Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Kokomo, Indiana

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in Kokomo, IN

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In Kokomo, Indiana, bankruptcy is a legal proceeding in which a person or business has some or all of their debts legally absolved, when they are unable to pay them. This hopefully allows them to begin over with a clean slate and move on, after having learned to better manage their use of credit in the process. However, bankruptcy is not a free ride, allowing someone who simply doesn't feel like paying their debts to get out of that legal requirement. It is designed to prevent debt which has minimal 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 Kokomo, Indiana 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 hard to predict the long-term consequences of any bankruptcy-related decisions, so the advice of a bankruptcy in Kokomo could prove invaluable.

Types of Bankruptcy in Kokomo, Indiana

There are three basic bankruptcy schemes that are most commonly used in Kokomo: Chapters 7, 13, and 11. Bankruptcy is a creation of federal law, so the process for filing for bankruptcy in Kokomo, Indiana will be roughly the same as it would be anywhere else in the U.S. Chapter 7 bankruptcy involves liquidation of part of the debtor's assets to pay off as much of his or her debt as possible. Once the liquidation is fulfilled, 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 numerous 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 Kokomo 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. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is almost always used by businesses, but there is nothing that legally prevents it from being used by individuals, and its use by individuals is very rare. Chapter 11 bankruptcy requires the debtor to come up with a restructuring plan - telling the court how they propose to cut costs, fix their operations, and pay down their debts. The plan has to be approved by a majority vote of participating creditors.

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

How Can a Kokomo Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

Filing for bankrtuptcy in Kokomo is a huge decision with costs and benefits that must be weighed carefully. Before filing, it would be a good idea to speak with a seasoned Kokomo bankruptcy attorney.

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in Kokomo

Kokomo is located in Howard County, Indiana. It is Indiana's thirteenth largest city and is home to around 45,500 people.

Some popular sites in Kokomo include Howard County Historical Society, Kokomo Beach, The Sycamore Stump, Old Ben, City of Firsts Automotive Heritage Museum, and Elwood Haynes Museum.

Kokomo's top employers include Chrysler LLC, Delphi Corporation, GM Components Holdings LLC, Haynes International, Holder Mattress, Syndicate Sales, Inc. and Coca-Cola. To support these businesses, Kokomo has many attorneys whose practice can take care of the legal needs of these corporations. Also, for complex legal matters, Kokomo residents can look to nearby Chicago's legal force to deal with legal issues that seem impossible.

Some famous residents include Sylvia Jane Kirby, Jim Ligon, Strother Martin, John O'Banion, Jimmy Rayl, Tavis Smiley, and Marc Pohlman.