WPC 6dՉlHFbx-邮nYHsT3;P狜A o'ϒGC8Ĉb 39V!NL# DVQ=1xrSv¦/(1k+&lQ40+;]Hy6Ԯ7J o{ɆH0ݔ sNh2^rB'p 4sj =I*]VwaUIBK j{ߌ%@x6mAszsLqMiĆMwnA"9lI)\Z!dT%~ Sul`ycKںAxa`$9gJͪ+9h/,cv۪=D0Yve>3Q}WɌt 1rN\C4E~N+$^v! vIz"rj "Ba#NUiN %e 0:k ^ w 4   m N 0U 0H 0% 0 0 0P 0 0 0E 0 0 0j 0 0 0_ 0 0 0 0 0a 0) 0 0w 0 0 0? 0Ofeag{0 0 N%<;;@|woIq?<ؐDN2<Db~((" BȒ A 0V D-ړ 0KRTektronix Phaser 850DP0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($USUS.,ԐO1  4fL1:i+003|x U*+ (_2623  ..*D+D (_25   ," <DL,23  ..," <DL,   *5+5 (_24  ) <DL)23  ..) <DL)  *2+2 (_23 ` &<<DL&23  ..&<<DL& ` */+/ (_22  #DL#23  ..#DL#  *,+, (_21   DL 23  .. DL  *)+) (_20 h DDL23  ..DDL h *&+& (_19  L23  ..L  *#+# (_18   L23  .. 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'><87 9A´OĂw}Şĥ~u|vbcbstlrfE;7878<<;>;<>>NNN>>? > ;;;8778877 98+ðk}|q~|vsbbbso|jfk >97788<<<;>>;;;<<87 9.°kju}ĥ|}ulossoofON98<;>>;<87977°k{|u|ǥ~}sbssooqzifN978<<888<;>;;;<<>>>;;;<8799>kkƛz~~}}}wwsnssmrgf7<<8778<;;>>;;<;<<>;;<<879;>´|}xxxsulmryfk78<<88878<;>>;<;;;;<8788799´~/xuurpifO78<<<888778;;;88<<;;<;<8788878779999 #𹴰{xx~u{{kPf 99978< 877<;8<<;;< ;8797778877 7787 999;4¾~w}u{yfOP97788<78<;;<88777 77799¾~ħum{jEO78<8788<;<<87 7777787¾||{{O?88<<<88878<877877>{DE>78788<<7978<8777NôkE N78787997<<8779 ´DE 87777777797kffEk 78797889799N #f:?978<71@vC:\PROGRA~1\NETOBJ~1\NETOBJ~1\TEMPLA~1\Assets\bgsnail3.jpgC:\Program Files\NetObjects\NetObjects Fusion 8\Templates\Assets\bgsnail3.jpg Ø   $:*w09*w99 Uw@*w`0m*w(m0m  http://www.4georgiabankruptcy.commailto:attybern@4georgiabankrutpcy.commailto:attybern@bgslaw-ga.comhttp://www.4georgiabankruptcy.comPage - -     NewnanSturbridge"Massachusetts. GallerLilburn      d`\_^ I&mage <=8C HKKKK(.3$ !USUS.,  )!dxdx( $ Figure  1  Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 !USUS.,  _'/V+L*/N.D 4OY 98XXdd8:L=N @  WXXAGuidetoConsumerBankruptcy  @AnInsidersPerspective#XX W# Ԉ 9 @{XXbyBerndG.Stittleburg,Esq.  ] @66TheLawOfficesofBerndG.Stittleburg#XX{#Ԉ     AnOverviewofConsumerBankruptcy  G  33  TheUnitedStateshasexperiencedasurgeinbankruptcyfilingsoverthepastfewyears.  k  JustintheNorthernDistrictofGeorgia,theincreasehasrisenfrom31,109in1996to46,756in 4  2003.Acrossthecountrythenumbersfortotalbankruptcyfilingsincreasedfrom1,178,555in M  1996to1,660,245for2003.Thisrepresentsa50%increasefortheNorthernDistrictofGeorgia f  andforthecountryoverallanincreaseof41percentoverthepast8years.Thereasonsforthis   largeincreaseinGeorgiabankruptcy,aswellasacrossthecountry,maybeattributabletotheloss   ofajob,amarriagebreakup,overextendedcreditcarddebt,afailedbusinessventureorany  numberofothersimilarreasons.      Bankruptcyprovidesafreshstartapproachtocuringsomeofyourfinancialills.There L arebasicallytwowaysafinanciallystrappedconsumercanrelievesomeofthatpressuretheyare e feeling.OnewayisthroughaChapter7bankruptcywhicheliminatescertaintypesof .~ dischargeabledebts.TheotheristhroughaChapter13bankruptcy,whichprovidesamethodfor G theconsumertoconsolidatetheirdebtandpayitoffoveraperiodoftime. `   Dependingonyourpersonalsituation,thetypesofdebtsyouhaveandanyassetsthatyou  mayownwilldeterminewhichofthetwomaybehelpfultoyou.Iurgeanyonewhoisthinking  aboutbankruptcyasanoptiontoeducatethemselvesontheplusesandminusesofeachtype.Ido  noturgeadebtortorushoutafilewithoutfirstconsultinganexpertinthearea.Therearepitfalls  - toeachtypeofbankruptcythatyoushouldbeawareofbeforedecidingwhethertofileornot. !F   Therearesomemisconceptionsaboutfilingabankruptcycaseandherearejustafew: ($x p6XX(1)FilingBankruptcyisDishonest. #XXp6 # Z&!    Nottrue.Ifbankruptcywasdishonest,therewouldbelawprohibitingit.Thereisno ($" suchlaw.Tothecontrary,ourlawmakershaveenactedbankruptcylawswhicharedebtor )(%# friendlyandatthesametimeattempttoprovidesomerecoveryforthecreditors.Inourfast *A&$ pacedworldtoday,althoughpeopletryveryhardtokeepfromgoingdeeplyintodebt,ithappens.  ,Z'% Ourlawmakersknowthatsomepeoplerunintobadluck,perhapsfromlosingajoborfacing  highmedicalbillsafteraninjuryorillness.Theywrotethebankruptcylawstoallowyoutogeta  freshstartandeliminatesomeofyourbills. 2   Banksandfinancialinstitutionsspendaninordinateamountofmoneytogetyour  d business.Justlookatsomeofthetelevisionadvertisingthatsomeofthecreditcardcompanies - } air.Theyknowthattherewillbetimeswhenpeoplewillgetintofinancialdistresswhere F  bankruptcymaybecomeanoptionfortheircustomers.Bankruptcyisincludedintheircostof _  doingbusinesscalculations.Itisalsointerestingtonotethatbecauseoftheriseinbankruptcy x  filingsintheUnitedStatesoverthepastfewyears,bankingandfinancialinstitutionshavecreated   anddevelopedproductsfortheafterbankruptcymarket.Anditisnotunusualfordischarged   debtorstobeginreceivingunsolicitedcreditcardapplicationsinthemailshortlyaftergetting   theirdischargepapers. ,    Whyisthisso?Basicallyitboilsdowntomoney.Financialinstitutionsmakemoney ^ fromtheannualfeestheycharge;theinterestratestheycharge,sometimesgoingover20%;the 'w penaltiestheychargeforlatepayments;thepenaltiestheychargeforgoingoveryourlimit,and @ more.Ifsomeoftheircustomersfileforbankruptcyprotection,itbecomesasmalltradeofffor Y thefinancialinstitutions. r p6XX(2)FilingBankruptcywillcausemetolosemyhomeandcar.#XXp6"#A    Thefilingofabankruptcycasedoesnot,inandofitself,meanthatyouwillloseyour  Y property.Therearecertainconditionsnecessaryforthistooccur.Forexample,ifyouare "r contemplatingfilingaChapter7andyouownahouseandmaybeacoupleofvehicles,ifyouare ; currentwithyourpaymentsonthatproperty,thenyouwillnotlosethembyfilingabankruptcy T  case.Youwillhavetosignwhatiscalledareaffirmationagreementwhichbasicallymeansyou m! agreetocontinuemakingpaymentsonthemasiftheywerenotpartofthebankruptcy. " Alternatively,ifyouarebehindwithpaymentstoahouseorcar,youhavetheoptionoffilinga # Chapter13debtconsolidationtypebankruptcycase.Hereyoucreateaplantopaybackthe $  amountyouarebehind,aswellasincludingalltherestofyourdebt,topaybackovera35year %!! periodoftime. &:" p6XX(3)FilingBankruptcywillcausemetoloseallmyhouseholdpossessions.#XXp6#. 5*%"    +&#   No.Unlessyouhappentoownpricelessantiquesorfurniturethatisworththousandsof  dollars,youwillnotloseyourhouseholdpossessions.Itemssuchastelevisions(acceptforthose  70"monstersthatsomepeopleown),stereos,appliancesandfurniturethathavealreadybeenpaid 2 forwillmostlikelybetotallyexempt.Occasionally,somepeoplewillusetheirsomeoftheir K householdpossessionsascollateralagainstloanstakenatlocallendinginstitutions.Theliens  d againstthosepossessionscanbeeliminatedwhenfilingabankruptcycase. - }   Additionally,forthosefurniturepurchasesthatarenotyetpaidforandyouhavehadin _  yourhomeforawhile,bankruptcyprovidesthepossibilityofreducingthedebtonthatfurnitureto x  anamountequaltoitspresentvalue.Or,youcansimplysurrenderthefurnitureandownnothing   further.   p6XX(4)FilingBankruptcywilleliminate allmydebts.#XXp6-#L E    Nottrue.Chapter7bankruptcywillerasemostofyourdebt,butwillnoterasethe Z following:someformsoftaxes;debtwhichwasincurredduetofraud;alimonyormaritalsupport s obligations;childsupport;andstudentloans.Manyofthesedebts,althoughnotdischargeable,  canbepaidforinaChapter13debtconsolidationtypebankruptcy.TheChapter13casewill  giveyoutheopportunitytocatchuponallofyourdebtbymakinganaffordablemonthly  paymentovera35yearperiod. ' p6XX(5)FilingBankruptcypreventmefromgettinganewjobifthatprospective  Y employerdiscoversit.#XXp6V"#u" U   NotTrue.Itisillegalforanyprivateorgovernmentemployertodiscriminateagainstyou   forfilingforbankruptcyprotection.Itisalsoillegalforlocal,state,orfederalgovernment !