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Secured vs Unsecured Debt: Everything You Need to Know

Sawin & Shea

Declaring bankruptcy will discharge most types of debt but not others. Before you declare bankruptcy, it’s crucial to understand how the law treats the concept of secured vs unsecured debt. Chapter 13 involves commitment from the declarer to repay a portion of their debt over a specified period (usually three to five years).

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Can You Use a Bankruptcy to Stop a Foreclosure?

Sawin & Shea

If you’re considering filing for bankruptcy, you’re not alone; roughly 375,000 people filed for bankruptcy in 2022, and home foreclosure filings rose 115% in 2022 over the number of foreclosures in 2021. The good news is that homeowners can get back on their feet and keep their homes with various options to stop foreclosure.

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Debtor Education Course After Filing for Bankruptcy

Sawin & Shea

Since 2005, a debtor education course from an approved provider is mandatory for anyone who files for bankruptcy. Debtor education classes provide customized guidance based on your unique circumstances. Since then, bankruptcy filers have been required to take both a bankruptcy credit counseling course and a debtor education course.

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Consumer Debt vs. Non Consumer Debt

Sawin & Shea

With consumer debts, co-debtors receive the protection of an automatic stay. For example, if you co-own a house with someone filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy and the house is your primary residence, the automatic stay will protect you from a home foreclosure because it’s considered consumer debt.

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When Should You File for Bankruptcy?

Sawin & Shea

Chapter 7 Chapter 7 bankruptcy (the most common form of bankruptcy ) essentially wipes away a large portion of your unsecured debts and includes rules to protect assets that are classified as exempt at the time you file. Unsecured debt includes things like credit card debt, medical debt, and personal loans.

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Cosigner Responsibilities: When Is a Cosigner Liable for a Debt?

Sawin & Shea

If you have a co-signer associated with your debt or if you are a co-signer, you need to be aware of how financial liability works and what happens when the primary debtor declares bankruptcy. Fortunately, in this blog, we’ll unpack cosigner responsibilities when it comes to bankruptcy and debt. What’s a Guarantor?

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Can You Reaffirm a Debt in Chapter 13?

Sawin & Shea

A reaffirmation agreement is a document that re-obligates a debtor to repay a particular debt, such as a car loan, mortgage, or other loan type. Entering a reaffirmation agreement is a way that debtors in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy keep collateral attached to secured debt like houses or cars.