Consider Using Bankruptcy to Stop Foreclosure

By Adam Whazzer

Filing for bankruptcy under chapter thirteen is a method that is used by many homeowners to stop foreclosure. This is the only form of bankruptcy that offers hope of allowing the mortgagee to remain in the home. If you are trying to avoid losing your home to foreclosure by filing for bankruptcy, you need to file for chapter thirteen bankruptcy, not chapter seven.

For people who are having trouble paying their monthly payments, bankruptcy reorganization allows the possibility of restructuring debt with new terms so that the resulting payments are more manageable. Chapter thirteen bankruptcy does not help people who have more debts than they can ever hope to repay. You must be able to present a realistic plan for repaying your debts within a reasonable time period.

The best part of filing for chapter thirteen bankruptcy is that it usually stops the foreclosure process immediately. This is not a permanent thing though. It's just a temporary stay until the bankruptcy proceedings are completed. Some people choose to take advantage of this stay to try to get their house sold if they have a sale pending. It may buy enough time to allow you to complete the sale before the foreclosure goes through. However, a bankruptcy looks just as bad as a foreclosure on your credit report so that should be taken into consideration.

If you end up with both a home foreclosure and a chapter thirteen bankruptcy on your credit, it will really reduce your chances of getting a loan in the future. It is best to have as few negative marks as possible on your credit report. That is especially true of the biggest negatives - bankruptcy, foreclosure and eviction.

Since bankruptcy reorganization is one way that someone facing foreclosure has a shot at keeping their home, it is worth taking a look at if you are in that situation. If you qualify for bankruptcy reorganization and can come up with a plan that is acceptable to the court for paying back your debts, you may be able to stay in your home.

During bankruptcy reorganization, be careful not to agree to a repayment plan that will be extremely difficult for you to abide by. Think of this as your last chance to save your home. If you fall behind on your payments again after you have gone through a chapter thirteen bankruptcy, it is very unlikely that you will be able to save your home.

You should speak with an experienced bankruptcy attorney before filing for chapter thirteen bankruptcy reorganization. An attorney who has handled many bankruptcy cases will be able to explain how bankruptcy works and advise you on whether it is likely to help you with your situation. Make sure you select an attorney who has done a lot of work with bankruptcy and foreclosure.

Not everyone will benefit from bankruptcy reorganization, but depending on your circumstances it could be your best option for stopping foreclosure on your home. Be sure to do your homework first though because there are pros and cons to filing for chapter thirteen bankruptcy. Only you can decide whether the pros outweigh the cons.

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