We Specialize in Bankruptcy

We are bankruptcy attorneys we have offices located in Eastgate,Ohio, Middletown, Ohio and Centerville/Dayton, Ohio.  We specialize in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy filings.

You may be feeling overwhelmed with debt, the collection calls keep coming and the mail box is full. You may feel as though there is no one who can help you.  However, there is help available, the sooner you get the help you need the sooner you will be able to find debt solutions.  Speaking with a knowledgeable experienced bankruptcy attorney is a first step towards retaking control of your finances.  At our office we will offer you a free consultation.  At this consultation you will be able to sit down and discuss your individual situation with one of our attorneys.

Our attorneys have handled thousands of bankruptcy cases.  At the Law Office of Keegan & Andrade Co., LLC we specialize in bankruptcy filings.  Many lawyers who include bankruptcy in their multi-practice firm may lack the knowledge necessary in this complex area of law.  Bankruptcy is not something that should be practiced as an aside.  Too many people have received bad advise from attorneys who do not fully understand bankruptcy and its implications on foreclosure, employment, divorce and assets.

We provide experienced representation for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 as well as small-business bankruptcy.  We will review your finances and make suggestions based on your goals.  Meeting with us is just the first step, it does not necessarily mean that you are going to enter the bankruptcy system.

CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is the most common bankruptcy filing and the most sought after.  It is most commonly referred to as a straight bankruptcy or a liquidation bankruptcy.  Under Chapter 7 you will be able to wipe out all of your unsecured debts and get a fresh financial start.  You do not have to pay anything back that you do not want to keep.  It is referred to as a liquidation bankruptcy because the bankruptcy trustee may be able to liquidate some of your assets to pay into your bankruptcy estate, however, there are exemptions which will protect most of your assets from this process.

If you have secured items that you wish to keep you may.  You must be current on your payments of secured items that you wish to keep.  You will have to list these documents on your case, however, the creditor will provide a reaffirmation agreement for you to sign in regard to these debts.  What the reaffirmation agreement does is basically resigns your debts so that they were not included in the discharge that you will receive.  These reaffirmed debts will report to the credit reporting agencies and help to re-build your credit.

There are programs to also help you with a vehicle from another vehicle or refinancing your current vehicle, there are programs that may be able to help you while you are under the bankruptcy.  There is a program called 722 Redemption and what they do is they will refinance your vehicle for the current fair market value.  This will also most likely not only reduce your total loan, total payment, but also your percentage rate.  This is well worth looking into while going through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

You can wipe out most types of debt through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  There are a few things which cannot be discharged such as criminal court costs, spousal support, child support and most taxes.  However, some taxes may be able to be discharged, you should consult one of our attorneys if you owe taxes to discuss your individual situation.

CHAPTER 13

Chapter 13 is also know as a wage earner plan.  This is because you must have the income to support the case, as you will be paying into the case. Chapter 13 is designed to help you if you have fallen behind on your house or car or if your income is too high to qualify for a Chapter 7.

A Chapter 13 case must be at least 3 years long but no longer than 5 years.  This will give you a three to five year period to make up any house or vehicle payments you may have missed prior to the filing of your case.  Your mortgage company must comply as this is federal law, they will have to stop all collection and foreclosure proceedings that are pending against you upon the filing of your case.

As to your unsecured creditors under Chapter 13, they will be paid a percentage of the total debt, this percentage is based upon your individual case and can vary anywhere for 1% up to 100% of the debt owed.  Upon completion of your case you will receive a discharge of all of your debts.  You will not have to report this information to the IRS and your creditors can no longer collect on these debts.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information check out our website at www.keeganandrade.com, www.middletown-bankruptcy.com or www.centervilleohiobankruptcy.com

Contact your Southern Ohio bankruptcy attorney today to get a start on your fresh financial start!

Considering Bankruptcy

We are bankruptcy attorneys we have offices located in Eastgate, Ohio, Middletown, Ohio and Centerville/Dayton, Ohio.  We specialize in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings.

Are you struggling with debt? The phone is ringing off the hook with creditor calls, the mailbox is overflowing with bills.  Is it all getting too much to handle?  You have tried but the struggle is never ending.  It seems as soon as you start to get ahead something else comes up and gets you behind.  Bankruptcy may be the answer to your financial troubles.

OUR OFFICE

At our office we offer a free consultation.  At this free consultation you will be able to sit down with a qualified experienced bankruptcy attorney and discuss your current situation and ask any questions you may have.  The attorney will at this free consultation advise which chapter will be best for you.

There are several chapters of bankruptcy available under the federal bankruptcy code, however, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are the most common filings among general consumers.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is also referred to as straight bankruptcy or liquidation bankruptcy.  This chapter is available for most consumers.  Under Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protection you will be able to discharge all of your unsecured debts under the bankruptcy code.  A discharge is a document issued by the federal court which deems your debt non-collectable by creditors.  Once you file for Chapter 7 protection all collection practices by creditors must stop.  This includes but is not limited to phone calls, mail harassment, court proceedings and garnishments.

