Having a Bankruptcy Attorney Can Make All the Difference in the World

In this technology driven world there has been a huge interest in do-it-yourself bankruptcy online. Sure, it sounds like a good idea because the person filing for bankruptcy doesn't have a lot of money to spend. Over the last 10 years with the growth of the Internet has come a large number of websites offering do-it-yourself resources from a downloadable bankruptcy petition with instructions all the way to document preparation service that prepares the entire bankruptcy petition and sends it back for the individual to file. What happened to the good old days when people would just hire a bankruptcy attorney and get it done right? If you are sick, would you look up a treatment online and proceed? Or would you go to a doctor and use their years of expertise to heal your ailment?

I think most people would take the latter because your health is nothing to mess around with. But can't the financial matters of your household be considered your financial health? If you're considering filing for bankruptcy your finances are obviously sick and need to be treated. The problem is, many people think they can go it alone until they get halfway through the process and hit a wall. Prior to the changes to the bankruptcy code back in 2005, there were a lot less land mines that might be stepped on when filling out a bankruptcy petition. Back then filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy was pretty straightforward. With the changes in addition of the means test which qualifies an individual to file Chapter 7 and pre-bankruptcy credit counseling and post-bankruptcy financial management courses. All of this put a lot more responsibility on the debtor to be successful in getting a bankruptcy discharge.

While it is legal and still possible to file bankruptcy on your own, it just is a wise in this ever changing legal process. When you're talking about your family's financial well being and unless you really know what you're doing it would be like doing surgery on yourself. All someone really needs to do is consider the actual cost of hiring a bankruptcy attorney and paying the filing fees and compare that with the amount of debt that is being wiped out and the property that gets protected by the bankruptcy exemption laws. Without the experience of a bankruptcy attorney things might get left on the table causing them to be lost to the bankruptcy estate. The attorney will know what's acceptable when using the bankruptcy exemptions and how to price the property within the limits of the bankruptcy code. For someone that tries to file on their own they might find themselves trying to impress the bankruptcy trustee in valuing their property or not even reporting it.

Either way the bankruptcy trustee will have many questions to be answered from this individual. This is where the difference really shows itself. On one side we have the pro se filer getting grilled by the trustee for mistakes on the bankruptcy petition and on the other side we have an individual that is standing beside their bankruptcy attorney with a properly filled out bankruptcy petition and already being aware of what to expect in the meeting of creditors or 341 meeting. All you have to do is weigh the pros and cons taking into consideration the risks of going it alone to save yourself a few thousand bucks or less.

Four Student Loan Types and How to Get Them

Those entering their final year of high school have a lot to think about. Where do I go from here? What college can I attend to achieve my goals? And while discovering the answers to these questions is hard enough on its own, so is finding the financial means to make those answers into a reality. College these days is not cheap - even if you go to state-sponsored colleges - and often the only choice you have left is taking out a student loan. Luckily the government and banks have created several options.

Types of Student Loans

Generally speaking, there are two types of loans that you can take: federal loans and bank-sponsored private loans. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but both types of loans can help pay for everything from books to living expenses to basic tuition and fees.

Any of these student loans that you choose to take carries the same repayment agreement. That is, you do not need to pay back a student loan, public or private, until 6 months after graduation. Also, the interest rates are very low and in some case fixed, allowing for a better prediction of your financial obligations after school. Taking a student loan to pay for college is clearly the way to go and there are four major options that you can consider.

Federal Stafford Loan

The most popular loan taken by college students is the Federal Stafford Loan which comes in both subsidized and unsubsidized forms. The subsidized Stafford Loan does not begin to accrue interest until after graduation whereas the unsubsidized version does accrue interest while you are still in school. The interest rates on Stafford Loans are low and fixed and they are available directly through the Department of Education. Whichever school you ultimately choose will help you get this loan through their Financial Aid office. Stafford Loans can be given up to the amount of $20,000 each school year. They are available to anyone who wants one, though subsidized loans are given based on financial need.

Federal Perkins Loans

The next option is a need-based loan also sponsored by the Federal government, the Perkins Loan. This loan is only available to those who meet certain criteria in terms of income (and parental income) and a standard formula will be employed by your college's financial aid office to determine what amount you qualify for. Because of the nature of Perkins Loans, which are given on a first come, first served basis, and the special needs-based formula, it is important to apply for these loans early.

Federal Plus Loans

The Federal Plus Loan operates much like the Perkins Loan, in that it is need-based. However, rather than being taken out by the student, Plus Loans are given to parents wishing to pay for their child's college education themselves. Plus Loans are determined based upon the parents' financial situation and income in addition to how many children they have attending college.

Private Student Loans

The final option is student loans provided by private banks. These lenders - who also serve other loan needs such as home and car loans - review your FAFSA form and then provide the amount of money that a student or parent needs. These loans are generally used when Federal options are insufficient to pay all college expenses, such as at private colleges, and will be determined based on the same criteria that the financial institution uses to make any personal loan. These loans generally do not carry a fixed interest rate, however, so it is important to exhaust the federal options first.

Taking a Loan

Going to college is a really big step in a young person's life, but so is taking a student loan. Make sure that you understand all repayment obligations before you take money for school as failure to repay student loans can negatively impact your credit in the future.