Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Antioch, California

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in Antioch, CA

  • /10
  • Client Overall
    Satisfaction Rate*
*TrustPilot score as of 010118

Find Lawyers

In Antioch, California, bankruptcy is a court procedure in which a person or business has some or all of their debts excused (or "discharged"), theoretically allowing them to start 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 relieved of their obligation to pay their debts just because they don't want to. It is meant to serve as a lifeline, preventing unmanageable 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 severely damage a person's credit rating.

Accordingly, it might be a good idea to consult with an Antioch, 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 difficult to foresee the long-term consequences of any bankruptcy-related decisions, so the advice of a bankruptcy in Antioch could prove invaluable.

Types of Bankruptcy in Antioch, California

In Antioch, California, there are 3 types of bankruptcy in common use: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11. Because bankruptcy is a creation of federal law, the procedures governing bankruptcy in Antioch, California will be similar anywhere 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 proceeds to pay off debt. Many 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 Antioch, 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 a longer period of time, thereby 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. Although it can be used by individuals, Chapter 11 bankruptcy is used almost exclusively by businesses. Not unlike Chapter 13, Chapter 11 focuses on restructuring of debt, rather than discharging it. Chapter 11 requires that the debtor come up with a reorganization plan designed to reduce debt and cut costs. Before being implemented, this plan must be approved by a majority vote of participating creditors.

One advantage of Chapter 11 bankruptcy is that it allows a business going through it to continue operations, and to trade its stock.

How Can a Antioch Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

Filing for bankrtuptcy in Antioch is a major decision with costs and benefits that must be weighed carefully. Before filing, it would be a good idea to speak with a good Antioch bankruptcy attorney.

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in Antioch

Antioch, California is a city of about 103,000 people. It is located in Contra Costa County, California, in the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta. It is considered a suburb of San Francisco and Oakland.

Antioch is one of the oldest towns in California. It was founded in 1850. A few years later, coal was discovered in some of the nearby hills, and coal mining became the first major industry in Antioch, California.

Modernly, Antioch is a mostly-residential community, where many professionals who work in the larger cities nearby, such as San Francisco and Oakland, live. Its economy is based largely on retail, healthcare, and white-collar services, such as law offices and lawyers.

If you live in Antioch, California, and need legal advice, it's almost certain that there's an Antioch, California attorney who can help.