If you’re thinking about filing for personal bankruptcy (either chapter 7 or 11), then the most dangerous adversary you face at this time isn’t an army of aggressive creditors: it’s a horde of devastating myths!
Indeed, there is arguably more misinformation floating around online and offline about bankruptcy than there is reliable information. That’s the bad news. The good news is that you can arm yourself with facts so that you can make informed decisions that are best for your current and long-term financial interests.
To that end, let us debunk the most enduring — and potentially catastrophic — myths about filing bankruptcy:
Myth: Filing for bankruptcy is an admission of financial irresponsibility or incompetence.
Fact: Across the U.S., more than 1.5 million individuals file for bankruptcy protection each year. The vast majority of these people aren’t thrill-seeking spendthrifts. They’re regular, ordinary people who fell into a debt hole that became a debt trap. For some, it happened slowly over time. For others, they were financially sideswiped by unexpected medical bills, home repairs, job loss, divorce, and the list goes on.
The message here is simple: if you decide to file for bankruptcy, then be assured that it’s nothing to be embarrassed about or ashamed of. Unsustainable debt happens. Filing for bankruptcy is a legal process designed to help people get out of debt and start fresh. It’s a protection, not a punishment.
Myth: Filing for bankruptcy will destroy your ability to get a loan in the future.
Fact: Yes, it’s true that filing for bankruptcy will damage your credit score (the actual number depends on where your credit score is right now — the higher your current score, the larger the drop).
However, it’s not true that filing for bankruptcy will permanently destroy your ability to get a loan in the future. Within months of filing for bankruptcy you can start rebuilding your credit score by applying for secured credit cards, and paying all of your other bills on time and in full. Within a year you’ll be eligible for a car loan or personal loan (you could actually get a car/personal loan sooner, but the rates will be sky high), and in a couple of years you’ll qualify for a competitive-rate mortgage.
Ironically, many people who file for bankruptcy end up surpassing their old credit score ceiling, because in their new post-bankruptcy life they are in control of their saving and spending, and are far more aware of the dangers of only paying the minimum amount on credit cards, buying “too much car” or “too much house,” and so on. They’re like people who, after getting a serious health scare, end up taking their health and wellness to unprecedented levels. They go from couch potato to marathon runner.
Myth: To save money, you should represent yourself in bankruptcy court.
Fact: If you have a legal background — and this doesn’t mean a few law classes in college or a neighbor who was once a paralegal — then you might be fine representing yourself in bankruptcy court.
However, if you’re like most people — i.e. you couldn’t write a book on how to correctly and safely file for bankruptcy — then do yourself an immense favor and consult a bankruptcy lawyer. You’ll not only avoid potentially costly mistakes, but you’ll save a great deal of time and stress. Why stress? Because once you file for bankruptcy, you want to ensure that everyone else around the table — from the court-appointed trustee, to all of the creditors who want a piece of the settlement pie, and even to the judge who is a human being and can make errors — behave in a legally compliant and appropriate way. A bankruptcy attorney ensures this happens.
The Bottom Line
Arming yourself with bankruptcy facts — and debunking myths — will help you make an informed decision on whether moving ahead in this direction is in your best financial interest.
If so, will it be a walk in the park? No. But it won’t be a trek through a minefield, either. With the right information, guidance and support, you’ll make it through this phase and into your new, better financial life ahead.
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