# agenciestodiscriminateagainstapersonwhenitcomestograntinglicenses(evendrivers "< licenses),permitsorsimilargrants. $U p6XX(6)FilingBankruptcywillcausemetolosemybankaccount. *%"  +7'# :L :  :  #XXp6$# %  Notnecessarilytrue.Therearecertainsituationswhereyourbankaccountmaybeatrisk  forseizurebythebank,butonlyifyouhaveacreditcardaccountorsomeothersimilarloanwith  thatbankandyoudoyourregularbankingthere.Withoutthisscenario,yourbankwillnoteven 2 knowthatyoufiledacase. K p6XX(7)FilingBankruptcywillbeviewednegativelybymyfriendsandrelatives. - } #XXp6'#'  Nottrue.Infactyourfriendsandfamilywillneverknowthatyoufiledunlessyoutell   them.Althoughitistruethatabankruptcyfilingispublicrecord,thefilingsarerarelypublished  .  inlocalnewspapers.Bankruptcytodaydoesnotcarrythestigmaitoncedid.Therearenosuch G  thingsadebtorsprisonnor,willyoubeplacedonpublicdisplaybecauseyouarehaving `  financialdifficulty.Justtoshowyouthatyouarenotalone,herearesomestatisticsforjustthe )y  NorthernDistrictofGeorgia: B  33 *XX  NORTHERNDISTRICTOFGEORGIA#XX**# [  +*XXԀTOTALFILINGS #XX*+#PXX c #XXP,#,,*(Z)ddd Xdd Xdd X,&,&,@dd ,@dd ,@dd ,'dd ,Ydd ,@dd +  $VV ${XXXX{Month I? " D@2001D@I#{XX.#XX{2001 j`3 " D@2001 D@ H@2002H@j2002 j`3 " H@2002 H@ L@2003L@j2003 j`3 " L@2003 L@ P@2004P@j2004 H>3 " P@2004 P@ HYTD2004   Total '" '#{XX.#XX{ @ January @6$t" p@2616p@@#{XX0#XX{   @( 2,616 aW3$t  p@2616 p@ ʧ@3045ʧ@aj1   @h 3,045 j`3$t  ʧ@3045 ʧ@ @3923@j113,923 j`3$t" @3923 @ j@3509j@j3,509 j`3$t" j@3509 j@ j@3509j@j3,509 H>3$t" j@3509 j@ H#{XXK1#XX{@@>>LFebruary I?" L@2982L@I#{XX3#XX{2,982 j`3" L@2982 L@ «@3553«@j3,553 j`3 " «@3553 «@ f@3891f@j3,891 j`3!" f@3891 f@ ֬@3691֬@j3,691 j`3"" ֬@3691 ֬@  @7200 @j7,200 H>3#"  @7200  @ H#{XX4#XX{ @ March I?"r$"  @3728 @I#{XX6#XX{3,728 j`3"r%"  @3728  @ @3921@j3,921 j`3"r&" @3921 @ X@4440X@j4,440 j`3"r'" X@4440 X@ @4345@j4,345 ka3"r(" @4345 @ @11545@k11,545 I?4"r)" @11545 @ I#{XXy7#XX{April I?*"  @3333 @I#{XX9#XX{3,333 j`3+"  @3333  @ @3416@j3,416 j`3," @3416 @ @3585@j3,585 j`3-" @3585 @ @3963@j3,963 ka3." @3963 @ J@15508J@k15,508 I?4/" J@15508 J@ I#{XXW:#XX{May I? p0" @2831@I#{XX<#XX{2,831 j`3 p1" @2831 @ @3412@j3,412 j`3 p2" @3412 @ @3586@j3,586 j`3 p3" @3586 @ X@3756X@j3,756 ka3 p4" X@3756 X@ @@19273@@k19,273 I?4 p5" @@19273 @@ I#{XX3=#XX{June I? 6" @3025@I#{XX?#XX{3,025 j`3 7" @3025 @ $@3218$@j3,218 j`3 8" $@3218 $@ @4032@j4,032 j`3 9" @4032 @ P@3368P@j3,368 ka3 :" P@3368 P@ @@22641@@k22,641 I?4 ;" @@22641 @@ I#{XX@#XX{July I?"n<" \@3118\@I#{XX^B#XX{3,118 j`3"n=" \@3118 \@ D@3362D@j3,362 j`3"n>" D@3362 D@ ֫@3563֫@j3,563 j`3"n?" ֫@3563 ֫@ έ@3815έ@j3,815 ka3"n@" έ@3815 έ@ @26456@k26,456 I?4"nA" @26456 @ I#{XXB#XX{August I?#B" @3723@I#{XX;E#XX{3,723 j`3#C" @3723 @ @4120@j4,120 j`3#D" @4120 @ @4275@j4,275 H>3#E" @4275 @ H #F"   #G #{XXE#XX{September I?%l H" ^@2863^@I#{XXuG#XX{2,863 j`3%l I" ^@2863 ^@ @3677@j3,677 j`3%l J" @3677 @ @3452@j3,452 H>3%l K" @3452 @ H %l L"   %l M #{XX H#XX{October I?&!N" @3419@I#{XXI#XX{3,419 j`3&!O" @3419 @ @3725@j3,725 j`3&!P" @3725 @ ı@4548ı@j4,548 H>3&!Q" ı@4548 ı@ H &!R"   &!S #{XXDJ#XX{November I?(j#T" @3463@I#{XXK#XX{3,463 j`3(j#U" @3463 @ d@3634d@j3,634 j`3(j#V" d@3634 d@ @3465@j3,465 H>3(j#W" @3465 @ H (j#X"   (j#Y #{XXL#XX{December I?)$Z"  @3334 @I#{XX)N#XX{3,334 j`3)$["  @3334  @ .@3351.@j3,351 j`3)$\" .@3351 .@  @3718 @j3,718 H>3)$]"  @3718  @ H )$^"   )$_ #{XXN#XX{ Totals: J@+h&`" `@38435`@J#{XXeP#XX{ 38,435 lb4+h&a" `@38435 `@ @@42434@@l 42,434 lb4+h&b" @@42434 @@ @46748@l 46,748 lb4+h&c" @46748 @ @26456@l 26,456 @64+h&d" @26456 @ @ +h&e #{XXP#2,,p6{(8)Iwillbeabletokeepallofmytaxrefund.#{p69S#XS 3,'e   XX{Notnecessarilytrue.Ifyouareanticipatingreceivingalargetaxrefundandalso -J)g contemplatingfilingabankruptcy,youneedtobecarefulhere.Georgiaallowslimited .5*h '/V 'X  '  exemptionswithregardtoyourassetsandcashisconsideredanasset.Therefore,ifyoudo  receivearefundandthenfilebankruptcy,youmayonlybeabletokeepaportionofthatrefund.  p6XX(9)MybosswillnotbehappyifIfilebankruptcy.