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Differences Between Discharge, Settlement, and Dismissal for Debt Relief in New Ulm, MN

In this fast-paced world, it’s easy to rack up a lot of debt from various sources. Whether you have debts from mortgages, cars, credit cards, medical bills, or any number of other sources, you have the obligation to repay those debts. If you’re unable to meet debt payments each month, there are several methods to resolve debts, but the most effective for those struggling with severe debt is through the process of bankruptcy. Behm Law Group, Ltd. offers the expert advice and protection you need to receive debt relief in New Ulm, MN by filing for bankruptcy.

 

The three primary methods individual consumers and businesses can receive debt relief are debt settlement, discharge, or dismissal. These processes happen very differently and will affect your legal standing differently in both the short and long term.

 

Discharge of Debt

 

Debt discharges are only possible through the process of bankruptcy. If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, many of your debts will be discharged during the asset liquidation process. This means your debts will be dissolved in exchange for the sale of your non-exempt property. The value of your non-exempt assets sold will be paid to your creditors. You may also receive a discharge in a Chapter 13 case for some unsecured debts (you will be required to repay 0% to 100% of those debts in your Chapter 13 repayment plan). Discharge through bankruptcy is permanent and government sanctioned.

 

Debt Settlement

 

Some debtors choose to find debt relief outside of bankruptcy through debt settlement. To settle a debt, you must negotiate that process with your creditor without the protection of a court process. This can be tricky and will reflect negatively on your financial records. Additionally, you may still have to pay taxes on the original amount of a reduced or settled debt, and any late payments or owed taxes on this debt will also become a detriment to your credit.

 

Debt Dismissal

 

This is a more unusual form of debt relief that only occurs if you can prove that your creditors are harassing you, abusing their authority (for example, charging extremely high late payments), your identity was stolen to gain the debt, your information on debt paperwork is incorrect, the items or services you took the debt on for were never received, or if your creditors can’t prove you owe the debt. If you suspect you may be able to prove these things, debt dismissal may be a viable option for debt relief, but in most cases, debt settlement or bankruptcy are more realistic choices.

 

Debt settlement has its place, but filing for bankruptcy is often the best long-term, concrete solution for debt relief. To learn more about receiving debt relief in New Ulm, MN and filing for bankruptcy, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today.

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Financial Strain in the Changing Economy May Lead to Increased Cases of Bankruptcy in Jackson, MN

The economy is an ever-changing system, as years of sudden or gradual changes have proven. Because of the intricacies that make up an economy, the way this system affects industries, businesses, and people varies differently depending on their various financial standings. Today, the economy has seen changes within the last few years that benefit some parties but has become detrimental to others. If you find yourself dealing with difficult financial conditions, you may be seeing the effects of our economy. Behm Law Group, Ltd. provides expert legal assistance to help you determine if filing for bankruptcy in Jackson, MN may help you combat how the economy has affected your family or business.

While many reports of economic standing in the U.S. are positive, we still have reason to believe that not everything is going as well for some as it is for others. In fact, numerous studies and investigations show that many Americans are struggling to stay above the poverty line, and others are still living from paycheck to paycheck despite two incomes supporting the household. Unemployment rates may be lower than they’ve been in years, but some studies show that even as much as 31% (76 million) of U.S. citizens with jobs are still struggling to make ends meet.

 

Why is this happening?

The economy is a complex system, and there are thousands of individual circumstances that may be adding to the financial strain on households and businesses across the country. One condition that may be adding to the financial difficulties of many is the constant “hollowing out” of the middle class. This means the middle class is shrinking for two reasons: the households that prosper move to upper class economic standing, and the households that do not prosper move to lower class economic standing.

Because the middle class is shrinking, the economy is shifting to create a greater financial gap between the small percentage of citizens at an economic upper class standing and the much larger percentage of citizens at an economic lower class standing. This leads to decreased spending from the population as a whole, which then leads to increased prices in all areas of consumer industry, making it more difficult for those in the remaining middle class and lower-class.

