Debt Management Basics, Ch. 5: Are you a candidate for bankruptcy?

Debt Management Basics

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Are you a candidate for bankruptcy?

By Bankrate.com

Table of contents

Ch. 1: Understanding your debt

Ch. 2: Using equity to consolidate debt

Ch. 3: Reorganizing finances

Ch. 4: When to seek debt help

Ch. 5: The bankruptcy option

Bankruptcy is a legal remedy, and as such only an attorney can properly advise you on the process. However, as far as being a candidate for the legal process, that is another question. My experience has been that the decision is based partially on facts, partially on emotion and partially on a person's view of their future.

As in so much of life, there are no hard and fast rules to determine if you are a candidate for bankruptcy. Everyone's financial/emotional/future situation is different and one person with $40,000 in debt who can sleep at night and sees great future opportunities for themselves may be able to do what it takes to pay it off. On the other hand, another person with the same amount of debt may be bouncing off walls and feel their future is hopeless under the present set of circumstances and have no other choice than to declare bankruptcy.

Understand the consequences

What is most important to keep in mind is that bankruptcy should be used with caution and a full understanding of the consequences. I think of it in the same vein as using nuclear weapons. It gets the job done, but at a potentially high cost, and with some fallout! Review the information below and then seek professional advice from a person or organization you trust.

Financial

Looking at the three points briefly there are financial, emotional and future implications to consider. First, do the math on how much you owe, what are the payments, what income can you devote to the payments and whether or not you can free up or get more/enough income.

Emotional

Second, rate your emotional position. Can you stand being in debt any longer? Are the creditor calls getting to you? Can you sleep at night; are you fighting with your spouse?

Your future

Third, assess your future prospects and the consequences of a bankruptcy. Bankruptcy can have an effect on promotions, new job applications, renting a new apartment, insurance, your ability or cost to make major purchases. Do you see your life as on an upward trend or a downward slide? What are you goals for the next two to 10 years?

Seek counseling first

One way to assess if you are a candidate for bankruptcy is to seek credit counseling. A credit counselor will review your financial situation thoroughly and make recommendations based on your goals and ability to pay, based on his or her experience as a certified financial counselor. You should leave the meeting with a clear understanding of the best course of action for your situation and an explanation of the alternatives. Clearly, you can't do this in 20 minutes, so be sure your counselor is willing to spend however long to takes to get you to a conclusion.

Alternatives to bankruptcy

There are many alternatives to bankruptcy, including settling your debts for less than what is owed, borrowing from a family member or friend and debt-management programs to name just a few. They are all worth checking out before committing to bring in the big guns!

A last word, from my own experience. Seeking to solve problems through the courts rarely produces a satisfying result. So if you go ahead, expect to get rid of your debts, but not to walk away feeling like a winner. I encourage you to do your homework and seek professional advice. Good luck!

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Posted: April 1, 2005