Who is a Bankruptcy Trustee and What Do They Do?

A trustee is an individual appointed by the federal government in charge of overseeing bankruptcy proceedings. Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy trustees are usually bankruptcy attorneys or accountants.

How Often Can I File Bankruptcy?

How often you can file a bankruptcy depends on a few things: what type of bankruptcy you filed in the past, when you filed your previous bankruptcy, and were you discharged or dismissed from your previous bankruptcy.

What is the Difference Between Secured Debt and Unsecured Debt?

Knowing the difference between these two debts can be extremely useful in determining which type of bankruptcy will work best for you. In order to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must be current on all house and car payments in order to keep them. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy will wipe out any unsecured debt. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy, on the other hand, is what’s known as a repayment plan.

Rebuilding Your Credit After Bankruptcy – Pay Your Bills (Step #4)

I’m sure you never thought this would be the case but this is the easiest step of them all. If you’ve followed the three steps before this you should have cleaned up your credit report, spent a year laying the foundation for your new credit with a secured credit card and now you should have obtained a reasonable unsecured credit card.

Rebuilding Your Credit After Bankruptcy in 6 Steps (Step #3)

After you’ve spent time laying the foundation for your new credit by using a secured credit card you will want to begin looking for an unsecured credit card. An unsecured credit card is a card where you do not put up collateral (cash, automobiles, etc.) as an assurance that you will pay. We typically recommend that you use a secured credit card for at least one year before moving on to an unsecured card.

Rebuilding Your Credit After Bankruptcy: Secured Credit Card

After your credit report is accurate you are ready to look for a secured credit card. A secured credit card is a credit card where a balance of money has already been posted. For example, most secured credit cards will require you to put up anywhere between $300 and $500. After doing this, you have a credit limit of the amount that you put up. I know, its not what you are used to in your pre-bankruptcy days but that’s okay. We are in a rebuilding period now.

What is a Reaffirmation Agreement?

A reaffirmation agreement is a legally binding document filed with the bankruptcy court in which you agree to keep making payments on a debt. For example, you are required to sign a reaffirmation agreement if you would like to retain personal property, such as an automobile, and keep making payments after filing your bankruptcy.