From Your Tampa Bankruptcy Lawyer: What Filing Bankruptcy in Florida Can Do (and Not Do) for You
Filing bankruptcy in Tampa, Florida or anywhere else may seem like a daunting experience, but in reality, bankruptcy is a legal way to give you a fresh start. Filing bankruptcy does not make you a bad person or a deadbeat. On the contrary, filing bankruptcy means you are taking legal action to resolve your situation. To protect your rights and property during these legal proceedings, call (813) 949-6008 to consult with a Tampa bankruptcy lawyer about how to file bankruptcy.
Depending on whether you file a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, filing bankruptcy in Florida may able to:
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Stop foreclosure on your home, condominium, or mobile home and give you a chance to make up missed mortgage payments
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Stop the repossession of your automobile or other valuables, or even force the return of your property after it has been repossessed
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Eliminate or reduce your requirement to pay your debts
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Prevent the termination of utility services or restore your utility services
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Allow you the chance to challenge fraudulent claims by creditors including those who are trying to collect more money from you than you truly owe
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Stop debt collection, harassing phone calls, wage garnishment, and other actions by creditors to collect debts
While filing bankruptcy is an appropriate option for many individuals in the Tampa Bay area, bankruptcy is not a solution for every financial problem, nor is it the right option for every person. This is why it's vital to consult with a Tampa bankruptcy lawyer so that you can receive proper legal advice from someone who is experienced in bankruptcy law.
For example, before you consider bankruptcy, you should know that bankruptcy typically does not:
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Release you of responsibility for certain debts that are listed in bankruptcy law for special treatment such as alimony, child support, some other divorce-related debt, certain student loans, criminal fines, some taxes, and court restitution orders.
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Allow you to keep collateral on secured debts if you do not continue paying the debts. Bankruptcy does not totally eliminate the rights of "secured" creditors, for example, mortgages and other creditors with a lien on your property as collateral for a loan.
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Discharge any debts that occur after you file for bankruptcy.
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Protect those who have cosigned on your debts.
After reading this brief description of what bankruptcy can do (and not do), it should be apparent that filing bankruptcy is an intricate legal procedure that is best handled through representation of an experienced Tampa bankruptcy attorney. For a free initial consultation about your case, please call (813) 949-6008 to schedule an appointment with B&B Law Group, at our Tampa, Florida office.
