Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Janesville, Wisconsin

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in Janesville, WI

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Bankruptcy in Janesville, Wisconsin is a court procedure which allows an individual or business who is drowning in debt to be absolved of their legal requirement to pay off some or all of their debt. Hopefully, this will allow both the debtor and creditors to move on with their lives. Of course, one should never view bankruptcy as a "get out of debt free" card, allowing someone to be absolved 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.

Therefore, it is advisable to consult with an experienced Janesville, Wisconsin bankruptcy attorney, who can advise you of the costs and benefits of bankruptcy. Because the decision to file for bankruptcy depends very heavily on the facts of each individual case, the advice of a Janesville bankruptcy attorney cannot be replaced.

Types of Bankruptcy in Janesville, Wisconsin

In Janesville, Wisconsin, 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 Janesville, Wisconsin will be similar everywhere 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 verified, and the proceeds handed over to the creditors, the debt is perceived 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.

The other popular bankruptcy system in Janesville 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 will find manageable, given his or her income, and that will result in the creditors being paid in a decent amount of time. When a repayment plan is authorized by a court, creditors are legally barred from trying to collect under the original terms of their contract with the debtor. Though Chapter 11 bankruptcy can be used by individuals, it is almost always 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 authorized by a 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 Janesville Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

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

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in Janesville

With a population of 61,310 Janesville, Wisconsin has it all. Janesville is located in South Central Wisconsin and was founded in 1835. Since its founding, the charming city has done nothing but grow and prosper. Janesville was named after an early settler to the town -- Henry James.

Janesville was the site of the first Wisconsin State Fair in 1851, an event that over 10,000 people attended. It is no wonder then that so many people enjoy visiting and living in Janesville. Janesville is also home to lots of historical homes, in fact 20% of the nationally registered historic homes in Wisconsin are in Janesville. Aptly named "City of Parks," Janesville has an extensive park system that includes nature trails, boat lakes, and 53 parks in total.

Janesville is also home to some interesting legal history. Janesville lawyers are some of the best in the business and Janesville is also home to Wisconsin's first female lawyer --Lavinia Goddell in 1874. In addition to lawyers, there are lots of other great business and industry which make the city a great place to start a career.