article thumbnail

How Much Debt is Needed to File for Bankruptcy?

Sawin & Shea

Firstly, you need to understand the difference between unsecured and secured debts. Unsecured debts refer to debts that don’t have collateral. Some examples of unsecured debts include, but are not limited to, repossessions deficiencies, old lease balances, medical bills, cash advance loans, and credit card debts.

article thumbnail

What is the Difference Between Secured and Unsecured Debt?

Sawin & Shea

However, which type of bankruptcy you file will also depend on what kind of debt you have. Secured and unsecured debt is handled differently in Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13. What is Secured Debt? Secured debts are a type of debt backed by an asset that is used as collateral.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Can I File Bankruptcy on Just My Credit Cards?

Sawin & Shea

You aren’t allowed to pick and choose which debt you want the bankruptcy to apply to. Briefly, unsecured debts are not backed by any collateral and include things like credit card balances and unpaid medical bills. Creditors cannot reclaim any of your property if you default on a loan. What is my total credit card debt?

article thumbnail

Nearly Half of Indiana Facing Medical Debt

Sawin & Shea

Out of the reported debt statistics, 35% of all debts in collections were medical, which surpassed other forms of debt. 25% of debts in collections were credit card related, and 20% were student loan debts. What Should I Do If I Have Medical Debts?

article thumbnail

Questions to Ask a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer Before Filing for Bankruptcy

Sawin & Shea

This includes debts such as credit card balances, medical bills, personal loans, utility bills, back rent, mortgages, and car payments. However, if you used your home or car as a secured debt with a lender, you may need to return the property to the lender if you don’t pay as agreed.

article thumbnail

Does Filing for Bankruptcy Eliminate Debt?

Sawin & Shea

With Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you’ll be able to eliminate most unsecured debts, which includes: Credit card debt Medical debt Personal loans Payday loans Utility bills It’s important to keep in mind, though, that Chapter 7 will not eliminate all kinds of debt.

article thumbnail

What Assets Do You Lose in Chapter 7?

Sawin & Shea

Reaffirming Debts in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows you to discharge your unsecured accounts, but you cannot do away with a creditor’s a security interest, meaning a debt with collateral must either get paid or the collateral property surrendered.