Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Bristol, Connecticut

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in Bristol, CT

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In Bristol, Connecticut, bankruptcy is a court procedure in which a person or business has some or all of their debts cleared (or "discharged"), theoretically allowing them to begin 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). Remember, though, that bankruptcy should not be viewed as a proper way to get out of debt that you don't feel like paying back. It is meant to serve as an option of last resort for people and businesses faced with debt that they will probably never be able to pay back. The decision to file for bankruptcy can result in negative consequences, such as damaged credit ratings, which must be seriously weighed against the possible benefits.

Accordingly, it might be a good idea to consult with a Bristol, Connecticut 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 hard to predict the long-term consequences of any bankruptcy-related decisions, so the advice of a bankruptcy in Bristol could prove invaluable.

Types of Bankruptcy in Bristol, Connecticut

In Bristol, Connecticut, 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 Bristol, Connecticut will be similar anywhere else in the U.S. Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires the debtor to liquidate some of his or her assets in order to pay off as much debt as possible. Once the sale of the assets is complete, and the proceeds handed over to the creditors, the debt is viewed as discharged. Liquidation is basically selling assets to the highest bidder. Not all of the debtor's assets will need to be sold, and many types of property are completely or partially exempt, including homes, cars, retirement accounts, and insurance policies. This means that the debtor can keep them. It should be noted that some types of debts are not dischargeable in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, including student loans, criminal fines, taxes, and child support payments. Even when the bankruptcy process is complete, these debts will have to be paid in full.

Under Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Bristol, 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 prolonged period of time, thus 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 executed, this plan must be approved by a majority vote of participating creditors.

During the Chapter 11 process, a business can normally continue its operations, and the stock can be traded, even if it is de-listed from a major stock exchange.

How Can a Bristol Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

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

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in Bristol

You're probably familiar with Bristol because it is the headquarters to ESPN. This Hartford County city is 20 miles Southwest of the City of Hartford making it very popular among professionals seeking a more suburban environment. Many of those professionals are lawyers. Lawyers in Bristol take all kinds of cases and advise their clients on the best courses of action for their cases in Connecticut. Bristol has earned a number of different nicknames over the years. It was known as Clock City in the 1800s because it primarily manufactured timepieces; today you may visit the American Clock and Watch Museum in Bristol. Other more recent nicknames include Bell City and Mum City as a result of the bustling doorbell and chrysanthemum production. Bristol still holds an annual Mum Festival each September.  

Today, Bristol is undergoing a period of downtown revitalization attracting more business to interesting historical museums like the New England Carousel Museum, Imagine Nation Children's Museum, Witches Dungeon Classic Movie Museum, and the Bristol Historical Society Museum which recounts Bristol's rich past. Bristol is notably home to the largest elevator test tower in the United States that is owned by the Otis Elevator Company.