Bankruptcy – Get a Fresh Start!
Helping you find debt relief
Filing for bankruptcy is an important decision that has significant implications for your life. When mounting debt becomes unmanageable, bankruptcy can provide a much needed relief. My name is Peter B. Bunting, and at my Fresno, California bankruptcy law office, I help you decide whether filing for bankruptcy is the most effective way for you to take control of your debt.
Consider all of your financial options
At your free consultation, I will explain strategies to get you a fresh start. There are multiple chapters to possibly file a case under and sometimes bankruptcy is not the right answer. There’s no way to know for sure except to sit down and talk with an experienced bankruptcy attorney who can tailor a strategy to directly meet your needs. Why try to go it alone when proven strategies are a free consultation away?
Expert in debt analysis
For more than 34 years, I have been assisting people with overwhelming debts. I analyze your case to determine if bankruptcy will advance your immediate and long-term financial goals. I review your debts, income and expenses, and I explain the full effects of bankruptcy on your family, business, home-ownership and access to credit. If bankruptcy is the right choice, I provide detailed information about the bankruptcy process and a complete picture of the outcome you should expect. My upfront approach to bankruptcy gives you confidence in your financial future.
Reprieve through automatic stay
The filing of a bankruptcy petition automatically creates an injunction called the automatic stay. The injunction is a court order which prevents creditors from taking action to collect debts from you. Creditors are not allowed to call you, repossess cars, or conduct foreclosure sales among other actions. This gives you the peace of mind of not dealing with their harassing tactics anymore.
Your bankruptcy options
- Chapter 7 bankruptcy
For most people, Chapter 7 is the preferred bankruptcy. It is cheaper, quicker, and allows people to get on with their lives. Under Chapter 7, people continue to pay the debt on assets they want to keep.
One phrase frequently used to describe Chapter 7 is “liquidation of assets.” Most Chapter 7 cases do not “liquidate” anything. Most assets are protected under state statutes. So long as the assets are properly disclosed, the exemptions protect all the assets in most cases. People lose assets only if they fail to disclose the assets or if the assets have too much value to protect under the statutes. If you make full and honest disclosure of all your assets and the value of your assets, the attorney can properly evaluate your asset protection so you can make an informed choice of how to proceed.
Chapter 7 Attorney Fees: At the end of your free consultation the attorney will quote a flat fee for your Chapter 7 case based upon the difficulty of the case.
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy
Chapter 13 is an option for people facing foreclosure, need help paying off back taxes, or those whose income exceed the allowed limit under Chapter 7. Chapter 13 bankruptcy permits you to pay off debts under a court-ordered installment plan for a duration of three to five years. This option provides numerous advantages, including the possibility of keeping your home which is under foreclosure or vehicles facing repossession. Chapter 13 can also stop tax levies and allow people to pay off tax debt in a plan.
Chapter 13 Attorney Fees: Attorney fees are tightly controlled by the court and are subject to Court approval in Chapter 13. This office accepts a minimal down payment (usually $500 down) to file a Chapter 13 case. Most offices require approximately half of the attorney fees up front. This can be a real problem because many people do not have that much money and run to borrow it from family. The law requires that the loan from family be disclosed and the law does not allow you to pay back your family member ahead of other creditors.
Fixing your credit score
After a bankruptcy case is completed, most clients can raise their credit score to 750 or higher within 18 months. After your case is complete, I will explain how to do this for no extra charge.
Want to get rid of your Timeshare?
Bankruptcy offers an effective solution to your timeshare problems. As a general rule, if you file bankruptcy, you can either keep your timeshare or you can get rid of it without paying any extra attorney’s fees. In your free consultation, I will explain your options.
Student Loans
We also analyze your student loan documents to see if you are able to discharge any in bankruptcy.
Contact Peter B. Bunting today
To schedule your free bankruptcy consultation, call my office at 559-226-4030.