Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in College Park, Maryland

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in College Park, MD

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In College Park, Maryland, bankruptcy is a legal proceeding in which a person or business has some or all of their debts legally cleared, when they are unable to pay them. This hopefully allows them to start over with a clean slate and move on, after having learned to better manage their use of credit in the process. However, bankruptcy should not be treated as a way to avoid debt that one simply doesn't feel like paying. It is meant to be a safety net for people or businesses who are really unable to pay off their debts. Because bankruptcy is not without negative consequences (such as a severely damaged credit rating for many years afterward), it should be viewed as an option of last resort.

Therefore, it is a good idea to talk with an veteran bankruptcy lawyer in College Park, Maryland. They will be able to advise you on the likely legal and financial consequences of filing for bankruptcy, and help you determine if it's the right option for your. Because this determination depends heavily on the facts of each distinct case, the counsel of a College Park bankruptcy attorney cannot be substituted.

Types of Bankruptcy in College Park, Maryland

There are 3 bankruptcy tactics that are normally used in College Park: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is governed by federal law, so the procedures in College Park, Maryland are very similar to what they will be anywhere else in the United States. 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 complete, and the proceeds handed over to the creditors, the debt is viewed 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 entirely 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 College Park 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 reasonable amount of time. When a repayment plan is approved by a court, creditors are legally barred from attempting to collect under the original terms of their arrangement with the debtor. Though applicable to individuals, Chapter 11 bankruptcy is typically 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 finalized, it is submitted to the participating creditors, who must approve it by a majority vote before it can be implemented.

While going through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a business can continue operations, and its stock can continue to be traded.

How Can a College Park Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

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

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Life in College Park

College Park, Maryland is a community of about 25,000 people, situated in Prince George's County. It is just outside Washington, D.C.

College Park is home to the University of Maryland, a public research university, and the flagship of Maryland's public university system. University of Maryland, College Park is very well-regarded across the country, and some rankings even put it in the top 50 universities in the world.

Given its size, and the presence of a major university attracting students from all over the nation, College Park, Maryland is definitely a classic "college town." As with any college town, there is sometimes conflict between students and long-time residents of the town. However, it is rarely serious, and typically does not escalate beyond noise complaints and other minor nuisances.

Occasionally, however, the student community attempts to get one of its own elected to the city council, since anybody who resides in College Park and is over 21 is eligible to run. None of these bids have been successful, however.

College towns tend to have slightly more lawyers than other communities of comparable size. This means that there are probably College Park, Maryland lawyers who can handle just about any type of legal issue that you're likely to face in your lifetime. If you have a legal issue, it's very like that there's a College Park, Maryland lawyer who can help.