Chapter 13 (Reorganization) Bankruptcy Attorney
in Orlando, FL

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Chapter 13 (Reorganization) Bankruptcy Attorney
in Orlando, FL

A chapter 13 bankruptcy filing enables you to keep valuable property, especially your car and home, which may otherwise be lost. However, this requires you to make the payments required by the bankruptcy law to your creditors. In many cases, these payments will at least be as much as your regular monthly payments on your car loan or mortgage. You should seriously consider filing for bankruptcy in Orlando, Florida, chapter 13 in Orlando if you:

  • Own a home but are in danger of losing it due to financial problems
  • Are behind debt payments, but can catch up if given a certain period
  • Have valuable, non-exempted property, but you can afford to pay creditors from your income if given additional time
  • You have a second mortgage that may be removed if your house doesn’t worth more than what you owe on your first mortgage
  • You will need to have sufficient income during your chapter 13 case to pay for your necessities as well as to keep up with upcoming due payments. A large number of government websites purporting to provide information and advice to consumers facing foreclosure do not mention bankruptcy at all. However, chapter 13, bankruptcy eliminates 2nd mortgages on ‘underwater’ homes and can get consumers caught up with their payments.
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These outcomes should not shock you. After all, banks do not want you to file bankruptcy. When borrowers file for bankruptcy, lenders do not like it because it puts the consumer – you – in the driver’s seat, offering your rights that the bank is now compelled to deal with. Unluckily, many people are unaware of the fact that Orlando chapter 13 bankruptcy cancels out (also referred to as ‘stripping the lien’) your 2nd mortgage as long as the appraised value of your home is lower than what you owe on the 1st mortgage. Allow us to elucidate. Numerous residents in Orlando are currently ‘underwater’ on their home mortgages, and they are searching for a way out. If you have made up your mind about walking away from your home because you feel you have no other options, schedule a free consultation with us first. What if you could virtually eliminate $50,000, $100,000, or $200,000 on your current mortgage? If you only had a 1st mortgage and no other payments, wouldn’t it be much easier to save your home?

In addition, when the market turns around, think of every equity you could create back up years from now? Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Orlando may assist you in doing exactly that.
With decreasing property prices in the greater Orlando region, landlords who have taken out a 2nd mortgage on their homes are suffering from financial difficulties that may be specifically difficult to deal with. In numerous cases, a 2nd mortgage dramatically reduces the equity of your home, usually leaving no equity at all. However, I am here to tell you that there is hope! In the case of second mortgages, if the property values fall below the loan amount of the 1st mortgage, existing bankruptcy law enables judges to eradicate the 2nd mortgage. If the courts remove this mortgage, this refers to ‘stripping the lien.’

Example of Chapter 13 Lien Stripping

Assume a house appraisal is $225,000, and the first mortgage is for $245,000. A home equity line of credit or 2nd mortgage is for $150,000. The mortgage loans amount to $415,000 on a home that is currently valued at $225,000.

A 36-month chapter 13 payment plan is developed, paying $1,500 original for 1st mortgage payment each month. After the completion of the 36-month plan and filing a motion to strip the lien, the new total owed is $191,000, offering you positive equity in your home.

What we are going to share with you now is essential information for homeowners having second mortgages and are finding themselves ‘underwater.’ This information is necessary to safeguard yourself while making an informed decision regarding your future.

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  • Lenders just secure up to the property’s value
  • The 2nd lender has nothing securing their lien. Their lien is not secure because the property currently has no value leftover from the 1st lien. Therefore, the second mortgage is treated an unsecured creditor
  • Usually, the 2nd lender will not be able to gather the mortgage lien after the bankruptcy discharge, and the debtors (or homeowners) still get to keep the house.
  • After the completion of the chapter 13 plan, the homeowners would not even have to pay the lien when selling the house.

The filing of a chapter 13 does have many advantages. One significant benefit is valuing your car at a fair market instead of what you still owe on your loan. For instance, if you bought your car more than 910 days before filing for your bankruptcy petition, you are just responsible for paying an amount equal to the current value of the vehicle. This means, numerically, if you still owed $18,000 on a particular car, its fair market value is just $8,000. In your repayment plan, you would only be required to pay the $8,000. What does this mean? A potential saving of $10,000.

