People in Geneva facing financial difficulties in these uncertain times may wonder if filing for bankruptcy is right for them. One fear they may have regarding bankruptcy, though is that they will lose everything in the process and be destitute. However, this fear is unfounded as there are a variety of exemptions that allow people filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy to keep certain assets so they can move forward on solid financial footing.

What are some unlimited Chapter 7 bankruptcy exemptions?

In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your assets will be sold, and the proceeds used to pay you're your creditors. This is why it is referred to as “liquidation bankruptcy.” However, when you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you are allowed to keep any property that is “exempt” under state or federal law. Some examples of exempt assets in which a person can keep no matter what the value of the asset include:

• Family photographs
• Necessary clothing
• Qualified retirement plans
• IRAs
• Life insurance policies

What are some limited Chapter 7 bankruptcy exemptions?

Chapter 7 bankruptcy also allows for some assets to be exempt up to a fixed dollar amount. Some examples of this include:

Americans are facing a lot of hardship right now. The pandemic spurred a recession which may hamper the U.S. economy for years. If you've lost a job, seen a reduction in hours, accrued steep medical bills or suffered any other pandemic-related misfortune, you may be wondering if bankruptcy is something you can even consider, much less take advantage of.

Before you decide, though, why not discuss your case with an experienced bankruptcy attorney? You may be surprised by what you learn when you hear the facts and receive case-specific advice.

Are you making decisions based on facts of fiction?

Unless you've really done your research, chances are good that what you know about bankruptcy was probably pieced together by things you've heard or overheard throughout your lifetime. As such, the assumptions you make about bankruptcy may be partially or completely false. That's not a very effective way to make such an important decision. Here are some of the myths about bankruptcy you may have heard or may assume are true:

We are in a historic time of uncertainty and death. Every day, we are faced with news reports of the national crises and accompanying death toll that seems to never stop increasing. Naturally, as a result, many of us are now looking to create or update our estate plans to ensure that, if the unthinkable happens, our families are protected. This may be one of the only bright sides of 2020, though, we must be mindful of the estate planning process to ensure that we do not cause more harm than good.

Tip 1: retitle trust assets immediately

Estate plans often include revocable living trusts. These are used because they avoid probate and some taxes, which ensures that one's beneficiaries have less burdens after one's death and the estate value is maximized. However, this also means that title to one's assets must be put into the name of trust. If one forgets to do this, and they subsequently die or become incapacitated, all the assets not in the trust (i.e., all the assets not retitled into the trust's name) will likely need to go through probate. This, of course, defeated the entire point of the estate plan.

Tip 2: pay attention to who is named as an owner on bank accounts

Another common error is bank accounts. If one plans to split their assets equally among their children, be sure that none of those children are named on joint bank accounts. This is what is called joint with right of survivorship. Essentially, when one passes away, regardless of what one's will states, the surviving owner on a joint account owns all the assets in that account. If one's will states otherwise, this will definitely cause familial strife and, of course, probate litigation, which again, will likely nullify one's estate plan wishes.

A lot of people who struggle with debt are worried that personal bankruptcy will leave them in a worse position. They oftentimes believe that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy will strip them of all of their assets, making it nearly impossible for them to get back on their feet again. Fortunately, this simply isn't the case. There are a number of bankruptcy exemptions that allow you to keep some assets, and a limited amount of value in other assets, so that you have the financial stability you need to start your life post-bankruptcy.

What if I want to keep certain assets that aren't fully exempt?

Even in these instances you have options. Let's say that you have an expensive vehicle. When pursuing Chapter 7 bankruptcy you can either liquidate the asset and free yourself of any debt attached to it, or you can reaffirm the debt. Reaffirmation is simply the process where you agree to retain the asset post-bankruptcy along with the debt that is tied to it. This can allow you to have a little more flexibility so that you can keep the assets that are important to you.

Other benefits of a reaffirmation agreement

There are a lot of benefits to one of these agreements. To start, you might be able to renegotiate the terms of your loan so that it is easier to pay off. Next, reaffirming debt and paying it off timely can help rebuild your credit score. It also might not be as risky as you think given that you will have rid yourself of other overwhelming debts, thereby freeing up the resources you need to stay current on the reaffirmed debt.

Almost every Geneva area resident has at least one credit card. In fact, the average American has four credit cards. Credit cards are used for every day purchases as well as any emergency that may crop up such as medical expenses, car repairs, etc. Although most people understand the importance of paying their credit card bill each month, sometimes it is not that easy. A job loss, accident, divorce, or other major life event. There are serious things that can happen if a person does not pay their credit card bill.

When a Geneva area resident is unable to pay their credit card bill there are certain things that happen. The following is the basic process that credit card companies follow when their customer does not pay their credit card bill.

Late fee applied

Even if a person is only one day late, a credit card company will apply a late fee to their account. A credit card company may also increase the amount of interest it charges its customer. A credit score can also decrease because on time payments are one factor of a credit score.