Can I keep my personal properties if I file bankruptcy?

Can I keep my personal properties if I file bankruptcy?

Most personal properties are exempt from being taken by the creditors if you file bankruptcy.  This includes retirement accounts and social security income.

Question:       How much property can I keep if I file bankruptcy?

Answer:           If you are filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you keep everything because you are repaying your debts. This includes your house and vehicle if you can keep up with the payments.  In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, most of your assets may be protected through the California bankruptcy exemptions.

Question:       What would happen to my personal property during bankruptcy process?

Answer:           Most personal property such as cash, bank accounts, furniture, clothes, and retirement plans can be protected by exemptions allowed by each state. Most people that file bankruptcy are allowed to keep most, if not all, of their personal property.

Question:       What would happen to my retirement account if I file bankruptcy?

Answer:           Most legitimate retirement accounts are protected from your creditors. Usually, the retirement account must be an IRA or an ERISA qualified retirement plan.

Question:       Is my Social Security income protected in bankruptcy?

Answer:           Income from the Social Security is protected and is not included in the Means Test calculation to qualify for bankruptcy. It will be used, however, to determine your future earnings in Chapter 13 case.

Question:        What if I have a property that is above the State exemptions?

Answer:           If you have non-exempt property and you don’t want to lose it, you may have to give to the Trustee the cash value of that property in a Chapter 7 case.  If you file Chapter 13 you can keep it as long as you will pay the creditors the proposed monthly payment that is confirmed by the court.

Question:       How could I determine which exemptions apply to protect my assets?

Answer:           To determine which exemptions apply to your property it is best to consult a bankruptcy attorney because there are legal complications involved.

Question:       What are exempt and non-exempt properties?

Answer:           Exempt property is property that someone can keep if he filed for bankruptcy. Non-exempt property is what can be seized and sold by creditors or the bankruptcy trustee to pay debts that are owed by the person filing bankruptcy.

Question:       Can I give up or surrender my house and car in bankruptcy if I don’t want to keep it?

Answer:           You can surrender your house and car in either a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy if you can no longer afford to make payments.  If you are in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, surrendering your house and car will not automatically lower your Chapter 13 bankruptcy payments. You should contact your attorney to discuss what options are available to you.

Note:   This is not a legal advice.  Our Law Firm has successfully helped clients in filing for bankruptcy for the last 13 years.



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