Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Find the right Bankruptcy attorney in Oak Creek, WI

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Bankruptcy in Oak Creek, Wisconsin is a court proceeding which allows an individual or business who is drowning in debt to be discharged of their legal requirement to pay off some or all of their debt. Hopefully, this will allow both the debtor and creditors to move on with their lives. Of course, one should never view bankruptcy as a "get out of debt free" card, allowing someone to be discharged of their requirement to pay their debts just because they don't want to. It is meant to serve as a lifeline, preventing uncontrollable debt from resulting in complete financial ruin. Accordingly, it is best treated as an option of last resort, because it can carry with it significant negative consequences, which must be weighed against the possible benefits. For example, filing for bankruptcy can heavily damage a person's credit rating.

Therefore, it is advisable to consult with an experienced Oak Creek, Wisconsin bankruptcy attorney, who can advise you of the costs and benefits of bankruptcy. Because the decision to file for bankruptcy depends very heavily on the facts of each individual case, the advice of an Oak Creek bankruptcy attorney cannot be replaced.

Types of Bankruptcy in Oak Creek, Wisconsin

In Oak Creek, Wisconsin, 3 types of bankruptcy procedures are in common use: Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13. Being governed by federal law, the procedures involved in filing for bankruptcy in Oak Creek, Wisconsin will be roughly the same as everywhere else in America. 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 verified, and the proceeds handed over to the creditors, the debt is perceived 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.

Under Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Oak Creek, 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 an extended period of time, therefore 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 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.

A major advantage of Chapter 11 bankruptcy is that businesses can continue their operating while going through the process. Also, they can continue to buy and sell their stock.

How Can a Oak Creek Bankruptcy Lawyer Help?

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

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in Oak Creek

Oak Creek, Wisconsin is a city in Milwaukee County. It has a population of about 30,000 people. Oak Creek is a suburb of Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin. Until the 1950s, Oak Creek was mostly semi-rural farmland. It was incorporated in 1955, out of unincorporated county land. This move was orchestrated by Tony Basile, who would become Oak Creek's first city attorney. The people of Oak Creek decided to incorporate into a town so the area would not be annexed by the rapidly-expanding Milwaukee. Oak Creek is the headquarters of Midwestern Airlines, a small regional commuter airline, and the source of hundreds of jobs in the area. However, the parent company of the airline is moving its headquarters to another city. Since that announcement, a large mining equipment company announced that it would be moving its headquarters to Oak Creek, Wisconsin, to occupy the corporate offices being vacated by the airline. If you live in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and are in need of some type of legal help, Oak Creek, Wisconsin lawyers are ready to help. Oak Creek, Wisconsin lawyers can handle almost any legal problem a person might be faced with.