When you face serious financial problems filing Bankruptcy may well be a necessary and correct path for you. But caution is always required. By consulting with a law firm that has years of experience with Consumer Bankruptcy you can steer clear of some big pitfalls.
These are some of the serious DON’Ts to avoid when filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13:
- Don’t transfer assets such as giving a car to a friend or relative. This can cause severe problems if done without the advice of a lawyer. For a more in depth discussion see this article.
- Don’t wait to file income tax returns for the last 4 years. Even if you owe money, filing the return is essential or the taxes may never be discharged.
- Don’t repay debts to family and friends. If it is a lot of money a Chapter 7 trustee can sue the friend or family member causing a lot of heart ache. OK, if you owe $50 to Uncle Charlie. Not OK to pay thousands or you are asking for trouble.
- Don’t do a short sale on your house to avoid a foreclosure. This can cause a large income tax liability. For a more in depth discussion, click here.
- Don’t max out your credit cards and/or go on a spending spree. Incurring debt just before filing a bankruptcy can cause problems you don’t need including a denial of the discharge of some or all your debts.
- Don’t pay off a car loan. This can cause problems with the Illinois exemptions. For a more in depth discussion on exemptions in Illinois click here.
- Don’t take money out of a retirement account to pay off debts.
Robert J Adams & Associates is committed to helping our clients eliminate debt and keep their house and cars. We are always on your side.