Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Bankruptcy in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is a court proceeding through which a person or business who is unable to pay their debt is able to have some of their debt legally eliminated, or "discharged." This theoretically allows the debtor to move on with a clean slate. However, bankruptcy is not a free ride, allowing someone who simply doesn't feel like paying their debts to get out of that legal obligation. It is designed to prevent debt which has little chance of ever being paid back from ruining the life and finances of the debtor. It also carries significant long-term consequences, which must be carefully weighed against the potential benefits. For example, bankruptcy makes it very difficult for the debtor to obtain credit in the near future.
Accordingly, it might be a good idea to consult with a Chapel Hill, North Carolina 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 Chapel Hill could prove invaluable.
Find a Chapel Hill Lawyer that Specializes in Your Area of Need:
Types of Bankruptcy in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 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 Chapel Hill, North Carolina will be similar anywhere else in the U.S. Chapter 7 bankruptcy involves liquidation of some of the debtor's assets to pay off as much of his or her debt as possible. Once the liquidation is complete, and the proceeds given to the creditors, the rest of the debt is discharged. Liquidation is essentially selling assets to the highest bidder. Only some of the debtor's assets have to be sold, and many classes of property are exempt, meaning that the debtor can keep them, including homes, cars, insurance policies, and retirement accounts. It should be noted that certain types of debt cannot be discharged through Chapter 7 bankruptcy, including student loans, child support payments, criminal fines, and recent taxes.
The other popular bankruptcy system in Chapel Hill is Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Under this system, the debtor's debts are restructured, instead of discharged. This involves creating a new repayment plan that the debtor wil find manageable, given his or her income, and that will result in the creditors being paid in a reasonable amount of time. When a repayment plan is approved by a court, creditors are legally barred from attempting to collect under the orginal terms of their agreement with the debtor. Though Chapter 11 bankruptcy can be used by individuals, it is almost exclusively used by businesses. Similar to Chapter 13, Chapter 11 involves restructuring of debts, rather than complete discharge. The debtor is required to come up with a restructuring plan that lays out how it plans to cut costs, streamline operations, and pay its debts. The plan must then be approved by a vote of participating creditors.
While going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a business can continue operations, and its stock can continue to be traded.
How Can a Chapel Hill Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?
One should not make the decision to file for bankruptcy in Chapel Hill lightly. Before making any such decision, it would be highly adviseable to contact an experienced Chapel Hill bankruptcy attorney.
There are 23 Bankruptcy, Banking and Credit cases posted in Chapel Hill
Cases Posted to LegalMatch listed by ZIP Code:Bankruptcy Attorneys in the Largest NC Cities
Life in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill is located in Orange County, North Carolina. Chapel Hill is well-known because it is home to the University of North Carolina. It is also known because it helps comprise the "Research Triangle," which includes Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh.Interestingly, Chapel Hill is nicknamed "America's Foodiest Small Town" by Bon Appetit Magazine. Some popular restaurants are A Southern Season, Foster's Markeet, Mama's Dip's, Crook's Corner, Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen, Caffee Driade, and The Lantern Restaurant. Many of these places have been recognized by Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, and the Food Network!
Chapel Hill is also home to many attorneys who help keep the legal force strong. This, in turn, helps residnets and local businesses because all their legal matters will be handled appropriately.
Some famous residents of Chapel Hill include Chris Stamey, Dean Smith, Jack Hogan, John Grisham, Hubert Davis, Ash Bowie, and K.A. Applegate.
