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	<title>Ethorities - Expert How To Articles &#187; Personal Bankruptcy</title>
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		<title>What Is Bankruptcy Chapter 7?</title>
		<link>http://ethorities.com/what-is-bankruptcy-chapter-7</link>
		<comments>http://ethorities.com/what-is-bankruptcy-chapter-7#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2009 07:37:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Darlene Finch</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Experts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bankruptcy chapter 7]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chapter 7 bankruptcy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[debt consolidation]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Personal Bankruptcy]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Are you one of the thousands who are wondering what a bankruptcy Chapter 7 is? We all know that anyone who is struggling financially usually find themselves coming to the internet in hopes of being able to find a way out of all that debt that they have accumulated. Well if you have come upon this article then chances are you are one of the thousands of people who are struggling to make ends meet financially and want to find some relief.


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/file-chapter-7-bankruptcy-and-keep-your-home' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Keep Your Home'>File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Keep Your Home</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/are-you-aware-of-some-alternatives-to-bankruptcy-2' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Are You Aware Of Some Alternatives To Bankruptcy?'>Are You Aware Of Some Alternatives To Bankruptcy?</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/what-do-i-need-to-take-care-of-after-bankruptcy' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: What Do I Need To Take Care Of After Bankruptcy?'>What Do I Need To Take Care Of After Bankruptcy?</a></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="KonaBody"><div style='font-style:italic' class='byline'>by Emma Elvie</div>
<p>Are you one of the thousands who are wondering what a bankruptcy Chapter 7 is? We all know that anyone who is struggling financially usually find themselves coming to the internet in hopes of being able to find a way out of all that debt that they have accumulated. Well if you have come upon this article then chances are you are one of the thousands of people who are struggling to make ends meet financially and want to find some relief.</p>
<p><span id="more-3536"></span></p>
<p>By now you may be familiar with a chapter 7 bankruptcy since it is the most common type that people file. In fact this type will allow you to liquidate all your unsecured loans so that you can get a fresh start to life without debt.</p>
<p>However before you run out and begin trying to file bankruptcy chapter 7 there are some things that you should be aware of. Once you have a better understanding of these things then you will be able to decide if this is the right step for you or not.</p>
<p>1 Bad Credit: Filing bankruptcy no matter what type it is going to be is going to be a bad scar on your credit report. In fact this is one of the reasons that so many people are hesitant about filing bankruptcy.</p>
<p>Most of the time when people begin searching for this information it is because they have looked at every other option that just does not seem to get them out of this mess.</p>
<p>2. Future Employers: You should be aware that there are some employers have been known not to hire someone who has filed bankruptcy. While in most states it should not matter if you file it should never be used against you at a new career; however the truth is that they may not tell you that is the reason they</p>
<p>For more information about my personal bankruptcy story be sure to visit the site below and get all the information that you need to avoid filing bankrupt.</p>
<div class='resource'>
<div style='font-style:italic' class='about'>About the Author:</div>
<div class='links'><a href="http://www.filingbankruptonline.com/my-personal-chapter-7-bankruptcy-story.html">Filing Bankruptcy</a> What You Should Know! <a href="http://www.filingbankruptonline.com/personal-bankruptcy-story.html">Filing Bankruptcy</a></div>
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<p class='technorati-tags'>Technorati Tags: <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/bankruptcy+chapter+7' rel='tag' target='_self'>bankruptcy chapter 7</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/Chapter+7+bankruptcy' rel='tag' target='_self'>Chapter 7 bankruptcy</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/credit' rel='tag' target='_self'>credit</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/debt' rel='tag' target='_self'>debt</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/debt+consolidation' rel='tag' target='_self'>debt consolidation</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/Finance' rel='tag' target='_self'>Finance</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/investing' rel='tag' target='_self'>investing</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/Personal+Bankruptcy' rel='tag' target='_self'>Personal Bankruptcy</a></p>

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<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/file-chapter-7-bankruptcy-and-keep-your-home' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Keep Your Home'>File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Keep Your Home</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/are-you-aware-of-some-alternatives-to-bankruptcy-2' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Are You Aware Of Some Alternatives To Bankruptcy?'>Are You Aware Of Some Alternatives To Bankruptcy?</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/what-do-i-need-to-take-care-of-after-bankruptcy' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: What Do I Need To Take Care Of After Bankruptcy?'>What Do I Need To Take Care Of After Bankruptcy?</a></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>How to Bounce Back from Bankruptcy Quicker than You Thought Possible!</title>
		<link>http://ethorities.com/how-to-bounce-back-from-bankruptcy-quicker-than-you-thought-possible</link>
		<comments>http://ethorities.com/how-to-bounce-back-from-bankruptcy-quicker-than-you-thought-possible#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:58:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Wendy Polisi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Experts]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[life after bankruptcy]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Personal Bankruptcy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[r]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recovering from bankruptcy]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[More and more American families are being devastated by bankruptcy.  Here are easy steps that anyone can follow to bounce back quickly!  There is life after bankruptcy!


