Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Alameda, California

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in Alameda, CA

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In Alameda, California, bankruptcy is a court procedure in which a person or business has some or all of their debts absolved (or "discharged"), theoretically allowing them to commence with a clean slate, and move on with their lives no longer drowning in debt (and hopefully having learned to better manage their use of credit in the process). Of course, one should never view bankruptcy as a "get out of debt free" card, allowing someone to be discharged of their requirement to pay their debts just because they don't want to. It is meant to serve as a lifeline, preventing uncontrollable debt from resulting in complete financial ruin. Accordingly, it is best treated as an option of last resort, because it can carry with it significant negative consequences, which must be weighed against the possible benefits. For example, filing for bankruptcy can heavily damage a person's credit rating.

Accordingly, it might be a good idea to consult with an Alameda, California bankruptcy attorney. Your lawyer will be able to counsel you about your options, including alternatives to bankruptcy, if such alternatives exist in your case. Whatever the result, it is often challenging to anticipate the long-term consequences of any bankruptcy-related decisions, so the advice of a bankruptcy in Alameda could prove invaluable.

Types of Bankruptcy in Alameda, California

In Alameda, California, there are 3 types of bankruptcy in common use: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11. Because bankruptcy is a result of federal law, the procedures governing bankruptcy in Alameda, California will be similar everywhere else in the U.S. Chapter 7 bankruptcy involves liquidation of many of the debtor's assets in order to pay off as much of the debt as possible. This sounds harsh, but there is an upside: once the liquidation is complete, the debts are legally viewed as having been paid in full, whether or not the full amount was covered by the liquidation. Liquidation involves selling some personal property, and using the funds to pay off debt. Numerous types of property are exempt from liqudiation, and therefore may not need to be sold. They include homes, cars, and insurance policies, among others. You should know that some types of debt cannot be discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, including taxes, student loans, and child support.

Under Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Alameda, most of the debtor's debt is not discharged. Instead, the bankruptcy court, working with the debtor and participating creditors, work out a payment plan that allows the debtor to pay off most of his or her debts over an extended period of time, therefore theoretically making the debt far more manageable. Once a payment plan is approved by the court, creditors are prohibited from attempting to collect payment under their original agreements that gave rise to the debt in the first place. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is almost always used by businesses, but there is nothing that legally prevents it from being used by individuals, and its use by individuals is very rare. Chapter 11 bankruptcy requires the debtor to come up with a restructuring plan - telling the court how they propose to cut costs, fix their operations, and pay down their debts. The plan has to be approved by a majority vote of participating creditors.

One major advantage of Chapter 11 bankruptcy is that it allows businesses to continue their operations while the process plays out. Moreover, their stock can still be bought and sold.

How Can a Alameda Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

The decision to file for bankruptcy in Alameda is not one to be made easily, and it definitely should not be made without first obtaining the advice of an efficient Alameda bankruptcy attorney.

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in Alameda

Alameda, California is a city in Alameda County. Its population is currently about 80,000 people. It is located in the Eastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Alameda, California is located on two islands: Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, in the San Francisco bay. Alameda, California is popular with wind surfers, thanks to its proximity to the San Francisco Bay, and the presence of a fairly large public beach in town, which, besides being a good site for wind surfing, provides beautiful views of the San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge.

Until 1997, Naval Air Station Alameda was one of the driving forces in the local economy. But it was closed in 1997, during a wave of military cutbacks and base closures that occurred at the end of the Cold War. Nowadays, Alameda, California is a major regional center for wine and spirit production. The alcohol industry is heavily regulated, so these wineries and distilleries hire a large number of Alameda, California attorneys.

If you need to find a lawyer in Alameda, California, you're in luck. There are many well-qualified and experienced attorneys in Alameda, California, who can help you with just about any legal issue you're likely to face.