Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in San Dimas, California

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in San Dimas, CA

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In San Dimas, 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.

For that reason, it would be prudent to speak with a good San Dimas, California bankruptcy attorney. This attorney will be able to advise you as to whether or not filing for bankruptcy is a good idea, given your individual situation. This determination is highly dependent on the details of each individual case, so a San Dimas attorney's advice is absolutely indispensable.

Types of Bankruptcy in San Dimas, California

There are three basic bankruptcy schemes that are most commonly used in San Dimas: Chapters 7, 13, and 11. Bankruptcy is a creation of federal law, so the procedure for filing for bankruptcy in San Dimas, California will be roughly the same as it would be anywhere else in the U.S. Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires the debtor to liquidate some of his or her property, and use the proceeds to pay creditors. While this doesn't sound like much of a relief at first glance, the upshot is that once the qualifying property is sold, and the proceeds given to the creditors, all of the debtor's eligible debts are deemed paid in full, regardless of how much the creditors actually ended up getting. Not all of the debtor's property has to be sold off - the debtor will normally be allowed to keep things like a house, at least one car, some types of personal property, retirement accounts, and insurance policies. It should be noted that some debts are not dischargeable, and will have to be paid in full even if the debtor files for bankruptcy. This includes student loans, taxes, and criminal fines.

Under Chapter 13 bankruptcy in San Dimas, 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. 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.

One advantage of Chapter 11 bankruptcy is that it allows a business going through it to continue operations, and to trade its stock.

How Can a San Dimas Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

The need to consider all the options and consider the costs and benefits of filing for bankruptcy in San Dimas cannot be overstated. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, it would be a good idea to speak with a San Dimas bankruptcy attorney beforehand.

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Life in San Dimas

San Dimas, California is a city in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County. It has a population of about 36,000 people, as of a 2004 Census estimate. San Dimas is a mostly-residential suburb of Los Angeles, and many people who live in San Dimas work in LA.

San Dimas, and much of what is now considered the greater Los Angeles area, was originally populated by the Tongva tribe of Native Americans. The first Europeans to explore and colonize the area were Spanish missionaries, who set up Mission San Gabriel in the 1700s.

When the Santa Fe railroad arrived in San Dimas in 1887, the natural mud springs of the area were mapped. During this time period, modern medicine was still in its infancy, and water available in the rapidly-growing cities of America was often polluted and unsafe to drink. This led to many small towns which had natural springs of drinkable water to market themselves as health resorts. San Dimas was one of those cities, and health tourism by wealthy visitors played a big role in the early development of its economy.

Modernly, San Dimas' economy is largely driven by the huge city of Los Angeles.

If you live in San Dimas, California, and need an attorney, you're in luck. Thanks to its presence in a major metropolitan area, and relatively affluent clientele, San Dimas, California lawyers are well-equipped to handle a wide range of legal problems. If you need legal services, a San Dimas, California lawyer is the person to call.