Description
Book SynopsisWith tips on understanding -- and surviving -- the new bankruptcy laws If you''re considering bankruptcy, you need straightforward answers and reliable advice. This handy guide covers it all -- so you can get your finances in line and your life back on track. This updated new edition covers everything you need to know about the new bankruptcy law and includes even better resources. Don''t get desperate -- get out of debt instead!
Discover how to
* Weigh the consequences of bankruptcy
* Manage your spending
* Find professional help you can trust
* Decide on the right type of bankruptcy
* Pass the means test
* Keep more of your stuff
Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part I: Bankruptcy: The Big Picture 7
Chapter 1: Considering Bankruptcy 9
Chapter 2: Stopping the Bleeding 27
Chapter 3: Meeting the Players 47
Chapter 4: Deciding Which Type of Bankruptcy Is Best for You 57
Chapter 5: Confronting the Means Test 69
Chapter 6: Getting from Here to There: The Bankruptcy Process 91
Part II: Avoiding Bankruptcy 115
Chapter 7: Considering Alternatives to Bankruptcy 117
Chapter 8: Handling Bill Collectors 135
Chapter 9: Negotiating with the IRS 145
Part III: Keeping Your Stuff 153
Chapter 10: Understanding Which Assets Are Off Limits to Creditors 155
Chapter 11: Dealing with Secured Debts 173
Chapter 12: Saving Your Home 183
Part IV: Getting Rid of (Most of) Your Debt 199
Chapter 13: Lingering Obligations 201
Chapter 14: A House of Cards: Wiping Out Credit-Card Debts 215
Chapter 15: Give unto Caesar: Using Bankruptcy to Deal with Tax Debts 223
Chapter 16: The Devil Made Me Do It: Fines, Fraud, and Other Foibles 237
Chapter 17: Till Debt Due Us Part: Bankruptcy and Divorce 247
Chapter 18: Student Loans and Other Mind Games 257
Part V: Strategies for a Successful Bankruptcy 271
Chapter 19: Avoiding Troubles with Your Trustee 273
Chapter 20: Living on the Edge in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy 283
Part VI: Enjoying Your Fresh Start 305
Chapter 21: Repairing Your Credit 307
Chapter 22: Staying Out of Financial Trouble 319
Part VII: The Part of Tens 327
Chapter 23: Ten Common Bankruptcy Mistakes 329
Chapter 24: Ten Things You Can Do Right Now to Ease Your Financial Woes 333
Chapter 25: Ten Common Questions about Bankruptcy 337
Appendix: Homestead Exemption Laws 343
Index 347
