Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in White Plains, New York
Bankruptcy in White Plains, New York 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. Bankruptcy should be treated as an option of last resort, and should not be viewed as a convenient way to get out of debt that you just don't feel like paying. Bankruptcy can have severe consequences, including but not limited to damage to your credit rating. A bad credit score can impact your ability to obtain loans in the future, to rent an apartment, and possibly even your ability to get hired at some jobs (as some employers now run credit checks on prospective employees).
Accordingly, you should speak with a good White Plains, New York bankruptcy lawyer. Your White Plains bankruptcy lawyer can inform you of the costs and benefits of filing for bankruptcy, and give his or her professional opinion as to whether or not it's a good option, given your particular circumstances.
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Types of Bankruptcy in White Plains, New York
In White Plains, New York, there are three basic bankruptcy schemes that are most commonly used. They are known as Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11. Being a product of federal law, the procedural rules governing bankruptcy in White Plains, New York will be very similar to those in any other part of the United States. 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 White Plains 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 available to individuals, Chapter 11 bankruptcy is mostly used by businesses. Like Chapter 13, Chapter 11 requires the restructuring of debts. Under this system, the debtor must come up with a plan to reduce debt, cut costs, and improve operations. Once this plan is proposed, it is submitted to the participating creditors, who must approve it by a majority vote before it can be implemented.
One main advantage of Chapter 11 bankrutpcy is that it allows businesses to continue their operations while the process plays out. Furthermore, their stock can still be bought and sold.
How Can a White Plains Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?
The need to weigh all the options and consider the costs and benefits of filing for bankruptcy in White Plains cannot be overstated. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, it would be a good idea to speak with a White Plains bankruptcy attorney beforehand.
There are 63 Bankruptcy, Banking and Credit cases posted in White Plains
Cases Posted to LegalMatch listed by ZIP Code:Bankruptcy Attorneys in the Largest NY Cities
Life in White Plains
White Plains is located in Westchester County, New York. It is an affluent county that is home to around one million people. It is just north of New York City. Surrounding areas include the Hudson River, Harrison, Long Island Sound, Scarsdale, and Greenburgh. Per the 2010 census, White Plains itself has a population of 56,853 people.Top employers include the Starwood Hotels, ITT, Bunge, Combe, Alliance Bernstein, Dannon, Krasdale Foods, Nine West, Vimeo, Acadia Realty Trust, AboveNet, Heineken, and Nokia. Naturally, to support all these corporations, White Plains is home to excellent and qualified attorneys who are there to serve the legal needs of residents and businesses.
Popular sites include the White Plains Armory, the Percy Grainger Home, and the Jacob Purdy House.