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/improve-credit-after-bankruptcy' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Improve Credit After Bankruptcy'>Improve Credit After Bankruptcy</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/can-a-personal-loan-help-me-avoid-bankruptcy' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Can A Personal Loan Help Me Avoid Bankruptcy?'>Can A Personal Loan Help Me Avoid Bankruptcy?</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/are-you-aware-of-some-bankruptcy-alternatives-to-keep-from-filing-bankruptcy' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Are You Aware Of Some Bankruptcy Alternatives To Keep From Filing Bankruptcy?'>Are You Aware Of Some Bankruptcy Alternatives To Keep From Filing Bankruptcy?</a></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="KonaBody"><div style='font-style:italic' class='byline'>by Wendy Polisi</div>
<p>More and more American families are being devastated by bankruptcy.  Here are easy steps that anyone can follow to bounce back quickly!  There is life after bankruptcy!</p>
<p><span id="more-700"></span></p>
<p>Not a day goes by that you do not hear about a family struggling to pay their bills.  Many have no where to turn to and very limited choices.</p>
<p>For some, the only option is bankruptcy. </p>
<p>Bankruptcy leaves both financial and emotional scars that few can understand without having witnessed it themselves.  Still, it isnt the end of the road but rather <i>a new beginning.</i></p>
<p>You can get your life back faster than you ever dreamed!  Here is how!</p>
<p>Please listen to this first step, because it is by far the most important: <b> Do NOT let the bankruptcy define you!  </b></p>
<p>Stop beating yourself up!  Its ok to vow that you will never go through anything like that again, but let it go. Realize that that was a specific period of your life and not who you are.  The past is no reflection of your future. Its time for you to move on.</p>
<p>A great way to move on is to take the time to generate income from multiple streams.</p>
<p>You family is going to be more secure if you have income coming from several sources, even if your job is very stable.  This is a great time to invest in you and learn a new skill!  Why not start a website based on a hobby or a home-based business?  </p>
<p>Regaining your financial life is another key area of importance.  One of the first things you will need to do is open a bank account.  (Assuming you do not currently have one.)  You might try visiting a credit union or grocery store bank and establishing a relationship with the branch manager.  Explain what happened and find out what you will need to do to get another account.  It may not happen overnight, but if you do what is necessary, you should be able to open an account fairly quickly.</p>
<p>After you have a bank account, you will want to begin reestablishing your credit history.  Some people are afraid to do this, since it was too much credit that got them into this mess in the first place.</p>
<p>Sadly, you must use credit in order to improve your credit score.  Having a low credit score or none at all is expensive.</p>
<p>Just after a bankruptcy you may think that no one will grant you credit.  Luckily, there are several options.</p>
<p>The best option is to go to your bank or credit union and buy a certificate of deposit for a set amount, say $1,000.  Then you will want to take out a secured loan against this CD.  The bank is willing to give you the loan, because if you default they have the CD as collateral.  They cant lose and you win by establishing a payment history on a bank loan!</p>
<p>Another good option is opening a secured credit card.  You may have already gotten a few offers in the mail!  Secured cards work in the same way a CD loan does.  The lender will require you to make a deposit and issue you a credit line against it.</p>
<p>Be smart when you choose your credit card company!  You are looking for a low annual fee.  Avoid paying an application fee if at all possible.  The ability for the card to convert to unsecured at some point in the future is another great feature to look for</p>
<p>It is critical that you manage your new credit wisely.  Do not let yourself fall into old traps again!  Lenders will be much less forgiving of late payments after your bankruptcy than they would have before.</p>
<p>You need to monitor your credit report monthly.</p>
<p>Make sure that lenders arent reporting accounts that were included in your bankruptcy as open and past due.  This happens more often than it should, especially when lenders have sold your account to collection agencies.</p>
<p>One of the most convenient things that you can do is to create a form letter to send out to any lender that was included in your bankruptcy that attempts to collect from you afterwards.  You should include your personal information, the case number and your attorneys contact information.  This makes it easy for you to respond and lowers the chance that something will fall through the cracks.</p>
<p>By following these simple steps, you will be back on your feet quicker than you ever thought possible.</p>
<div class='resource'>
<div style='font-style:italic' class='about'>About the Author:</div>
<div class='links'>Wendy Polisi is Vice-President of Finance the Dream, the nations premier <a href="http://financethedream.com">Lease Purchase</a> and Lease to Buy Program. To learn more about recovering from <a href="http://www.liferebooted.org">bankruptcy</a>, please visit them at liferebooted.org &#8221; the blog that tells you everything you need to know about restarting your recovering from financial setback.</div>
