Chapter 1
Introduction

Chapter 2
Don’t be embarrassed, nervous or afraid

Chapter 3
What causes people to need Banruptcy Relief

Chapter 4
What is the Procedure to File Bankruptcy?

Chapter 5
When should I file bankruptcy?

Chapter 6
What do I lose if I file bankruptcy?

Chapter 7
What happens to my credit score if I file bankruptcy?

Chapter 8
What can bankruptcy do for you?

Chapter 9
What Does Bankruptcy Cost?

Chapter 10
What is the Real Price Difference Between Bankruptcy Lawyers?

Chapter 11
If I am Married, Can I File a Bankruptcy Without my Husband or Wife?

Chapter 12
Will My Employer Find Out if I File Bankruptcy?

Chapter 13
Does Chapter 7 or 13 Bankruptcy “Ruin My Credit?”

Chapter 14
If I File Bankruptcy, Can I Leave Bills or Property or Transfers Off my Bankruptcy Petition?

Chapter 15
Can I File Bankruptcy on Bills in Someone Else’s Name?

Chapter 16
How Does Filing Bankruptcy Affect My Credit Union?

Chapter 17
Can I file bankruptcy if I have co-signers?

Chapter 18
What About My Car in Bankruptcy?

Chapter 19
What Happens to My House in Bankruptcy?

Chapter 20
When Will Creditors Stop Bothering Me?

Chapter 21
Cross-Collateralization Agreements in Bankruptcy

Chapter 22
Bankruptcy and Joint Accounts with Parents

Chapter 23
When do I stop paying my creditors?

Chapter 24
Gas, cable, electric and phone bill

Chapter 25
Bankruptcy and Divorce, Alimony, & Child Support

Chapter 26
What Bankruptcy won't solve

Chapter 27
Chapter 13 Debt repayment Plans

Chapter 28
Will I be able to get credit again?

Chapter 29
Bill Consolidation Loans

Chapter 30
Bill Consolidation Scams

Chapter 31
Wage Assignments, Deductions and Levies

Chapter 32
Student Loans

Chapter 33
Can I get rid of Taxes

Chapter 34
NSF Checks, Traffic & Parking Tickets

Chapter 35
Surrendering Real Estate & Time Shares

Chapter 36
Business Bankruptcy

Chapter 37
Professional Persons

Chapter 38
Do you ever "Not Get" a Discharge?

Chapter 39
File bankruptcy for the debts of my deceased spouse or child?

Chapter 40
What if I need a Bankruptcy lawyer near me?

Chapter 41
About Geraci Law LLC and Peter Francis Geraci

CHAPTER #9 Common misunderstandings about bankruptcy

_____ I'll lose my car. NO. The only people who lose cars are those who want to give them back. We can tell you in advance if there is a problem with your car. Most people get rid of their bills, but keep their car.

_____ I'll lose my house. NO. No one files a bankruptcy to lose anything. Your attorney calculates your net equity in your house and determines what kind of bankruptcy will help you keep your house while dealing with your other bills. You don't lose your house.

_____ What about 7 years? If you filed Chapter 7 on August 1, 2012, you cannot get another Chapter 7 discharge if you file another Chapter 7 before August 2, 2020. That means 8 full years must pass between Chapter 7 filings. You must wait cannot file another bankruptcy Chapter 7 for 8 years after the last one, but you can start fresh and apply for credit as soon as you are discharged of your debt. There is no 7 year waiting period to start over. You can apply for new loans even during a bankruptcy. You can also file Chapter 13 immediately after Chapter 7.

_____ If I filed Chapter 7 before, Can I file Chapter 13? Yes. No waiting 8 years. But if you file 13 within 4 years, you can’t get a discharge of debts.

_____ If I filed Chapter 13 before, Can I file Chapter 7 or another 13? Yes. No waiting period before re-filing a 13, but there are complicated rules if you have filed a Chapter 7 or 13 before. Geraci Law can help you figure out if it is beneficial to file again. We file plenty of Chapter 13’s who have failed with other lawyers, when people come to us after they paid the same, but didn’t get the NAME!

_____ My credit will be bad. It probably is now. YOU HAVE TOO MUCH CREDIT, NOT GOOD CREDIT. Your credit (ability to borrow more money) is probably bad now, because you have too many bills and are only paying interest. After a bankruptcy, you have no bills, usually, except house or car payments. You can start to rebuild your credit. It won't be good again until you have some money saved, and re-establish a good record of repayment. Everyone who asks this question has already ruined their credit! But your "credit" is usually better faster if you filed for some relief under the bankruptcy laws and get rid of your bills and save some money in your bank account.

_____ I'm afraid. NO. Bankruptcy proceedings are very low pressure. Many times, there is not even any appearance in court.

_____ Everyone will know. NO. No one cares. Notice goes to creditors only.

_____ My credit union will hate me. Sometimes. If you have a co-signer, you will just keep up your same payments. If you just have a charge card or personal loan from your credit union, you can stop your payroll deduction, and treat them just like any other creditor. They have no connection to your employment, other than they may rent space at your place of employment.

_____ I'll never get credit again. NO. Unfortunately, there are plenty of finance companies ready to lend you more money as soon as you get a fresh start.

_____ I'll never be able to buy a home. NO. You certainly can't buy one now, can you? And if you don't get rid of your debt, you never will be able to save the down payment. Terms are stricter after a bankruptcy, but plenty of people are accepted for home mortgages after bankruptcies.

_____ The attorney fees are expensive. NO. They are often the smallest part of the picture. You also have to pay a court filing fee,, but we can accept our fees in installments. If you are getting rid of your bills, it will be very easy to pay a lawyer. Most people open a file with Geraci Law with $150 or $200 down, and pay our fees in installments over the next 6 or 8 paychecks.

_____ I'll never get a bank account. NO. If you have a checking or savings account now, you can keep it. If you don't have one, you may have a problem because banks are getting real picky about opening accounts for people with no money. So if you don't have an account now, we suggest you open one BEFORE you file a bankruptcy.

_____ It takes a long time. MAYBE. Chapter 13 repayment plans last 3 to 5 years, but Chapter 7 proceedings are generally closed within 6 months, so you can start fresh then.

_____ I can go to just any lawyer and do a bankruptcy. NO. You want a real bankruptcy attorney who does it every day, because it requires specialized knowledge. If the lawyer does not do bankruptcy work every day, he or she may not want to keep up with the latest developments in the law. We recommend asking any lawyer you may want to represent you, the questions in our brochure under "QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR LAWYER ABOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE OF BANKRUPTCY"

_____ I will lose everything. NO. No one does a bankruptcy to lose anything except their bills. Your attorney can tell you in advance if the value of your goods is more or less than your allowed exemptions from creditors. No one will take your sofa or television.