How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, 17th Edition

Front Cover......Page 1
Title Page......Page 4
Table of Contents......Page 8
Intro: Your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Companion......Page 11
1. Should You File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?......Page 15
Bankruptcy in America: The Big Picture......Page 17
An Overview of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy......Page 19
Who Can File for Chapter 7......Page 26
Does Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Make Economic Sense?......Page 33
Alternatives to Chapter 7 Bankruptcy......Page 39
2. The Automatic Stay......Page 47
Actions Prohibited by the Stay......Page 48
When the Stay Doesn’t Apply......Page 50
Evictions......Page 52
3. Your Property and Bankruptcy......Page 55
Property in Your Bankruptcy Estate......Page 56
Property That Isn’t in Your Bankruptcy Estate......Page 64
Property You Can Keep (the Exemption System)......Page 66
Selling Nonexempt Property Before You File......Page 78
4. Your House......Page 83
How Bankruptcy Affects a Typical Homeowner......Page 84
If You’re Behind on Your Mortgage Payments......Page 86
Will You Lose Your Home?......Page 93
Ways to Keep Your House......Page 103
5. Secured Debts......Page 107
What Are Secured Debts?......Page 109
What Happens to Secured Debts When You File for Bankruptcy......Page 111
Options for Handling Secured Debts in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy......Page 113
Choosing the Best Options......Page 124
Step-by-Step Instructions......Page 128
6. Complete and File Your Bankruptcy Paperwork......Page 149
Gather the Necessary Documents......Page 151
Get Some Information From the Court......Page 154
For Married Filers......Page 155
Required Forms and Documents......Page 158
Form 1—Voluntary Petition......Page 161
Form 6—Schedules......Page 169
Form 7—Statement of Financial Affairs......Page 214
Form 8—Chapter 7 Individual Debtor’s Statement of Intention......Page 227
Form 22A—Statement of Current Monthly Income and Means-Test Calculation......Page 231
Form 201—Notice to Consumer Debtors Under § 342(b) of the Bankruptcy Code......Page 247
How to File Your Papers......Page 248
After You File......Page 251
7. Handling Your Case in Court......Page 253
Routine Bankruptcy Procedures......Page 254
Amending Your Bankruptcy Papers......Page 263
Filing a Change of Address......Page 267
Special Problems......Page 268
8. Life After Bankruptcy......Page 285
Newly Acquired or Discovered Property......Page 286
Newly Discovered Creditors......Page 287
Postbankruptcy Attempts to Collect Debts......Page 288
Attempts to Collect Clearly Discharged Debts......Page 290
Postbankruptcy Discrimination......Page 291
Rebuilding Credit......Page 292
9. Which Debts Are Discharged......Page 299
Debts That Will Be Discharged in Bankruptcy......Page 300
Disputes Over Dischargeability......Page 312
10. Help Beyond the Book......Page 319
Debt Relief Agencies......Page 320
Bankruptcy Petition Preparers......Page 322
Bankruptcy Lawyers......Page 325
Legal Research......Page 329
Glossary......Page 337
Appendix A: State and Federal Exemption Charts......Page 351
Residency Requirements for Claiming State Exemptions......Page 352
Special Considerations in States With “Bankruptcy-specific” Exemptions......Page 353
Appendix B: Worksheets, Charts, and Forms......Page 391
Current Monthly Income Worksheet......Page 392
Personal Property Checklist......Page 395
Property Exemption Worksheet......Page 396
Homeowners’ Worksheet......Page 402
Judicial Lien Worksheet......Page 404
Bankruptcy Forms Checklist......Page 405
Bankruptcy Documents Checklist......Page 406
Median Family Income Chart......Page 407
Amendment Cover Sheet......Page 408
Notice of Change of Address......Page 409
Supplemental Schedule for Property Acquired After Bankruptcy Discharge......Page 410
Proof of Service by Mail......Page 411
Pleading Paper......Page 412
Index......Page 413
More Bankruptcy Resources at Nolo.com......Page 0
Keep Up to Date......Page 441
Online Legal Forms......Page 443
Lawyer Directory......Page 444