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<p>Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/improve-credit-after-bankruptcy' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Improve Credit After Bankruptcy'>Improve Credit After Bankruptcy</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/can-a-personal-loan-help-me-avoid-bankruptcy' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Can A Personal Loan Help Me Avoid Bankruptcy?'>Can A Personal Loan Help Me Avoid Bankruptcy?</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/are-you-aware-of-some-bankruptcy-alternatives-to-keep-from-filing-bankruptcy' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Are You Aware Of Some Bankruptcy Alternatives To Keep From Filing Bankruptcy?'>Are You Aware Of Some Bankruptcy Alternatives To Keep From Filing Bankruptcy?</a></li></ol></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>So how much does it cost to declare bankruptcy, anyway?</title>
		<link>http://ethorities.com/so-how-much-does-it-cost-to-declare-bankruptcy-anyway</link>
		<comments>http://ethorities.com/so-how-much-does-it-cost-to-declare-bankruptcy-anyway#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:19:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Josh Ramos</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Experts]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[You may be considering bankruptcy as a way to solve your debt problems. This is certainly an option that you should consider if you're facing an overwhelming amount of debt and don't see any other way out. Of course, you should speak to a lawyer and not rush into things prematurely. However, if you decide to go this route, you may be wondering how much does it cost to declare bankruptcy.


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/do-you-really-need-a-lawyer-when-it-comes-to-bankruptcy' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Do you really need a lawyer when it comes to bankruptcy?'>Do you really need a lawyer when it comes to bankruptcy?</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/what-is-bankruptcy-chapter-7' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: What Is Bankruptcy Chapter 7?'>What Is Bankruptcy Chapter 7?</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/bankruptcy-public-records-prevent-costly-mistakes' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Bankruptcy Public Records -Prevent Costly Mistakes'>Bankruptcy Public Records -Prevent Costly Mistakes</a></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="KonaBody"><div style='font-style:italic;' class='byline'>by Josh Ramos</div>
<p>You may be considering bankruptcy as a way to solve your debt problems. This is certainly an option that you should consider if you&#8217;re facing an overwhelming amount of debt and don&#8217;t see any other way out. Of course, you should speak to a lawyer and not rush into things prematurely. However, if you decide to go this route, you may be wondering how much does it cost to declare bankruptcy.</p>
<p><span id="more-345"></span></p>
<p>You have to pay the court a fee of $274 when filing chapter seven bankruptcy, while the fee for chapter 13 bankruptcy is $189. Chapter seven bankruptcy, by the way, is what most people are looking for since it aims to wipe out your debts completely. Chapter 13 bankruptcy, on the other hand, establishes a repayment plan for you to pay off your debts over time.</p>
<p>This may seem like a lot of money, but this really depends on your perspective. Think about what you&#8217;re getting in return, since a successful bankruptcy case can give you a fresh financial start.</p>
<p>It is important to point out, however, that the filing fees are not the only cost that you have to worry about when it comes to bankruptcy. You&#8217;ll also have to pay your lawyer.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s true that lawyer fees can be expensive, and the new bankruptcy law makes the need for a lawyer greater than ever.</p>
<p>However, you shouldn&#8217;t think that bankruptcy is not an option because of the cost involved. After all, the process is designed to bring you relief even if it could have long-term consequences for your credit. The main question to ask yourself is whether bankruptcy is the way to go, and you shouldn&#8217;t try to answer this question without a good amount of research and legal advice.</p>
<p>The first thing you should remember is that filing for bankruptcy will automatically put your debts on hold, and your creditors will not be able to contact you until your case is finalized.</p>
<p>If you were successful in wiping out your debts, you won&#8217;t have to worry about these anymore. Getting rid of these other debts should clear up enough funds for you to pay your lawyer fees (especially if you work out a payment plan with your attorney).</p>
<div class='resource'>
<div style='font-style:italic;' class='about'>About the Author:</div>
<div class='links'>Don&#8217;t let the fear of your debt take over your life.  Get the facts about bankruptcy and learn how to get control of your debt.  To learn more about <a href="http://personalbankruptcyquestions.org/what-is-bankruptcy">what is the new bankruptcy law</a> visit us at <a href="http://personalbankruptcyquestions.org">http://personalbankruptcyquestions.org</a></div>
</div>
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		<title>Do you really need a lawyer when it comes to bankruptcy?</title>
		<link>http://ethorities.com/do-you-really-need-a-lawyer-when-it-comes-to-bankruptcy</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:50:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Josh Ramos</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Experts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bankruptcy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Bankruptcy]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[You've probably realized by now that filing for bankruptcy can be a pretty complicated matter. Still, it's tempting to try to go through the process by yourself in order to save money.