#XXp6V#1V q   First,youremployerwillnotevenknowthatyoufiled.WithrespecttoaChapter7case, q  employersarenotnotifiedofabankruptcyfilingunlesstherearesomeextenuatingcircumstances \  thatrequireaChapter7trusteetoinvestigateyourjob.WithrespecttoaChapter13case G  however,youremployerwillbenotifiedbecausetheChapter13TrusteesrequirethatPlan 2  paymentsbepayrolldeducted.  m    Butbereassuredthatnoemployercandiscriminateagainstyouanddismissyour C  employmentbecauseyoufiledbankruptcy.Federallawsimplydoesnotallowit. .  p6XX(10)IfIfileaChapter13bankruptcycase,Imlockedinfortheduration.#XXp6Y#Y     Nottrue.IfyoufileaChapter13caseandtryitforawhilebutlaterdeterminethatitis  reallynothelpingyourfinancialsituation,youcanalwaysconvertyourcasetoonunderChapter  7oftheBankruptcyCode.Therearecertainaspectsofthischoicethatyoushouldbeawareof  andifyouareinaChapter13casenowandarerepresentedbyanattorney,Iurgeyoutoseekhis u assistancebeforemakingadecision. ` p6XX(11)IfIfileabankruptcy,mycreditisruinedforever.#XXp6}\#\Ԁ 6   Nottrue.TheFairDebtReportingActcontrolshowyourcredithistoryistreatedand 6 reported.Themaximumtimeanyinformationregardingadebtstaysonyourreportis10years. !q   ThefilingofaChapter7casewillbereportedonyourcredithistoryandwillstaythere G for10years.IfyoufileaChapter13case,thatinformationstaysfor7years.Ifyouhave 2 negativeinformationsuchaslatepayments,thatalsostaysfor7years.Therefore,ifyouknow  thatthisnegativeinformationisalreadyonyourreport,itisunlikelythatthefilingofa   bankruptcycasewillmakemattersworse. !   Youareprobablywonderinghowtheconceptofcreditworthinessisviewedbypotential y#! creditors.Well,firstoff,theyknowthatifyougetadischargeinaChapter7case,youcannotfile d$" againforsixyears.Whodoyouthinkismorecreditworthy?Aconsumerwhohasdischargedall O% # hisdebtsandisnowbasicallydebtfree,oronewhoowes$50,000increditcarddebt,andbarely :&!$ staysafloatbyborrowingfromPetertopayPaul? %'u"% Ifyouhaveasteadyjob!aregularincome!andfewdebtsafterbankruptcy,financial (K$' institutionswouldbefoolishnottoapproveamortgageorcarloan )6%(    Whathappensduringabankruptcycase  + '*   PartOne:Bankruptcy. Thefirststhingthatalldebtorscontemplatingfilingforbankruptcy -(, protectionshoulddoistoconsultabankruptcylawyer.Theinformationthatyouprovidetothat ~.)- +L + X +  attorneyplushisexpertisewillhelpyoudecidewhichmaybemoreappropriateforyouChapter  7orChapter13.Theinformationthatyouprovidewillincludealistingof allofyourassets  and allofyourdebts.Thisisnotaselectionprocess,itisallornothing.Onceyouandyour  attorneyhavereviewedthisinformationalongwithyourmonthlyincomeandexpensebudget, q youwillbetterknowwhetheryouhaveany disposableincomeavailable.Ifyouhave \ disposableincome,thenyoumaynotbeabletofileaChapter7caseandlooktowardsthe G  Chapter13arena.Thecourtandthetrusteeswillalsorequirethatyoudisclosedotherfinancial 2  informationsuchaswhetheryouareinvolvedinalawsuit,whethersomeoneowesyouany  m money,whatyourincomehasbeenoverthepastfewyearsandwhetheryouhavetransferredany  X propertythatyouowntoanyoneelse.  C    Yourlawyerwillthentakeallofthisinformationandprepareabankruptcypetitionwhich   isthenfiledwiththeClerkoftheBankruptcyCourt.Onceyourcaseisfiled,itisgivenacase   number.Untilthiscasenumberisissued,youarenotofficiallyunderBankruptcyCourt   protection.Whenyougetyourcasenumber,youshouldwriteitdownandhaveitavailablefor   anyofthosepeskycreditorsthatkeepcallingyouallhoursofthedayandnight.Oncetheyare u  advisedthatyoufiledabankruptcycase,theycannolongerbotheryou. `   Aboutfivedaysafteryourcaseisfiled,theBankruptcyCourtwillmailoutnoticestoall 6 ofthecreditorslistedonyourpetitiontoletthemknowthatyouhavefiledabankruptcycase. !q Withinthatsamefivedayperiod,youshouldalsoreceivethesamenoticesenttothecreditors  \ advisingyouofwhereandwhenyour341 MeetingofCreditorswilltakeplace. G   The341 MeetingofCreditorsisastatutorilyrequiredmeetingthatyoumustattendand  whichusuallywillonlytakeabout510minutesofyourtime.The510minutesistheamountof  timeyouwillactuallytestifybeforethetrustee.Itisnotunusualtospend3060minuteswaiting  