
Bankruptcy cases are always filed in the U.S.bankruptcy court-an adjunct to U.S. District court. Bankruptcy cases with respect to validity of claims and exemptions are highly dependent upon State laws and therefore in many bankruptcy cases, it is often impossible to generalize bankruptcy laws across state lines.
There are six types of bankruptcy under Bankruptcy Code of the U.S code.
Chapter 7: Basic liquidation for individuals and business.
Chapter 9: Municipal bankruptcy.
Chapter 11: Rehabilitation by business debtors and also by individuals with extensive debts and assets.
Chapter 12: Rehabilitation for family farmers and fishermen.
Chapter 13: Rehabilitation for individuals with a regular source of income.
Chapter 15: Ancillary and other international cases.
The most common types of personal bankruptcy for individuals are chapter 7 and chapter 13. In chapter 7, a debtor surrenders his or her non-exempt property to a bankruptcy trustee who liquidates the property and distributes the proceeds to the debtor’s creditors. In exchange for this, the debtor is entitled to a discharge from debt unless the debtor is not guilty of certain types of inappropriate behavior like hiding records concerning financial conditions. Many individuals who are bankrupt own only exempt property. The exempt amount varies from state to state. Chapter 7 relief is available only once in any 8 year period.
In chapter 13, the debtor retains ownership and possession of all his or her assets but must devote a part of his or her future income to creditors over a period of 3 to 5 years. The amount and period vary depending upon the value of debtor’s property and the amount of debtor’s income and expenses. Secured creditors are entitled to greater payment than unsecured creditors.
There are many types of proceedings that fit under bankruptcy. Chapter 7 liquidation involves the appointment of a trustee who collects the nonexempt properties of the debtor, sells them and distributes the ties proceeds to the creditors.
Chapter 9 is a form of bankruptcy available only to municipalities.
Chapter 11 involves allowing the debtor to keep a portion of his or her property and use the future earnings to pay off creditors.
Chapter 12 is similar to chapter 13 but available only to family farmers and family fishermen in certain situations.
Chapter 15 deals with foreign companies with U.S.debts.
Bankruptcy crimes: Bankruptcy fraud is filing a bankruptcy petition in a bankruptcy case to attempt to execute or conceal a scheme or pretense to defraud. Bankruptcy fraud also means making fraudulent representation claim or response in connection with a bankruptcy case. Bankruptcy fraud is punishable by a fine or by up to 5-year imprisonment or both. Bankruptcy crimes are prosecuted by the United States attorney after a reference from the U.S trustee.
Banks and other deposit institutions, insurance companies, railroads and certain other financial institutions regulated by the federal and state governments cannot be a debtor under the bankruptcy code. Instead, special state and federal laws govern the liquidation of these companies. It is erroneous to refer to a bank or insurer as being “bankrupt’. “Insolvent”, “in liquidation” or “in receivership” would be fitting under some circumstances in the U.S context at least.
Thanks to Lesley Lyon for contributing this article to our Bankruptcy blog:
Bankruptcy cases are always filed in the U.S.bankruptcy court-an adjunct to U.S. District court. Bankruptcy cases with respect to validity of claims and exemptions are highly dependent upon State laws and therefore in many bankruptcy cases, it is often impossible to generalize bankruptcy laws across state lines.
There are six types of bankruptcy under Bankruptcy Code of the U.S code.
Chapter 7: Basic liquidation for individuals and business.
Chapter 9: Municipal bankruptcy.
Chapter 11: Rehabilitation by business debtors and also by individuals with extensive debts and assets.
Chapter 12: Rehabilitation for family farmers and fishermen.
Chapter 13: Rehabilitation for individuals with a regular source of income.
Chapter 15: Ancillary and other international cases.
The most common types of personal bankruptcy for individuals are chapter 7 and chapter 13. In chapter 7, a debtor surrenders his or her non-exempt property to a bankruptcy trustee who liquidates the property and distributes the proceeds to the debtor’s creditors. In exchange for this, the debtor is entitled to a discharge from debt unless the debtor is not guilty of certain types of inappropriate behavior like hiding records concerning financial conditions. Many individuals who are bankrupt own only exempt property. The exempt amount varies from state to state. Chapter 7 relief is available only once in any 8 year period.
In chapter 13, the debtor retains ownership and possession of all his or her assets but must devote a part of his or her future income to creditors over a period of 3 to 5 years. The amount and period vary depending upon the value of debtor’s property and the amount of debtor’s income and expenses. Secured creditors are entitled to greater payment than unsecured creditors.
There are many types of proceedings that fit under bankruptcy. Chapter 7 liquidation involves the appointment of a trustee who collects the nonexempt properties of the debtor, sells them and distributes the ties proceeds to the creditors.
Chapter 9 is a form of bankruptcy available only to municipalities.
Chapter 11 involves allowing the debtor to keep a portion of his or her property and use the future earnings to pay off creditors.
Chapter 12 is similar to chapter 13 but available only to family farmers and family fishermen in certain situations.
Chapter 15 deals with foreign companies with U.S.debts.
Bankruptcy crimes: Bankruptcy fraud is filing a bankruptcy petition in a bankruptcy case to attempt to execute or conceal a scheme or pretense to defraud. Bankruptcy fraud also means making fraudulent representation claim or response in connection with a bankruptcy case. Bankruptcy fraud is punishable by a fine or by up to 5-year imprisonment or both. Bankruptcy crimes are prosecuted by the United States attorney after a reference from the U.S trustee.
Banks and other deposit institutions, insurance companies, railroads and certain other financial institutions regulated by the federal and state governments cannot be a debtor under the bankruptcy code. Instead, special state and federal laws govern the liquidation of these companies. It is erroneous to refer to a bank or insurer as being “bankrupt’. “Insolvent”, “in liquidation” or “in receivership” would be fitting under some circumstances in the U.S context at least.
Thanks to Lesley Lyon for contributing this article to our Bankruptcy blog:
http://www.assistfinancial.info extensively deals with bankruptcy to help laymen understand the legal process better. http://www.monetaryguru.com helps find better solutions to avoid foreclosures.
