Should I File Bankruptcy? Will It Allow Me To Keep My Home? I've Heard The Lender Cannot Foreclose If I File Bankruptcy.

There are 2 types of bankruptcy commonly used by individuals-Chapter 7 ("Fresh Start") and Chapter 13 ("Wage Earner"). Chapter 7 can enable individual fliers to wipe away debts such as credit card and medical bills so they can continue to make their mortgage payments.

Chapter 13 involves setting up a 3-5 year repayment plan to repay your debts. Chapter 13 requires that you are earning a steady incomes ,you will be repaying all of your debt. Both have a very negative impact on your credit and remain on your credit report for 10 years.

Because of the new 2005 bankruptcy law, which raised the bar for people to qualify for Chapter 7 "fresh start" bankruptcy proceedings, fewer and fewer people pass the "means" test to qualify for Chapter 7 and for this reason can only qualify for Chapter 13 bankruptcy (a 3-5 year repayment plan).

While both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 can temporarily delay foreclosure proceedings, neither will allow you to keep your home unless you can bring your mortgage current.

If you would like more information on whether a bankruptcy is right for you, we recommend you consult a competent bankruptcy attorney, as we are not attorneys and do not dispense legal advice. Call our office-we can recommend several.