foryourcasetobecalled.Themainpurposeofthishearingistoallowthetrusteetoask  questionsinregardtothepetitionthatyoufiled.Whatthetrusteeisattemptingtodohereisto y verifyinformationandalsogiveyouanopportunitytoadvisewhetheryouhaveanynew d informationwhichdidnotgetontothepetition.Also,thishearingallowsanycreditortoask O questionsregardingaparticulardebtissue. :    Oncethemeetinghasbeenconcludedandthetrusteelaterdeclaresyourcasetobea No "`  Assetcase,youmustwaitanadditional60daystogiveanycreditorachancetofileanobjection "K! tothedischargeofaparticulardebt.Ifnoneofyourdebtsinvolvedanysortoffraud,thena #6" creditorwillnotfileanysuchobjectionandabout3to31/2monthsafteryoufiledyourcase,you $! # receiveadischarge.OfcourseIamspeakingaboutaChapter7casehere.IfitisaChapter13 % !$ case,theprocessismuchmoreinvolvedandyoushouldtalktoyourattorneyaboutit. &!%  Part2:TheFreshStart.  ),y'+   OnceyourbankruptcycasehasbeenconcludedinaChapter7case,itwillbeabout34 -M)- monthsafteryoufileandinaChapter13,itcouldbe35yearstheClerkoftheBankruptcy  Courtwillsendyouadocumentsignedbythejudgeassignedtoyourcasegrantingyour  Discharge.TheDischargeOrdermeansthatyouhavefulfilledalloftherequirementsofyour  bankruptcycaseandthatallofthedebtslistedonyourpetitionarenoweliminated,youareno q longerlegallyobligatedtopaythem.Allofthecreditorslistedonyourpetition,assumingthey \ havenotobjectedtothedischargeofthedebtarenowlegallybarredfromattemptingtocollect G  onthosedebts.Itisthereforeveryimportantthatyoukeepthisdocumentisasafeplaceand 2  easilyaccessibleasyouneverknowwhenyoumayneedit.  m   UponreceiptoftheDischargeOrder,youshouldbegintoconcentrateonrebuildingyour  C  creditworthiness.  .    Oneofthefirstthingsyoushoulddoistorequestacopyofyourcreditreports.   RememberinGeorgiayouareallowedtwofreecopiesofyourreporteachyearfromthethree   majorcreditreportingagenciesEquifax,Experien,andTransUnion.Uponreceiptofyour   reports,youshouldlooktoseehowthedebtsthatwereincludedonyourpetitionarelisted.They u  mayormaynotreflectthebankruptcyactivityandiftheydonot,youneedtochallengethe ` inaccurateinformation.Sometimeswhatfinancialinstitutionswilldoissellofftheirnon K performingaccountsorchargedoffaccountstocollectionagenciesforpenniesonthedollar.Itis 6 notunusualtohaveacollectionagencycallyoumonthsafterthecaseisovertotrytocollectona !q debtthatwasincludedinyourcase.Therearecertainthingsyoucandotochallengethis  \ collectionattemptandIcanassistyouinthatareashoulditbecomenecessary.Also,whenever G yougetyourcreditreport,includedinthosereportsaredisputeforms.Ifyourreporthasanentry 2 thatisincorrect,youneedtosubmitthisdisputeformsothatitcanbecorrected.Youmayhave  tosubmitthisformacoupleoftimes,orattheveryleastyouwillneedtofollowupwithaphone  callortwo.Neverassumethatbecauseyousubmittedthedisputeformthatitwillautomatically  becorrected.Youmayhavetodosomeworkhere.    Also,theFairDebtReportingActpermitsyoutohavethereportingagenciesattacha d writtenexplanationofanynegativeinformationonyourreport.Thereportingagenciesare O requiredtoattachacopyofthisexplanationtoanyonerequestingacopyofyourreport.For :  example,letssaythatyoufiledyourbankruptcyduetolargeunexepectedmedicalbillsorthat %!u youwererecentlydivorced,youmaywanttoprepareawrittenstatementexplainingyour "`  situation.Oftentimespeoplewillnotdothisandfrommyexperienceandwhatbankloanofficers "K! tellme,thisexplanationmayhelpintheloanapplicationprocess. #6"   Oursocietyhasbecomequitemobileoverthepastcoupleofdecadeswithpeoplemoving % !$ fromplacetoplace.Thisoccursevenifyoudonotmoveoutofstate.Oneofthemajorthings &!