Bankruptcy
Many people have trouble paying their bills, especially when they lose their job. If you are overwhelmed by debt and can’t pay your bills, you may have to file for bankruptcy. There’s no formula for deciding when bankruptcy is the right choice. It’s an option to consider if:
- You are paying only minimum amounts on your bills and
- You can’t budget yourself out of debt within five years or
- You are getting notices that your mortgage or loans are being foreclosed or
- You have had a severe financial setback, such as losing your job, going through a divorce, or incurring costly medical expenses
Bankruptcy doesn’t avoid all debts
Non-dischargeable debts include:
- Alimony
- Child support
- Back taxes
- Student loans
- Fines or penalties of government agencies
- Fraudulent debts
- Cash advances taken shortly before or in anticipation of filing bankruptcy
As a consumer…
You can file for bankruptcy in Ohio under either:
- Chapter 7 (Liquidation Bankruptcy) to wipe out all debts except those listed above, or
- Chapter 13 (Wage Earner Bankruptcy) to set up a repayment plan to pay back your debts over an extended period of time.