The increase in financial strain many Americans are experiencing means more and more households are seeing expense and debt increases without increases in income. If you find yourself in this position, debt relief can be an invaluable chance to stay above the poverty line and keep your financial situation stable. Filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be the best option to restructure your debts into a manageable repayment plan without losing your home, car, and other properties as you might with liquidation bankruptcy. Chapter 7 has its place among debt relief options, but with a regular income and a family or business to support, Chapter 13 bankruptcy is the best choice for individual consumers above the poverty line.

 

To learn if filing for bankruptcy in Jackson, MN, is the best choice for you, or to get started with your case today, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200.

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Minimum and Maximum Debt Amounts Allowed to File for Bankruptcy in Worthington, MN

If you’re preparing to file for bankruptcy, it’s important to understand the limitations before entering into the process. Bankruptcy is an extremely beneficial tool for those struggling with debt, even with a high income. Despite its effect on your financial credit rating, bankruptcy is an effective solution for immediate financial recovery and long-term stability for an individual consumer or business. The requirements of bankruptcy are strict in order to prevent abuse, but with the help and protection of Behm Law Group, Ltd. attorneys, you can successfully file for bankruptcy in Worthington, MN.

 

Because most individuals and small businesses that file for bankruptcy don’t have the legal knowledge of a trained attorney or a team of lawyers a larger company might have to help them through the process, it’s critical to take advantage of professional assistance in the form of a bankruptcy attorney. Behm attorneys are highly knowledgeable and capable of working through your case for a positive outcome as well as protecting you from creditor harassment and advising and educating you along the way.

 

One common concern we hear from our clients is about debt amounts when entering the bankruptcy process. Some of our clients worry they may have too little debt to file, while others face the opposite. When it comes to minimum and maximum debt limits, the requirements are, fortunately, quite straightforward.

Minimum Debt

 

There is no court-set limit on the minimum amount of debt you need to file for bankruptcy. You may have limits on your income if you plan on filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but all filers must pass the Means Test, which will determine your eligibility. The only limits on a minimum debt will be put in place by your own judgment. If you have a debt amount so low that it doesn’t justify bankruptcy and attorney costs, you may want to resolve your debts another way. Additionally, if you have high debts but they are excepted from the bankruptcy discharge, you won’t gain much from a case. High credit card debts, medical bills, mortgages, and car loans are all common debts that will be relieved in the bankruptcy process and will certainly justify a case even if they’re as low as $5,000.

 

Maximum Debt

 

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court does set a maximum limit on the debt amounts that can be resolved in a bankruptcy case. These limits are very high, but occasionally we see clients that struggle with this compromise. For a Chapter 13 case, this maximum amount currently stands at $1,184,200 for secured debts and $394,725 for unsecured debts. Chapter 7 doesn’t have a current maximum debt limit, but again, you must pass the Means Test to be eligible for a petition.

 

 Find Expert Help When You File for Bankruptcy

If you have debts you would like to resolve through bankruptcy and want to learn more about your eligibility and the process as a whole, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. today at (507) 387-7200 for more information about filing for bankruptcy in Worthington, MN.

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Debt Domestication and How Foreign Debts Resolve During Bankruptcy in Pipestone, MN

Debt laws vary from country to country, and within the U.S., those laws even vary from state to state. The legal minutia around the debts you owe can quickly become complicated even within Minnesota regulations, but when out-of-state debts and foreign debts are introduced, those difficulties can increase ten-fold.

 

These complications may never become a problem for the debtor if they continue to make regular payments month to month, but if the debtor misses payments or chooses to file for bankruptcy, it can be extremely difficult to wade through those legal waters without professional help. If you’re considering filing for bankruptcy in Pipestone, MN, and you have foreign debt in addition to your U.S. debts, Behm Law Group, Ltd. can protect you from creditor action and guide you through the process.

 

If you hold foreign debt, it can be discharged in your bankruptcy case. However, that debt is only officially discharged if your foreign creditors domesticate and enforce that debt.

