Representing Individuals in Portland, Oregon
Welcome to our mini-site! This site gives useful information about bankruptcy in Oregon. To find out more about consumer law and bankruptcy in Oregon, please visit our main website at www.baxterlaw.com.
This information is presented by the Portland bankruptcy attorneys of the Bankruptcy Practice Group of Baxter & Baxter, LLP, a Portland, Oregon consumer litigation law firm, specializing in credit reporting cases, identity theft cases, and unlawful debt collection practices cases.
The Portland, Oregon bankruptcy attorneys of the Bankruptcy Practice Group represent Portland and other Oregon consumers in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies. Consistent with the consumer protection mission of Baxter & Baxter, LLP, the Portland bankruptcy lawyers of Baxter & Baxter, LLP, represent only consumers, and not creditors.
Free Initial Consultation – Stop Debt Collector CallsStop Home Foreclosures
The Portland bankruptcy lawyers of the Bankruptcy Practice Group of Baxter & Baxter, LLP represent individuals in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies. We offer a free initial phone consultation. We can stop collection calls from debt collectors. We can advise consumers whether to file for bankruptcy, and what form of bankruptcy to file. Our rates are competitive, and an uncontested no-asset Chapter 7 bankruptcy can be filed for as little as a $1,250 fee. Basic Information about Bankruptcy Deciding whether to file bankruptcy
is a very serious decision. The majority of bankruptcies are precipitated
by circumstances outside a person's control -- loss of a job, divorce,
or significant illness. A recent study published in the American Journal
of Medicine concluded that 62.1 percent of the bankruptcies were medically
related because the individuals either had more than $5,000 or
10 percent of their pretax income in medical bills, mortgaged their
home to pay for medical bills, or lost significant income due to an
illness. On average, medically bankrupt families had $17,943 in out-of-pocket
expenses, including $26,971 for those who lacked insurance and $17,749
who had insurance at some point. The stress of these events is compounded
by collection letters and calls, and the fear of losing a home to foreclosure. What is Bankruptcy? When a person or business is
mired under inescapable debt, they can petition for bankruptcy.
Once the initial petition is filed, all collection efforts, including
lawsuits, foreclosures, and garnishments must cease. After the
bankruptcy judge hears the case, an order is entered which discharges
most debts, or in the alternative creates a repayment plan. The most common types of bankruptcy
for individuals are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code.
The majority of consumer bankruptcy filings are Chapter 7 cases, and
many cases that are filed as Chapter 13 bankruptcies are later converted
into Chapter 7 cases. In Chapter 7, a debtor surrenders
his or her non-exempt property to a bankruptcy trustee who then liquidates
the property and distributes the proceeds to the debtor's unsecured
creditors. In exchange, the debtor is entitled to a discharge of most
of their debt. Certain debts, such as spousal and child support, student
loans, some taxes, will not be discharged even though the debtor is
generally discharged from his or her debt. It is possible to reaffirm
some debts, such a home mortgage or an auto loan. In Chapter 13, the debtor retains
ownership and possession of all of his or her assets, such as their
home and automobile, but must devote some portion of his or her future
income to repaying creditors, generally over a period of three to five
years. The amount of payment and the period of the repayment plan depend
upon a variety of factors, including the value of the debtor's property
and the amount of a debtor's income and expenses. Secured creditors
may be entitled to greater payment than unsecured creditors.
Benefits of Bankruptcy The primary benefit of filing
for bankruptcy is the ability of a consumer to get a fresh start from
past debt. In addition, once a petition is filed, it will stop
any collection activity, including any bills currently due for credit
cards, medical bills, or other bills. It will stop debt collector
calls and collection letters. It will temporarily stop a home
foreclosure. Depending on whether the debtor files under Chapter
7 or Chapter 13, the final bankruptcy order can either discharge most
of a person’s debts, or create a repayment plan to repay some or all
of the consumer’s debts over a three to five year period. Should You Hire a Bankruptcy
Attorney? Any individual can file for
bankruptcy on his or her own behalf without a lawyer. However,
hiring a bankruptcy lawyer may be beneficial. First, the lawyer
can advise you on what type of bankruptcy you qualify for, and which
types of bankruptcy are better in your case. An attorney can also
help you plan for bankruptcy to help you retain the maximum amount of
your property and assets, and claim the maximum amounts of exemptions
from your creditors. Finally, an attorney can help you negotiate
or litigate against your creditors if they dispute parts of your petition.
Call today for a free consultation and speak to a Portland Oregon bankruptcy attorney today!
Call today for a free consultation and speak to a Vancouver WA bankruptcy attorney today!
Information about Bankruptcy in Portland, Oregon
To speak with a Portland, Oregon bankruptcy attorney, call Baxter & Baxter, LLP, at (503) 297-9031.
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Bankruptcy Resources in Oregon
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"We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for relief under the Bankruptcy Code."
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Baxter & Baxter, LLP
8835 S.W. Canyon Lane, Suite 130
Portland, Oregon 97225
503.297.9031
503.291.9172
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