% thatbanksandlendinginstitutionslookforisconsistencyandstability.Astablejobandlocale '"& goesalongwaytoanapprovalofaloan.Therefore,trytoavoidmovingfromplacetoplaceand }(#' fromjobtojob.Afterall,whowouldyouratherlendmoneyto,apersonwhohashadfivejobs h)$( andsixaddressesinthepasttwoyears,orsomeonewhohasbeenattheirjobandaddressforthe S*%) past10years.Uponemergingfrombankruptcy,youmayhaveenteredintoareaffirmation >+&* agreementwithyourmortgagecompanyorautomobilecreditor.Oneofthebestwaystohelpyou ),y'+ recoverfrombankruptcyistomakesurethatyoumakeallofthepaymentsthatyoureaffirmedon -d(, atimelybasis.Timelypaymentswillgoalongwaytoimprovingyouroverallcreditscore. -O)- */N *X *    Anotherwayyoucantakemeaningfulstepstoimproveyourcreditworthiness,believeit C ornot,istogetaMasterCardorVisacard.Manyofthecreditcardcompaniesofferwhatis . calledasecuredcreditcard.Withthistypeofcreditcard,youpayacertainamountofmoneyto  thecompanywhothensetsupanaccountwherebyyoucanusethemoneydepositedagainst  purchases.Eachmonthyouwillreceiveastatementofactivityandabill,justlikearegularcard.  Afteraperiodoftimeandafteryouhaveshownthecompanyyourabilitytomanagethisaccount,  theyhaveprogramstoswitchthecardfromasecuredtoaregularunsecuredaccountOne m excellentsoonlinesourceforsecuredandothercreditcardsis4,ot-O  5  www.cardtrak.com6p-O  7    X    @  XXHereare11StepstoaSafeandHappyFinancialFuture#XX Y#   .  ; Step#1: Itisbettertohavesomegoodcreditratherthanallbadcredit.Whentimesareworst,try  @  tokeeponeortwoofyouraccountscurrent.Thefoundationforrebuildingyourcreditcanhinge .  onthoseoneortwogoodaccounts. q   Step#2: Stabilityisgood.Trytoavoidmovingaroundtoomuch. G  Step#3: Acosignermayhelpyouinreestablishingyourcredit.    Step#4: Ifyouneedavehicle,avoidthe buyhere,payhereplaces.Theirinterestratesonused  carswillhelpyoubackintofinancialproblems.   Step#5: Whenmakinglargepurchases,suchasacar,lenderswilltrytotackoncreditinsurance e ontothepurchase.Avoiddoingthisasitonlyaddscostanddoesnotbenefityou. S  Step#6: 󀀀Wheneveryouareconsideringmajorpurchases,likecarsorhomes,dontforgetto ) lookattheotherassociatedcoststhatcomewiththosepurchases.Forexample,thepurchaseofa o homemayincreaseyourmonthlyutilitycosts,insurancecosts,andrepaircosts.Makesureto Z factorthesecostsintoyourmonthlybudget. E  Step#7: Ifyouarereadytobuythathouse,prepareahouseholdbudgetlookingatboththe  incomethatyouarebringingintothehouseholdaswellasyourmonthlyexpenses.Trynottouse    theovertimethatyougetasanormaloccurrenceasthiscouldderailyourplanswhenthat  ! overtimegoesaway. !"  Step#8: 󀀀Save,save,saveandsavesomemore.Trytoputmoneyawayforthatdownpayment #]!$ onacarorhouse.Itwillgoalongwaytohelpingkeepyourmonthlycostslow.Rememberitis $K"% alwaysagoodthingtohavethreetosixmonthsworthofexpensemoneyputaway. %6#&  Step#9: Trytoavoidcreditcards,althoughtheymaybegoodforthoseemergencysituations, d' %( theycanalsogetyoubackintothecreditproblemsyoujustcured. R(%)   Step#10: Itisalwaysagoodideatocheckyourcreditreporttwiceayear.Reviewthereportsto +(, gaugehowyouhavebeendoingovertheprevioussixmonths. ,)-  Step#11: Makesurethatwhatyouareseekingisaneedandnotawant.Ifyouhaveacomputer, -+/ useittodoyourresearchbeforeventuringouttogofacetofacewiththosehighpressuresales .m,0 people.Finally,nevermakeamajorpurchaseyourfirstdayout,takeyourtime. X p6XX  Whataresomeofthepotentialproblemsassociatedwithbankruptcy.C#XXp6#  7 Problem#1: 󀀀Gettingcreditafterbankruptcy.Despitethefactthatbankruptcywillgiveyouthat  freshstart,rememberthatbankruptcyisnotagoodthing.Youwillhavetodoyourhomeworkto  getyourcreditratingbacktowhereitwasbeforeallthisstarted.Itwilldoyouwelltostartearly   inthisprocessasthemoreyoudobeforeyougetthatdischargethebetterandhopefullyeasierit  p  willbetorecover.  [   Problem#2: Dontmakerashdecisions.Whenyouarecontemplatingbankruptcy,itmeansthat  1  financiallyyouarehavingsomedifficulties.Youmaynothavetheresourcestokeepallofthe w  assetsthatyounowpossess.Bankruptcymeansmakingsomeharddecisions.Itisnotalways b  easytogiveupahouseorcar,butyouhavetolookatyourfinancialsituationhonestly.Oneof M  yourbankruptcyattorneysjobistogiveyoutruthful,straightforwardadvice.Takeadvantageof 8 yourlawyersyearsofexperienceandknowledgetomakethebestoutofabadsituation. #  Problem#3: 󀀀AChapter7bankruptcywillgiveyoutheopportunitytoreaffirmdebtsonthose  secureditemsthatyouwanttokeep.Becarefulhere,trynottoreaffirmmorethanyoucan  handle.Althoughbankruptcyisapowerfultool,onlyreaffirmthosedebtsthatyouneed(i.e.,a z houseorcar)andthatfitintoyourmonthlybudget.Evenifyoureaffirmadebt,dontforgetthat e youhave60daystochangeyourmind. P  Problem#4: 󀀀Bankruptcygivesyoutheopportunitytoclearupalotofdebt,butyouhavetobe ~& honestwiththecourt.Rememberthatbankruptcylawrequiresthatyoudiscloseallofyourdebts l andassets.Undercertaincircumstance,somedebtswillnotbedischargedifyouforgettolistit. W Also,ifyoufailtodisclosethatautoaccidentclaim,youcouldbebarredfromcollectingapain B andsufferingremedy.Theremaybeopenjudgmentsagainstyouandthepropertyyouown - whichyoumayormaynotbeawareof.Dontleaveanylooseends.Anyexperienced  bankruptcyattorneyshouldknowwhatquestionstoasksothatyouarenotsurprisedby  somethingmonthsorevenyearsafteryourcaseisover.    Problem#5: 󀀀Youfiledbankruptcybecauseofafinancialcrisis,itshouldbeyourwakeupcall. !l" Youdonotwanttobeinthispositionagain,soyouneedtochangeyourspendingandsavings "Z # habits.Donthesitatetoaskyourlawyerforassistanceinpreparinganewbudgetorusehimasa #E!$ resourceintheyearstocomeregardingcontractsthatyoumayneedtosignorothermajor $0"% financialdecisions. s%#&   p6XXHerearesomethingstothinkaboutwhenlookingforaBankruptcyLawyer#XXp6c#  *'+ W  1.Dontchoosealawyerbasedoncostalone.Theexpenseofhiringalawyertoassist  ,)- youwithyourcasecanrangeanywherefromafewhundreddollarstooverathousand. ,*. Bankruptcyisnotoneofthemajorareasofpracticeforattorneys.Itisaspecializedareajustlike -+/ criminallawormedicalmalpractice.Makesureyouchooseanattorneywhohas,astheysay, .s,0 =N  =  X =  beenaroundtheblockafewtimes.    2.Whenlookingforabankruptcylawyer,trytochooseonewhohasbeenpracticingfor  atleast5yearsinthisspecialty.Makesuretolookatthelawyerstotalbackground.Priorto q becomingalawyer,hemayhavedonesomethingelsethatyoucanbenefitfrom.Yes,weall \ agreethatalllawyersneedtogetexperiencesomewhere.Whatyouwanttoavoidishavinghim G  getthatexperienceatyourexpense. 2    3.Lookforalawyerwhogoesbeyondjustassistingyouwiththefilingofyourcase.  X Yourlawyershouldbetheretohelpyouintherecoveryprocess.Obviouslyheisnotgoingtobe  C  abletoprovidefinancialassistance,buthemaybeabletoprovideyouwithadviceanddirection.  .  Rememberalsothathemayhaveresourcesavailablethatyoumaynot.Dontbeafraidtoask,   whatcanyoudotohelpmeaftermycaseisover.     4.Lawfirmscomeinallsizes.Therearesomeattorneyswhoworkonlybythemselves.   Therearesomeattorneyswhoworkinsmall2,3or4attorneyfirms.Thentherearethosefirms u  thathave10,20,30ormoreattorneysworkingforthem.Becarefulbecausehiringalargelaw ` firmmaynotbetoyouradvantage.Remembertimeismoneytoanattorney.Thoselargefirms K generallyworkonabillablehoursbasis.Inthoselargefirms,everyminuteyouspendwithan 6 attorneywillcostyoumoney. !q   5.Afewyearsago,itwasimpossibleforanattorneytoadvertisehisservices. G Fortunatelyforattorneys,thatrestrictionnolongerapplies.Attorneysarefreetoadvertise,albeit 2 undersomecontrolledconditions,theservicestheyprovidetothepublic.Advertisingcanhelp  youlearnabouttheservicesalawyerprovides,butitmaynotprovideyouwithanydetailsabout  theattorneyorhisfirm.Beforehiringanattorney,makesureyouaskquestionsandmakesure  thatthelawyerisqualifiedandcompetenttohandleyourcase.    6.Manypeoplewillaskafriendorfamilymemberforareferral.Yes,thisisagoodway d tofindanattorney.Ifhewasgoodenoughformyfriend,heisgoodenoughforme.Right? O Well,maybe.Dontusethereferralasyouronlymeasurement.Meetwiththeattorney.Make :  surethatyouarecomfortablewithhimandthathewillbeabletodothejobyouarelookingfor. %!u   7.Locationissometimesabarrierwhenlookingforanattorney.Manypeoplewantto "K! findsomeonethatisclosetothem.Conveniencebecomesameasurement.Butconveniencemay #6" notbringyoutotheattorneythatcandothejob.Intodayselectronicage,nearlyallthe $! # paperworkthatisdonecanbehandledbyfax,emailorovertheinternet.Itisfarmoreimportant % !