 

Enforcing Foreign Debt

 

When you move from another country, your creditors in the original country cannot pursue collection actions unless they domesticate that debt, or you return to that country. This rule applies to bankruptcy as well, which means that if you want to discharge a foreign debt, your creditors must domesticate that debt or drop the debt completely. It may be easier to convince your creditor to domesticate a debt if they’ll gain some reimbursement from asset liquidation or a repayment plan.

 

Domesticated in Bankruptcy

If your foreign debt is domesticated, it will be handled in bankruptcy depending on the type of chapter you file. If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your non-exempt assets with value in excess of your allowable bankruptcy exemptions are liquidated and your debts are discharged. Complications with foreign debts arise if the country you owe debt in has differing bankruptcy laws. In most cases, these issues are related to the portioning amount of the values from liquidated assets, but this is an issue the courts will resolve for you.

 

When you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, similar issues arise with your foreign creditors in the repayment plan structure. Chapter 13 works to restructure your debts into a manageable repayment plan where you repay priority and secured debts in full and all other debts in predetermined portions from 0%-100%. If your foreign debts are unsecured, the courts may have issues deciding how much you’ll repay those creditors when their country’s legal system dictates higher or lower repayments.

 

Your foreign debts can be resolved in your case, but it’s important to understand how they’re enforced and what complications may arise in bankruptcy. To learn more about filing for bankruptcy in Pipestone, MN, or to get started on your case, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today.

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Debt Securing and Its Role When You File for Bankruptcy in Marshall, MN

In this fast-paced world, it’s almost impossible to go through life without incurring debt. From mortgages to car loans and credit card debt, many areas of a consumer’s financial life involve borrowing. While it’s obvious that borrowers directly gain from loans, it can be difficult to understand how lenders benefit outside of the amount they gather from interest. Understanding the full lending process is an important part of financial management, including knowing when you should file for bankruptcy because of those loans. With the help of Behm Law Group, Ltd., you can determine if, when, and how you should file for bankruptcy in Marshall, MN.

While the primary reason lenders supply loans to consumers is the percentage of interest gained in the period it takes those borrowers to repay them, they can also benefit from holding secured collateral on a debt. This collateral usually manifests as some item of property that acts as security for the lender and provides the lender the opportunity to offer better rates and sign with more customers. If you enter into an agreement with a lender on a loan with secured collateral, you have incurred a secured debt.

Secured debts always involve properties that act as security or collateral. Common secured debts include mortgages, car loans, and loans for work equipment, appliances, or luxury items. Lenders generally secure debt with the implementation of a lien, either voluntary or involuntary.

 

Voluntary: This is the most common form of a lien lenders will place on a secured loan. Often these liens are written into the initial contract you sign to close the agreement and allows secured creditors such as mortgage providers to foreclose on your home if you can’t make monthly home payments. Voluntary liens can also be imposed on personal properties such as tools, work equipment, furniture, and inventory.

 

Involuntary: Lenders can also impose involuntary liens as security interest by going through the court system. These options take forms similar to lawsuits and are usually put into place as judgment liens, but occasionally can include income tax liens, mechanic’s liens, and landlord’s liens.

 

Liens, either voluntary or involuntary, work to protect a creditor’s right to repayment. In the event a debtor defaults, the creditor can repossess the secured property, foreclose a home, or file court action. If a debtor chooses to file for bankruptcy, a secured creditor is protected and most likely guaranteed some repayment in the process.  At a minimum, the secured creditor would receive the collateral securing its lien which the creditor would auction off and use the sale proceeds to pay off some of the underlying debt.

If you’re struggling to meet debt payments on any of your debts, secured or otherwise, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. today at (507) 387-7200 to learn more about filing for bankruptcy in Marshall, MN.

