Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Livermore, California

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in Livermore, CA

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

Find Lawyers

In Livermore, California, 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, you should speak with a good Livermore, California bankruptcy lawyer. Your Livermore bankruptcy lawyer can inform you of the costs and benefits of filing for bankruptcy, and give his or her professional advice as to whether or not it's a good option, given your individual circumstances.

Types of Bankruptcy in Livermore, California

In Livermore, California, 3 types of bankruptcy procedures are in common use: Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13. Being governed by federal law, the procedures involved in filing for bankruptcy in Livermore, California will be roughly the same as everywhere else in America. Chapter 7 bankruptcy, or "liquidation," requires the debtor to sell some of his or her property to the highest bidder, and using the funds from the sale to pay down as much debt as possible. Once the sale is fulfilled, all dischargeable debt is deemed paid in full, whether or not the sale was able to raise the full amount owed. You should note that some property (usually the types of property deemed essential) is fully or partially exempt from liquidation, meaning that the debtor gets to keep it. This includes houses, cars, and retirement accounts, among others. Some types of debts, however, cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, including taxes, child support, and student loans.

Under Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Livermore, 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 always 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.

One major advantage of Chapter 11 bankruptcy is that it allows businesses to continue their operations while the process plays out. Additionally, their stock can still be bought and sold.

How Can a Livermore Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

One should not make the decision to file for bankruptcy in Livermore easily. Before making any such decision, it would be highly advisable to contact an accomplished Livermore bankruptcy attorney.

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in Livermore

Livermore, California is a city in Alameda County. Its population is about 81,000 people. Livermore is located in the Eastern outskirts of the San Francisco Bay Area, and is generally considered to be on the border between the Bay Area and Central Valley.

Livermore, California's history of human habitation dates back several thousand years, with the Ohlone tribe of Native Americans inhabiting the area for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. The first European settlements of the Livermore area arrived in the 1770s, when the Spanish established a strong military and missionary presence in the area. After the discovery of gold in California, Livermore became a popular "first day" stopping point for prospectors arriving via San Francisco.

Modernly, Livermore, California is home of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which, in association with the University of California system and the Department of Energy, carries out cutting-edge scientific research, particularly in the area of nuclear energy.

This facility, besides employing large numbers of engineers and scientists, also employ several attorneys who handle things like employee relations and intellectual property.

If you need a lawyer in Livermore, California, for whatever reason, it's very likely that there's a Livermore, California attorney who can help you with whatever legal problems you might be facing.