What file chapter 13?

Sometimes, clients that visit our bankruptcy offices in Orlando are not eligible for a bankruptcy chapter 7 in Florida. In this case, chapter 13 may be more advantageous. We go through every option, talking about the benefits and drawbacks of both. We file them for several clients for numerous reasons. Many clients have reservations about filing chapter 13 bankruptcy if they will be required to repay their creditors. Here are a few reasons why filing for chapter 13 is the right choice for some clients:

  • Keep valuable property: If you are behind on your mortgage payments, chapter 13 will enable you to save your home from foreclosure by gradually catching up on your payments. We may also be able to acquire a loan modification for you

  • Interest rate: In the world of non-bankruptcy, interest on credit cards can shoot up to 23%. When creditors acquire their interest on claims in bankruptcy, there is no accrual of interest. For instance, if you have approximately $40,000 in credit card debt, paying off the debt in 5 years will enable the credit card issues to get $28,000 in just the interest Using chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may end up pennies on the dollar to the creditors if it is determined you do not have any disposable income to pay creditors

  • Some of your creditors may lose out: Few creditors who timely file a proof of claim will share in the chapter 13 bankruptcy payments. Clients will acquire a full discharge of all debt owed to unsecured creditors except for student loans

  • No debt collector calls: Kiss creditor calls goodbye. During bankruptcy, nobody is to contact or interact with you in any way. They have to cross us before they can get to you

  • Ability to strip second mortgages: If your first mortgage is worth more than the current worth of your property, we may be able to get rid of the second mortgage from your house. Now that is something, ask us about it

  • We can modify your student loans: Just imagine, your student loan is now modifiable, and it is just available in Chapter 13

  • Reduced stress: Having the law protect you in a court-ordered repayment plan and consolidating every creditor in a single proceeding will reduce any further stress associated with collection attempts and creditors. Chapter 13 will enable you to send a monthly check to the bankruptcy trustee. Based on what’s negotiated with creditors, these payments are usually lower than the original debt
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Filing Chapter 13 in Orlando

Often, the consumers can get two options for filing personal bankruptcy in Florida – Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. There is a plethora of differences between the bankruptcies of two types. If there’s a consistent source of income for the consumers, here are specific reasons why filing Chapter 13 in Orlando may be advantageous:

  • Flexibility

      • o You can convert the case to Chapter 7 or even dismiss it
      o You can sell or refinance a house during the plan
      o You can expand your payments for a car or other secured debt
      o You can alter a plan if you decide to give up a car or a house or if income changes
      o Many debts can be discharged – including damages for willful and malicious acts and certain divorce payments

  • As long as you can make the payments, chapter 13 will save a house from foreclosure.
  • You can strip a wholly unsecured second mortgage
  • You won’t lose the non-exempt property
  • If you’ve owned a car for more than 910 days, the amount owed on it can be devalued to the existing value
  • Trustees want the plan to succeed and will work with you in collaboration to get it confirmed
  • Based on your income, the US Trustee can challenge a Chapter 7 case, but challenging the Chapter 13 is not an option

We offer Orlando legal services to clients
throughout Central Florida, in:

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Bankruptcy

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Real estate law

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Foreclosure

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Business Bankruptcy

In the free consultation, a bankruptcy lawyer in Orlando, FL, will assist you in breaking down every misconception of filing for bankruptcy Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 in Florida, discussing the pros/cons of both bankruptcy options. We will then work together to identify which type of bankruptcy may be the best for you, considering your specific set of circumstances. This consultation will be free. All we want from you is an opportunity to offer you the information you need to make an informed decision.

At Bankruptcy Law Center, our business is assisting people as if you get a fresh start. We consider it an honor to earn your trust and a privilege to be of service. Call us today to schedule your no-obligation, free personal bankruptcy consultation appointment to discuss a Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Orlando. Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to meeting with you. Also, if you wonder about filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Florida without a lawyer, wait for the updates from us.

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