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Benefiting from Bankruptcy in Windom, MN, and Recovering Your Credit After Filing

Bankruptcy in the U.S. is a system designed to pull individuals and businesses out of severe debt while resolving those debts with creditors as best as possible. In this way bankruptcy is a highly effective process for recovering from severely crippling debt and getting a fresh start financially. However, filing for bankruptcy does have its side effects despite the many advantages it provides. If you’re considering filing for bankruptcy in Windom, MN, Behm Law Group, Ltd. can help you prepare a strong case, successfully petition for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, and fully understand the results that bankruptcy brings.

 

When you choose to partner with Behm Law Group, Ltd. for your bankruptcy case, you’re choosing highly-skilled, experienced professionals who understand your need for guidance and counsel before, during, and after you file. While bankruptcy offers a viable way to work through financial difficulties, there are some negative consequences as well, and we want our clients to be aware of all the effects a bankruptcy filing can have.

 

The primary problem those who file for bankruptcy face after their case is completed is the effect it has on their credit. There’s often a certain amount of damage to your credit when you file, and although you emerge from bankruptcy relieved from debt, it may take a while to rebuild your credit.

 

Recovering your credit after you file may seem like a daunting task, but the truth is it’s entirely possible for everyone who files for bankruptcy to fix their score over time. With the advice of our attorneys you can regain control over your credit and finances even after we work with you through a bankruptcy. Rebuilding your credit simply takes time and responsible practices including:

  1. Make all your payments on time and keep clear communication with your creditors if you’re unable to meet a payment. Most lenders are understanding of extenuating circumstances and are willing to make exceptions.
  2. Keep your accounts open despite the impulse to close them all at once. Instead, work on slowly closing the accounts you no longer want over an extended period of time.
  3. Check your credit often and keep an eye out for errors you may be able to dispute.
  4. Create and follow a budget with a savings plan integrated into your monthly income and spending patterns. Our attorneys can help you build a post- bankruptcy budget that’s effective, reasonable, and long-term.
  5. Hang on to all of your bankruptcy paperwork and keep it filed in an organized, logical place. You may need this paperwork down the road for loans or mortgage applications.

 

Above all, it’s important to remind yourself that your credit will improve over time. To learn more about filing for bankruptcy in Windom, MN, and what to do after you file, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today.

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First Three Critical Steps in Filing for Bankruptcy in Redwood Falls, MN

Life is full of unexpected events. When it comes to debt and financial difficulties, it’s best to deal with those life events head on. You may have accumulated debts over the years or be struggling with sudden expenses, but whatever the reasons leading up to severe debt, you don’t have to face it alone. Getting rid of debt and finding a fresh start is always a possibility through filing for bankruptcy. With the expert support and advice of Behm Law Group, Ltd. attorneys, you can file a successful petition for bankruptcy in Redwood Falls, MN.

 

When the ball gets rolling in a bankruptcy case, things are quickly resolved. If you file for Chapter 7, your debts will be discharged and non-exempt assets liquidated. If you file for Chapter 13, your adjusted repayment plan will begin, and you can start making regular payments to a chapter 13 trustee fairly quickly. However, before you can reach that point in your bankruptcy case, you must perform a few crucial primary steps.

 

Filing for Bankruptcy- Starting Gates

 

  1. Gather your financial information: To put together a bankruptcy petition for either Chapter 13 or Chapter 7, you have to gather a comprehensive inventory of financial documents. This includes filling out the necessary bankruptcy forms, listing all debts, providing income information, listing your assets and properties, and describing your monthly expenses for household needs. Behm attorneys will provide you with direction on how to put together this information to begin the bankruptcy process.
  2. Attend credit counseling: Even if you’ve completed the first step and gathered all the necessary information, you’ll still be required to complete an online credit counseling course in order to file a bankruptcy petition. You must work with a United States Trustee-approved credit counseling agency and complete the credit counseling course within 180 days of the filing of your bankruptcy petition. Behm Law Group, Ltd. can provide direction to quality, affordable online credit counseling in your area.
  3. Attend your 341 hearing: The last step to getting your case completed and obtaining debt relief is to attend your meeting of creditors (341 hearing). This meeting occurs after you have finished your filing for bankruptcy. This is not a court hearing per se where you appear before a bankruptcy judge. Rather, it is an administrative hearing where you appear before a bankruptcy trustee.  The bankruptcy trustee is a court-appointed attorney assigned to monitor, supervise and review your bankruptcy case.  You must personally attend the 341 hearing and your creditors have a right to attend if they like.  It is up to the bankruptcy trustee to review your bankruptcy paperwork and ask you questions at the 341 hearing – questions you must answer under oath and subject to penalty of perjury – to ensure that your paperwork is accurate. Part of the purpose of the 341 hearing is to ensure you’re apprised of the consequences and seriousness of filing for bankruptcy and to discuss debt reaffirmation with your attorney. During this meeting, the trustee will also make sure you’re not abusing the process of bankruptcy.