Chapter 7 is sometimes referred to as a liquidation bankruptcy because the Chapter 7 Trustee may take some of your assets and sell them to pay your debts.  However, most people are happy to find out that they are able to keep most of their assets as there are exemptions to protect these assets.  There are cases, however, where you may have equity and have to pay back some to the Trustee.  Most people are happy to pay back this small amount compared with the debt that they are discharging through the bankruptcy.  Call our office today for your free consultation to discuss your individual situation.

In Chapter 7 Bankruptcy you will be able to keep your home and vehicle.  You must however, be current on your payments on these assets if you wish to keep them.  The creditor will have a reaffirmation agreement for you to sign and this will deem the debt non-discharged through the bankruptcy.  This document will also guarantee that the creditor will continue to report your payment history to the credit reporting agencies, thus rebuilding your credit after the bankruptcy filing.

As many as 65% of consumer filings in the US are Chapter 7 Bankruptcy filings.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy also referred to as a wage earner plan you will allow you to retain ownership and possession of all assets that you wish to keep.  But you may also surrender assets through Chapter 13, if you wish.  In Chapter 13 Bankruptcy you must have income to support the case as you will be making monthly payments to the Chapter 13 Trustee and they will be disbursing your funds to your creditors for you.  It is up to the creditor in a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy to file a claim in order to be paid.

Chapter 13 can stop a foreclosure.  If you are in foreclosure and want to save your home you can file a Chapter 13 and stop the foreclosure.  Your mortgage holder cannot object to your bankruptcy filing and must file a claim in your case to be paid.  Chapter 13 generally lasts for a three to five year period.  During this time you will be able to make up all your missed payments and the Trustee will disburse your regular house payment.  This is a good thing because at the end of your case the trustee will file a notice with the Court that all payments are current and deems that your mortgage holder cannot come back on you for additional fees incurred while you were under bankruptcy protection.

If you are behind on your vehicle, Chapter 13 can also stop repossession and give you time to make up the missed payments over the three to five year period.

Contact Us

For more information check out our website at  www.keeganandrade.com, www.middletown-bankruptcy.com or www.centervilleohiobankruptcy.com.

Every situation is unique so contact your Southern Ohio Bankruptcy Attorney today for your free consultation.

Bankruptcy

We are bankruptcy attorneys we have offices located in Eastgate, Ohio, Middletown, Ohio and Centerville/Dayton, Ohio.  We specialize in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings.

If you are facing financial difficulty you may be considering filing for bankruptcy.  As with any new endeavor in life It is a good idea to educate yourself on the process and terms before moving forward so that you understand what you is going on around you during the process.  There is nothing worse than words being thrown at you that you do not understand that will flow freely from your attorney and their staff.

Here are some general terms that will help you understand the bankruptcy process.

BANKRUPTCY -  A legal procedure for businesses and individuals to deal with debt problems.

BANKRUPTCY PETITION - The document filed with the bankruptcy court to open a bankruptcy case.

CHAPTER 7 - The chapter of the bankruptcy code in which you do not have to repay any or your debts, however, the trustee may liquidate any exposed property.

CHAPTER 13 - The chapter of the bankruptcy code in which you will pay back a portion of your debts, this is a three to five year process.

BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEE -  The representative of the bankruptcy estate who exercises statutory powers, principally for the benefit of the unsecured creditors, under the general supervision of the court and the direct supervision of the U.S. trustee or bankruptcy administrator. The trustee's responsibilities include reviewing the debtor's petition and schedules and bringing actions against creditors or the debtor to recover property of the bankruptcy estate. In chapter 7, the trustee liquidates property of the estate, and makes distributions to creditors. The trustee is who you will appear before in bankruptcy court.

AUTOMATIC STAY - An injunction that automatically stops lawsuits, foreclosures, garnishments and all collection proceedings the moment the bankruptcy petition is filed.

341 MEETING OF CREDITORS - The meeting of creditors required by section 341 of the Bankruptcy Code at which the debtor is questioned under oath by creditors, a trustee, examiner, or the U.S. trustee about his/her financial affairs. Also called creditors' meeting.

EQUITY - The value of a debtor's interest in property that remains after liens and other creditors' interests are considered.

These are just some general terms.

At our office we offer you a free consultation, fair fees and monthly payment plans.  At this free consultation you will be able to sit down with an experienced attorney and discuss your individual case.  The attorney will guide you on the best path for your individual situation.  They will also quote a fee.  A small retainer will get things started.  Once you put down that retainer you may refer your creditors to our office.  We would then accept monthly payments until your fees were paid in full and then your case would be filed.  Of course, the faster you pay off your attorney fees the faster you will be filed and on your way to a fresh financial start.

For more information check out our website at www.keeganandrade.com, www.middletown-bankruptcy.com or www.centervilleohiobankruptcy.com

Call today for your free consultation with your Southern Ohio bankruptcy attorney.