Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in District Heights, Maryland

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in District Heights, MD

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

Find Lawyers

In District Heights, Maryland, bankruptcy is a legal proceeding in which a person or business has some or all of their debts legally excused, 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 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 truly unable to pay off their debts. Because bankruptcy is not without negative consequences (such as a heavily 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 experienced bankruptcy lawyer in District Heights, 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 individual case, the counsel of a District Heights bankruptcy attorney cannot be replaced.

Types of Bankruptcy in District Heights, Maryland

There are 3 bankruptcy schemes that are typically used in District Heights: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is governed by federal law, so the procedures in District Heights, Maryland are very similar to what they will be anywhere else in the United States. 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 complete, 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.

The other form of bankruptcy most commonly used in District Heights is Chapter 13. It allows a person to pay off their debt over a longer period of time, often consolidating it into one periodic payment. In this system, the amount of money the debtor owes is not actually reduced, but the payment of the debt is made far more manageable. This gives the debtor some breathing room, allowing him to continue to earn a living while slowly paying down his debts, and gives some security to creditors that they will eventually collect all or most of what they're owed. 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 District Heights Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

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

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in District Heights

District Heights, Maryland is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland. Its population is approximately 6,000 people.

District heights is less than 10 miles away from Washington, D.C., making it an excellent place to live for people who work in the nation's capital, which has always had a strong job market, especially for government work.

For example, District Heights, Maryland is directly adjacent to Suitland-Silver Hill, Maryalnd, which is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. Census is taken every 10 years, at the beginning of each new decade (1990, 2000, 2010, 2020, etc.), and during this time, it hires hundreds of thousands of temporary workers across the country, which usually causes a small economic boom.

Of course, being near a major city with a large number of both government and private-sector employers, District Heights, Maryland chances are, if you have any marketable skills, you can find more permanent employment.

It shouldn't come as any surprise, then, that there are a lot of lawyers in District Heights, Maryland. A District Heights, Maryland lawyer can probably handle any legal problem that comes their way. If you live in the area, and have a legal issue, a District Heights, Maryland lawyer is the person to call.