$ toyoutochooseanexperienced,qualifiedlawyer!thantochooseonebecauseheiscloseto &!% home. '"&   8.Oneofthemanyirritationsthatclientshaveisthattheirattorneywillnotreturntheir h)$( phonecall.Yes,thisisaproblem,somakesurethatyoucancontactyourlawyerwhenyouneed S*%) to. >+&*   9.Whenhiringanattorneytoassistyouwithalegalproblem,beitbankruptcy,criminal -d(, oranythingelse,makesureyouaregettingtheserviceyouintend. -O)- .D  .  .    10.Finally,whenchoosingalawyer,makesurethathisfeesarefair,thathedoesnot  chargeyouforphoneconversations,orrespondtoyourquestionsthatdoesntreallyanswerthose  questions,orthatyoudonotrespectorlike.Whenyouhireanattorney,youmustbecomfortable  withhimandconfidentthathewilldothejobyouarehiringhimtodo.  MeetBerndG.Stittleburg. zm m[19)%`|0po9 `> E|9 9 1[ mBerndStittleburgwasborninNuremberg,GermanyandimmigratedtotheUnitedStatesin1955. &   Mr.StittleburgspenthisformativeyearsinRockford,IllinoiswhereheattendedRockValley    CommunityCollege.Hethenworkedinthemechanicalengineeringfieldforanumberofyears.   AftergraduatingfromtheUniversityofWisconsinwithanAssociatesofScienceinBusiness   Administrationdegree,hemovedtoSturbridge,Massachusetts.WhileinNewEngland,he    (# (#(#(#earnedaBachelorsofSciencedegreeinBusinessAdministrationfrom  ClarkUniversityin1987.  Ѐ   ; In1993,Stittleburgcompletedpostgraduateworkinparalegal ~q studieswherehereceivedtheWestPublishingMeritAwardfor i\ outstandingscholasticperformance.Hebeganhislegalcareerinthe TG consumerbankruptcyfieldwithBerlinerLawOfficesinSpringfield, ?2 Massachusetts. In1995hecontinuedhislegalcareerwhenhebegan * workingforGallerandGinsbergP.C.Continuinghisrelationshipwith  JonathanC.Ginsberg,StittleburgjoinedGinsbergLawOffices,P.C.in  Octoberof1997wherehemanagedtheconsumerbankruptcy  departmentuntilheopenedhisownfirmin2004.   ; StittleburggraduatedwithhonorsfromJohnMarshallLaw   (#(# (# (#SchoolandwasastaffmemberonJohnMarshallsinaugurallawreviewpublicationentitled   TheJohnMarshallJournalofLawandEthnicRelations.HeisamemberoftheStateBarof u GeorgiaandtheAmericanBarAssociation.0  m` (#(#   Bernie,asmanycallhim,livesinLilburn,Georgiawithhiswifeandtheirgolden C!6" retriever,Jake. ."! # @ p6XX Youareinvitedtocalloremail! #XXp6#Ԉ (&*     ThelawmakersinWashingtonarecurrentlylookingatwaystochangethebankruptcy *(, lawssothatitwillbeharderforyoutofile.Althoughthelawshavenotyetbeenchangedandit +v)- isuncertainwhenthechangeswillcome,butitiscertainthattheywill.Ifyouarecurrently n,a*. contemplatingfilingabankruptcycase,pleasegivemeacallat XX 6785236406 #XX B#Ԁoremailmeat Y-L+/ 4/di-O  5  attybern@bgslawga.com6-Orep  7yo .Iwouldbehappytosetupafreeconsultationtodiscussyourfinancial [.N,0 4OY  4  4  situationandwhetherabankruptcymayberightforyou.  BerndG.Stittleburg q AttorneyatLaw \ TheLawOfficesofBerndG.Stittleburg G  BankruptcyAdvisorat45he -O  5  http://www.4georgiabankruptcy.com6 -Onga  7estK 2  EMail:46esP-O  5  attybern@4georgiabankruptcy.com6-Onga  7esL.  m oralternatively47es -O  5  attybern@bgslawga.com6-Onga  7es  X Voice:6785236406  C  1854IndependenceSquare   SuiteA   Atlanta,GA30338    XXTolearnmore,visitmywebsiteat48es-O  5  www.4georgiabankruptcy.com6-Onga  7es !#XX ?# u  Offeringlegalsolutionstodebtproblems,includingChapter7BankruptcyandChapter13  Bankruptcyinthefollowinglocations:Atlantametro,Newnan,Rome,Gainesville,allofNorth q Georgiacounties,AthensandMacon,Georgia.IfyoudonotliveinanareathatIservice,callmy \ officeandIwillreferyoutoaqualifiedattorneynearyou,ifknown. G @  ________________________________________ m @{XXProvidedasaneducationalserviceofTheLawOfficesofBerndG.Stittleburg,6785236406 C @2 2 Copyright2004byTheLawOfficesofBerndG.Stittleburg.Allrightsreserved.0 x x(#x(#    `     h      p