With tips on understanding -- and surviving -- the new bankruptcy laws If you're considering bankruptcy, you need straightforward answers and reliable advice. This handy guide covers it all -- so you can get your finances in line and your life back on track. This updated new edition covers everything you need to know about the new bankruptcy law and includes even better resources. Don't get desperate -- get out of debt instead! Discover how to * Weigh the consequences of bankruptcy * Manage your spending * Find professional help you can trust * Decide on the right type of bankruptcy * Pass the means test * Keep more of your stuff

The number of new personal bankruptcies filed each year continue to increase. And there is no relief in sight. Bankruptcy is never a painless or easy decision, but with a little know-how, you can get through this process with a minimum of headache, heartache, and indigestion. With a clear focus towards the future, you can then begin to get your finances—and your life—back in order. If you’re considering bankruptcy, are currently in the process of filing for bankruptcy, or on the brink of bankruptcy and looking for a way to get through debt, Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies can help you make the best decisions about your financial future. Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies is a nuts-and-bolts toolbox, which covers both Chap7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Written by two seasoned experts on bankruptcy law, this easy-to-follow guide walks you through the bankruptcy process and explains how to rebuild your credit after filing for bankruptcy. Straightforward answers and re liable advice can help you sort out all of your possibilities, with a clear understanding of what you have to gain and what’s to lose. This carefully written guidebook will show you how to: Consider alternatives to bankruptcy Decide which type of bankruptcy is right for you Prevent further financial damage before filing for bankruptcy Defend yourself from bill collectors and the IRS Save your home and other important assets Wipe out credit card debt Use bankruptcy to deal with tax debts Repair your credit and stay out of financial trouble Filled with expert tips and tactics for navigating the world of bankruptcy, Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies gives you the ammunition and information you need to intelligently and confidently choose your own best path and get back on your feet again.

The essential chapters for those facing Chapter Seven or Chapter Eleven. With the percentage of personal bankruptcies soaring to over 10% nationwide, and the process for filing now more complicated, many are investigating their options. This guide, by a business journalist and bankruptcy expert, offers the reader comprehensive information on: all capters of personal bankruptcy; the most current legal information; and a detailed explanation on filing. ?Jargon-free, pragmatic financial advice ? Clear, complete and up-to-date information about all aspects of personal bankruptcy ? State by state exceptions under new laws ? Complete listing of vital websites to research before filing

The most comprehensive and reliable guide for consumers--by the nation's preeminent bankruptcy attorney. This information-packed guide offers consumers all the help they will need to protect themselves through every step in the bankruptcy process.

The Complete Chapter 7 Personal Bankruptcy Guide has everything you need to file and complete a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case.

According to the National Bankruptcy Research Center, there were nearly 1.4 million personal bankruptcy filings through November 2009 — a 32 percent increase from 2008. If yours is part of the one in every 70 families that file for bankruptcy each year, you are not alone. When faced with this overwhelming and emotional choice, there are hundreds of questions to ask and things to consider. Let How to File for Your Own Personal Bankruptcy be your guide as you make the hardest financial decision of your life. You will learn exactly what it means to file for bankruptcy, and how personal bankruptcy can get rid of your debt. Included in this book, you will not only find detailed descriptions of your filing options, but also tips for choosing the type of bankruptcy that is right for you. Common bankruptcy myths will be exposed, and a comprehensive explanation of personal bankruptcy laws will help you understand how the filing process affects you and your family, as well what it means for your future. Filled with advice of where to start if you decide to file for bankruptcy, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the means test, through which you can determine if you are eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and thus wipe out all of your debt by liquidating your assets. You will learn how to handle and negotiate with bill collectors on your own, and what personal items, like your car and your home, are safe from creditors. This book will teach you how to assess your credit-to-debt ratio while giving you the tools and information you need to keep track of bankruptcy schedules, fees, actions, and statements on your own. After reading this complete guide, you will be able to clear your debt without having to spend even more money on a lawyer. This book will walk you through the whole bankruptcy process in a step-by-step manner that will teach you how to save your home and secure your debts. You will learn where to go for help, how your trustee is chosen, and how you can avoid problems with him or her during the personal bankruptcy process. We have spent hundreds of hours interviewing dozens of bankruptcy lawyers and financial experts to compile everything you need to know to get back on your feet. You will also learn how to repair your credit after you have survived this financial crisis — without the help of a lawyer.