Myths About Filing Bankruptcy in Atlanta, Georgia
Are you hesistant to file bankruptcy because of all the myths surrounding it? Finally, you can get to the truth with answers to myths about filing bankruptcy.
Myths About Filing Bankruptcy
The Public Record Myth
One myth about filing bankruptcy in Atlanta, Georgia is that everyone will know or be able to find out about it. While it’s true that a bankruptcy is a public record, someone who wants access to your bankruptcy information would have to get the petition from the clerk of court (or the court’s electronic filing database) in order to know the details of your case. Further, federal law prevents your social security number from being displayed in the public records. Also, your employer will not be notified about your bankruptcy, unless you willingly agree to a payroll deduction.
The Loss of Everything Myth
Many people are afraid to file for bankruptcy because they believe they will lose everything they own. This is not necessarily true. Bankruptcy exemptions allow Chapter 7 filers to protect assets from liquidation or sale. Also, in Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, debtors with unexempt assets may keep them by repaying creditors in an amount that is equal to the amount of equity in property.
The Lack of Credit Myth
Many people feel that filing bankruptcy will mean that their credit is ruined forever. If this were true, no one would ever file for bankruptcy! On the contrary, you can begin to rebuild your credit immediately after bankruptcy by doing things like making timely payments into your Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Plan and taking out a secured credit card (which is a low-limit card where a bank deposit is held against the charges).
The Personal Failure Myth
When contemplating bankruptcy, many people believe that a bankruptcy filing shows that they have failed or are somehow lacking in morality or responsibility. We all know that this is rarely the case. Bloomberg News reports that there were about 795,000 bankruptcies in the U.S. through June of this year, with Nevada, Georgia and Tennessee leading the nation in per capital bankruptcies. Experts indicate that these numbers are so high, not just because of irresponsibility, but because of the bad economy, migration of manufacturing and service jobs, an unemployment rate of around 10%, foreclosures, and aggressive collection tactics for medical and credit card debt.
Filing Bankruptcy in Atlanta, Georgia
If you are considering filing bankruptcy and would like to discuss how it can benefit you, please contact The Law Offices of Charles Clapp at 404.585.0040 for a free initial consultation.