Consumer Bankruptcy Lawyers in Columbia, Maryland

Find the right Consumer Bankruptcy attorney in Columbia, MD

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Bankruptcy is a legal procedure allowing a person or business to have their debts absolved, in part or in whole. It is normally treated as a last resort, because, while it can prevent financial catastrophe, it has some huge long-term consequences. This warrants careful consideration of the costs and benefits. Being a creation of federal law, bankruptcy will go through federal courts. Accordingly, the process for filing for bankruptcy in Maryland is essentially the same as the process anywhere else in the United States. However, particular courts in Columbia, Maryland will have particular rules for exemptions, so you should speak with a local attorney before filing.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Columbia, Maryland

In Columbia, Maryland, there are 2 commonly-used types of consumer bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Chapter 7 bankruptcy involves liquidation of some of the debtor's assets. It requires some percentage of the debtor's property to be sold in order to pay off as much of his or her debt as possible. However, the majority of property that most people own is exempt. This normally includes homes, vehicles, insurance policies, and retirement accounts. These do not have to be sold.

Once eligible assets are sold, and the proceeds turned over to the creditors, most remaining debt is cleared. However, some forms of debt cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, including student loans, taxes, child support, personal injury awards, and fines. If most of your debt in Columbia, Maryland is not dischargeable, you may want to consider other options besides bankruptcy.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Columbia, Maryland

In Columbia, Maryland, Chapter 13 is very different from Chapter 7. Chapter 13 may or may not be the best choice for you; this depends on the facts of your individual situation. Chapter 13 does not excuse any debt, but it creates a new payment plan that should give the debtor some breathing room. Typically, all of the debts are consolidated into 1 periodic payment. While this may make it take longer to pay off the debt, if the debtor is willing to make a few sacrifices, the plan should be manageable.

Which Type of Consumer Bankruptcy Should I File in Columbia, Maryland

This depends entirely on the facts of your individual case. If you have a decent amount of stable income, and a large amount of non-exempt property which you don't want to part with, Chapter 13 may be the best option for you. If most of your property is exempt, and you don't have much stable income, Chapter 7 might be the best option.

Of course, you should always seek the counsel of an accomplished local Columbia, Maryland bankruptcy attorney before you make the decision to file. He or she will be able to advise you of your options, and suggest the best possible course of action for your individual situation.

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Life in Columbia

Columbia, Maryland is a planned community. It consists of ten independent villages, each with a distinct character. It has a population of almost 90,000 people, and is generally considered a suburb of both Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

The modern community of Columbia, Maryland was established in the 1960s, and the planning of the community involved many ideas that were, at the time, revolutionary. For example, rather than building a large number of cookie-cutter houses with only a few floor plans to choose from,the developers strove for architectural diversity, giving home-buyers much more choice. In addition to city planners, some nationally-renowned experts in the social sciences were deeply involved in the process, bringing in their expertise to make Columbia, Maryland as livable as possible.

Money Magazine has named Columbia, Maryland one of the best places to live in the United States. Each village center in Columbia boasts a central shopping area, designed to be far more aesthetically pleasing than traditional strip malls.

There are plenty of Columbia, Maryland lawyers who specialize in a wide variety of legal fields. Whether you need to make a will, buy a house, or confront any other legal issue, there is a Columbia, Maryland lawyer who can help.