Related posts:<ol><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/so-how-much-does-it-cost-to-declare-bankruptcy-anyway' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: So how much does it cost to declare bankruptcy, anyway?'>So how much does it cost to declare bankruptcy, anyway?</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/do-you-know-of-some-bankruptcy-alternatives-to-save-you-from-bankruptcy' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Do You Know Of Some Bankruptcy Alternatives To Save You From Bankruptcy?'>Do You Know Of Some Bankruptcy Alternatives To Save You From Bankruptcy?</a></li><li><a href='http://ethorities.com/bankruptcy-repayment-plan' rel='bookmark' title='Permanent Link: Bankruptcy Repayment Plan'>Bankruptcy Repayment Plan</a></li></ol>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="KonaBody"><div style='font-style:italic;' class='byline'>by Josh Ramos</div>
<p>You&#8217;ve probably realized by now that filing for bankruptcy can be a pretty complicated matter. Still, it&#8217;s tempting to try to go through the process by yourself in order to save money.</p>
<p><span id="more-237"></span></p>
<p>Because your finances are in trouble, you&#8217;re trying to find any way possible to save some money. So why shouldn&#8217;t you try and proceed without a lawyer in order to save that extra money for when you really need it? Is it OK to file by yourself?</p>
<p>I certainly would not recommend it. Why shouldn&#8217;t you try to go it alone in order to save as much money as possible? You are, after all, declaring bankruptcy because your finances are in a mess, right? Well, the truth is that this procedure has become more difficult to accomplish in recent years due to the bankruptcy reform law that was adopted in 2005. The law passed by Congress and signed by President Bush added some restrictions which seek to eliminate abuse of the bankruptcy system.</p>
<p>The means test is probably the most significant change in the bankruptcy law. Its entire goal is to try and make sure that you really need bankruptcy based on your current salary and debt load.</p>
<p>If your salary is lower than the median income for your state, then you don&#8217;t even have to bother with taking this test. However, if your income is higher than the median, you&#8217;ll be subjected to a more rigorous process before you are allowed to wipe out your debts.</p>
<p>You must be prepared to carefully document your income and expenses, and there are many details that you or your lawyer should be aware of. The process can be quite challenging even for a lawyer, let alone a layperson.</p>
<p>Some people may try to tell you that they were able to do all this by themselves, but chances are that this was before the recent changes in the bankruptcy law. Things are more difficult these days for the lay person to accomplish on his own.</p>
<p>Trying to navigate all the technical details of the bankruptcy code can be very difficult for a layperson. Even lawyers who specialize in bankruptcy have to work hard to keep up with all the latest developments and court rulings regarding personal bankruptcy.</p>
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<div style='font-style:italic;' class='about'>About the Author:</div>
<div class='links'>Don&#8217;t let the fear of your debt take over your life.  Get the facts about bankruptcy and learn how to get control of your debt.  To learn more about <a href="http://personalbankruptcyquestions.org/what-is-bankruptcy">what is chapter 7 bankruptcy</a> visit us at <a href="http://personalbankruptcyquestions.org">http://personalbankruptcyquestions.org</a></div>
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<p class='technorati-tags'>Technorati Tags: <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/bankruptcy' rel='tag' target='_self'>bankruptcy</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/credit' rel='tag' target='_self'>credit</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/Experts' rel='tag' target='_self'>Experts</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/Finance' rel='tag' target='_self'>Finance</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/finances' rel='tag' target='_self'>finances</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/financial' rel='tag' target='_self'>financial</a>, <a class='technorati-link' href='http://technorati.com/tag/Personal+Bankruptcy' rel='tag' target='_self'>Personal Bankruptcy</a></p>

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