 

After these steps are completed, the next part of filing for bankruptcy —which varies depending on the chapter you file for— is getting a discharge order from the bankruptcy court which discharges the vast majority of your debts.

 

To learn more about filing for bankruptcy in Redwood Falls, MN, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today.

 

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Limits on Handling Medical Debt with Bankruptcy in Worthington, MN

With medical insurance getting more expensive each year and procedures becoming more technically-advanced with new equipment and medicines, individuals can easily accumulate overwhelming medical debt very quickly. While studies may debate whether severe medical debt is directly causing an increase in U.S. bankruptcies, the fact remains that it’s often a correlating problem most filers experience. Because the bankruptcy process is structured to discharge or reorganize medical debts, it’s a viable option for those who can’t pay their medical bills. With the help of Behm Law Group, Ltd., you can recover from medical debt and successfully file for bankruptcy in Worthington, MN.

Medical debt can happen gradually as chronic treatments rack up bills or all at once if an unexpected medical emergency occurs. No matter the circumstances leading up to unmanageable medical debt, those debts are treated the same in bankruptcy cases. All your medical bills are considered to be unsecured nonpriority debts in your case. To put this in perspective, your credit card debts are categorized as unsecured nonpriority debts as well.

How your unsecured nonpriority debts are handled depends on the type of bankruptcy you file for.

Chapter 13 works to reorganize debts that aren’t exempt from the bankruptcy process into a new repayment plan. Secured debts are repaid in full along with select priority debts, but your unsecured debts—like the medical bills you owe—are often only partially repaid if they’re required to be repaid at all.

Chapter 7 works to liquidate your assets to repay your creditors in return for the discharge of most debts. This discharge includes your unsecured debts and allows immediate full relief from medical bills.

Limitations on Discharges

Relief from medical bills is guaranteed if you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy by passing the Means Test. All your unsecured debts will be dissolved in return for major liquidation of your assets. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, there are some limitations on the relief you can receive for your medical bills. Because your medical debt is lumped into one category with all your other unsecured nonpriority debts, they’re all subject to the same limitation. This limit manifests as a cap on the amount you can include in your repayment plan. Currently, you may file for Chapter 13 if you have under $394,725 in unsecured debts. This amount will change in April of 2019 to meet standards of income and overall economic adjustments, but for now, you can resolve all your debts in a new repayment plan if you meet this and other Chapter 13 requirements.

 There may be some limits to the possibility of recovering from severe medical debt by filing for bankruptcy, but the majority of cases are highly effective in providing a solution for those struggling with hospital bills and more. For more information about filing for bankruptcy in Worthington, MN, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today.

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How Filing for Bankruptcy in New Ulm, MN Improves the Economy for All

If you’re struggling with meeting monthly payments on your credit cards, car, medical bills, and even your mortgage, you may be a candidate for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is often negatively viewed as a social taboo, but the reality of bankruptcy is largely a positive one. Those who file for individual or business bankruptcy are offered a fresh start, and those filers actually provide positive influences on our national economy. With the help of Behm Law Group, Ltd., you can start your financial recovery today and successfully file for bankruptcy in New Ulm, MN.

