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Bankruptcy - Always Count Your Pennies

By Expert Author: Michael Russell Platinum Expert Author | Article Abstract
Word Count: 550 words | Views: 143 view(s)
What is our main purpose in life? Is it to be happy or to be successful. For a lot of people, there is no difference between the two. We seem to define ourselves by what we own instead of who we are, as if success makes us better people. Some people go to such extremes to be successful, that they end up neglecting their marriage, their children and even their health. And for some people, illegal activity is worth the risk, it if brings them the success they want.

Even when people have success, it's not enough, now they need to show the world how successful they are. They do this by buying expensive homes, cars, clothes, etc. There's a lifestyle that goes with success and many of people try to project that style, even if they can't afford it. But no matter how successful people may get, they can't avoid the unexpected circumstances of life. People can get ill, have accidents or because of cut-backs, lose their jobs. Those types of situations can destroy the finances of most people. So, what are the options for when their income and unexpected circumstances will not allow them to continue to live a certain lifestyle?

Though people have a few avenues that maybe open to them, the process that many use to help fix their finances is bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is when individuals or an organization legally admits to not being able to pay their bills. Bankruptcy allows the people in debt a chance to get their bills in order, without going to the extreme of selling everything they own. During bankruptcy, some debts may no longer need to be paid; while a plan to pay other debts will be put into place.

Bankruptcy is nothing new. The first bankruptcy law was created in England in 1542. The first American bankruptcy law was passed in 1800. The American law was similar to the British law of 1705, with the exception being that there was no possibly of death, written into the American law. Congress re-worked the bankruptcy law in 1938; one of the changes that came from this was the creation of Chapter 13. Under Chapter 13, the people in debt would make regular payments to a trustee, who would in turn, pay off the people who were owed money. Chapter 13 was a big change, because in the past people would file under Chapter 7; and under Chapter 7, most people got away without having to pay-off any of their debts.

Bankruptcy can be a very important tool for people who've experienced an unexpected trauma in their life. Bankruptcy can help them get back on their feet financially. It can also help those people who chose to spend more money than they had, usually with the help of credit cards. Bankruptcy is not just for the individual. Many businesses have taken advantage of the bankruptcy law over the years. The bankruptcy law is there to help, but what individuals and businesses should consider, is trying to find a way to live their lives and run their businesses in a way to avoid bankruptcy.
Michael Russell

About the Author/Author Bio

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Bankruptcy

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Bankruptcy---Always-Count-Your-Pennies/23947

Article Tags: bankruptcy

Article Submitted: 2006-04-30 | This Article has been viewed 143 times.

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A typical question when someone files for bankruptcy is how does it affect their mortgage? This usually depends on what type of bankruptcy is filed, and whether they choose to include their mortgage in the bankruptcy plan. Many people don't realize that when filing for bankruptcy they can choose to file without including certain debts, such as a mortgage. As long as the mortgage is up to date and they can continue to make payments, it is possible that the bankruptcy plan can be filed without including their mortgage lender in the bankruptcy plan.
The entrepreneurial spirit is one of the touchstones of American culture that has made our country so strong. The willingness of driven individuals to step out and risk their financial stability for the sake of a business they believe in has been a catalyst of our country's growth. However, a recent study by the University of Nevada showed that one in seven bankruptcies are filed by individuals tying to cope with the failure of a small business. While corporations or partnerships cannot file for bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are often used by entrepreneurs who are trying to deal with personal and business debt.
Most credit specialists agree that the worst possible credit entry on your credit statement is a bankruptcy! Whether you have filed a Chapter 13 or Chapter 7, it demonstrates a complete failure in managing your credit, regardless of why you filed.
Bankruptcy can be devastating to your personal credit file - and most post-bankruptcy credit scores plummet drastically once your bankruptcy is made a part of your permanent credit record. Do not feel alone in your situation - there are thousands of borrowers who find that they have no alternative other than to file bankruptcy when they get to a point where they have overextended themselves financially.
Filing for bankruptcy is not an easy decision to come to, especially since it leaves such a mark on your credit history. Unlike items that have gone into collections remaining on your credit report for seven years, a bankruptcy discharge remains there for ten years.
If you have been contemplating bankruptcy then it means you have not been able to manage your finances like you wanted to. However, declaring bankruptcy is a big step. It reflects on your account for 7 to 10 years and may influence lenders' decision in future when you apply for another loan. It is always a better idea to clear off your debts instead of filing bankruptcy.
Sometimes finances get past the point of being salvageable; it might be in your best interests to file bankruptcy. But if you can avoid filing bankruptcy, it is worthwhile to make the effort, to save your credit, status and long lasting negative effects of filing bankruptcy.
 
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