Debt Relief Information

New Bankruptcy Legislation May Make it Harder to Find an Attorney


The recently passed Bankruptcy Abuse prevention and Consumer Protection Act will make it harder for people with problem debt to have their debt eliminated through filing for bankruptcy. This new legislation will make it harder to have debts wiped out by the courts, and will require more debtors to pay back some or all of their debts. Considered by many to be a gift from Congress to the major credit card companies, this new law has many people rightly concerned about how to best deal with their debt problems. An additional concern that few have considered is that it not only will be more difficult to file for bankruptcy, it may also be difficult to find legal assistance once the new law takes effect in October, 2005.

Under current law, filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy for consumer debt is a fairly routine procedure. A Chapter 7 filing allows most debts to be eliminated once the debtor demonstrates that they cannot pay their bills. While it is and should be considered a last resort for those in debt, a Chapter 7 filing allows those who emerge from bankruptcy to have a "fresh start." Legal costs vary for assisting with a Chapter 7 filing, but they typically involve only a few hours of billing time on the part of an attorney. Under the new legislation most filers will be forced to file for bankruptcy under the more complicated Chapter 13. A Chapter 13 filing, which requires the structuring of a repayment plan, is somewhat more complicated and generally costs two to three times as much in legal fees. Adding to the complication is the fact that the new legislation will hold the attorneys for those filing for bankruptcy liable for paperwork issues, leaving the attorneys vulnerable to lawsuits from both bankruptcy trustees and the customers on whose behalf they file.

What this means to the consumer is that good legal help will be expensive and hard to find once the new bankruptcy law takes effect. Attorneys who specialize in bankruptcy cases will undoubtedly raise their rates significantly in order to offset their greater risk. Attorneys who seldom work on bankruptcy cases may simply stop handling them, thinking that the additional risk of a lawsuit isn't worth their trouble. Anyone who is currently experiencing debt problems, which might require the help of a bankruptcy attorney, should probably meet with one now. It is better to find one now, even if you don't need one, than to need one later and realize that you cannot find one.

©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding structured settlements.


MORE RESOURCES:

BBC News

Progress seen in debt relief for poor countries
Pakistan Dawn, Pakistan - 20 hours ago
By Masood Haider UNITED NATIONS, Sept 4: A new UN report finds significant progress in providing debt relief to the world’s poorest countries. ...
Poverty-reduction aid lags, study finds Los Angeles Times
DEVELOPMENT: UN Warns of Faltering Goals on Aid, Trade IPS
Donors’ Aid to Poor Nations Declines, UN Reports New York Times
UN News Centre - Reuters South Africa
all 185 news articles


NECN

Hurricane Relief Efforts Create Red Cross Debt, Nonprofit Says
Washington Post, United States - 7 hours ago
By Philip Rucker The American Red Cross said this morning it is going deep into debt to fund a $70 million Hurricane Gustav relief effort, ...
Red Cross National Relief Fund In The Red First Coast News
all 273 news articles


Bankruptcy lawyers can advise clients on debt-court
Reuters - 7 hours ago
The amendment in dispute prohibits debt-relief agencies from giving clients advice about taking on more debt before filing for creditor protection. ...
8th Circuit: Bankruptcy Provision Violates Lawyer Free Speech Rights ABA Journal
all 5 news articles


Fitch Rates Mississippi's $230MM GOs 'AA'; Outlook Stable
Ad-Hoc-News (Pressemitteilung), Germany - 2 hours ago
The state's net tax supported debt of $4.55 billion, inclusive of GO and appropriation-backed debt, represents a moderate but above average burden on ...


Handloom weavers may get debt relief
Business Standard, India - Sep 2, 2008
After the debt waiver scheme for farmers, the Union government is hoping to extend a similar scheme for handloom weavers. The Union textiles ministry, ...


Gene F. Turnwald: Debt relief might be less than it promises
Lansing State Journal, MI - Sep 2, 2008
I ask you to please keep that in mind when dealing with debt relief companies that guarantee to lower your credit card or loan payments and interest rates. ...


Minyanville.com

Bill Gross to Treasury: Please Help
Motley Fool - 2 hours ago
Not necessarily because the assets are worth such paltry amounts, but because so many assets were leveraged to the gills in debt. ...
Pimco’s Gross wants household bailouts CNNMoney.com
all 38 news articles


VISIONS OF AN OIL-RICH GHANA - NOT COMPARISONS OF FAILED 4TH
Modern Ghana, Ghana - Sep 4, 2008
Mpaninfuo, the truth of the matter is that none of the political parties you are so enamoured with, had the nous or the imagination, to think of debt relief ...


SC widens debt waiver ambit for Kashmir
Times of India, India - Aug 30, 2008
... view to count purchase of buffaloes and rearing of sheep as a trading activity so as to qualify for loan waiver under the 1997 Debt Relief Scheme. ...


Business Debt Reduction Sets You Free Of Debts
Search By Headlines (press release), NV - Sep 1, 2008
Debt Relief-Assistance brings a simple online way to deal with any such issue that too without letting it burden your budget. With the help of business debt ...

debt relief - Google News

home | site map
© 2006
web www.worldbizinfo.com