The process of bankruptcy was designed to benefit all parties involved with a fair and balanced relief of debt for the filer and as much of a dividend as possible to their creditors. Administrated through government regulations and overseen by a bankruptcy trustee, the ultimate goal of offering debtors the choice of filing a bankruptcy is to keep the economy afloat.

The U.S. economy cannot function without consistent, widespread consumerism. Without spending from individuals at all income levels, our economic structure would start to collapse. In a nutshell, bankruptcy allows those who couldn’t afford to participate in consumerism because of their debt to begin supporting the economy again. This could mean an individual starts to spend money again or a business is able to continue selling its products.

The Economy Feedback Loop

Whether it’s in recession, booming, or simply stabilized, the economy works in a feedback loop. The more we spend, the more businesses can grow which creates more jobs, national income, and products to keep spending money on. If we’re unable to spend or borrow because our debts and income levels prevent us from being consumers, the more and more the economy will recede. Bankruptcy works to remedy the potential that individual consumers and businesses cannot contribute to the economic feedback loop in positive ways. Relieving debts and repaying creditors provides a viable solution to what may quickly become the main factor of a severe economic downturn.

If you’re considering filing for bankruptcy, in many ways you’ve taken the first step to supporting our national and global economies in a positive way.  When debtors balk from filing for bankruptcy because of the fees involved or how it may affect their credit, they’re in fact possibly setting up our country for even poorer financial conditions down the road.

Contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today to find out more about successfully filing for bankruptcy in New Ulm, MN.

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Properties Excluded from an Estate when Filing for Bankruptcy in Owatonna, MN

If you’re struggling to meet debt payments on a regular basis and have been for some time, you may find yourself in over your head financially. Fortunately, U.S. law offers a way back to the surface and an opportunity for a fresh start through the process of bankruptcy. Navigating this nuanced system alone is a large feat, but with the help of Behm Law Group, Ltd., you’ll have the guidance and support you need to file a strong, successful case for bankruptcy in Owatonna, MN.

When you choose to file for bankruptcy, the long-term benefits are numerous, and you receive certain immediate advantages as soon as you file (automatic stay, for example). However, the benefits that bankruptcy provides come with the rest of the process, including the examination of your debts and the categorizing of your properties and accounts into a bankruptcy estate.

No matter which type of bankruptcy you file for, the bankruptcy estate plays an essential part in your case. In a Chapter 7 case, the estate determines what your trustee can liquidate in exchange for your debt being discharged. In a Chapter 13 case, the bankruptcy estate can determine the structure of your debt repayment plan and the amount you will have to repay to your creditors. While most of your properties and accounts are included in the bankruptcy estate, there are some exceptions.

What’s not in the bankruptcy estate?

  1. Any property or accounts you acquired after the date you file your bankruptcy petition. Keep in mind, however, that you must notify your bankruptcy attorney of any property that you acquire within 180 days of the date that you filed for bankruptcy relief. Your bankruptcy attorney will speak with the bankruptcy trustee administering your bankruptcy case to determine whether how much, if any, of such property may be subject to seizure.
  2. Child support arrears owed to you from another party.
  3. Joint bank accounts that your name is on along with the name of some other party (if the proceeds in such an account don’t actually belong to you).
  4. Withheld wages for employee benefits and health insurance programs.
  5. Education funds that are tax deferred.
  6. Funding from tuition programs qualified under the 2005 bankruptcy act and Coverdell account—if those funds are deposited at least one year prior to filing for bankruptcy or are for the benefit of your child, stepchild, step-grandchild, or foster child. Any funds deposited two years prior to bankruptcy are exempt from your estate, and you can exempt up to $5,850 from your estate if it was deposited between the one and two-year period.
  7. Last but not least, the majority of retirement funds are exempt from the bankruptcy estate.

The process of bankruptcy is designed to give debtors recovery and relief and not to punish or leave them without anything to their name while repaying something to their creditors as best as possible. While many of your properties are included in the bankruptcy estate, you’ll still have ample opportunity to exempt and protect most of your assets.

To learn more about filing for bankruptcy in Owatonna, MN, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today.