Legal Question in Bankruptcy in New Jersey

Please suggest the right solution!!

Involved in accident in Nov02 but due to nature of case & recent Lawsuit filed against me by Plaintiff I believe is Bogus in nature, asking for damages for personal Injury + having a debt of 15000 dollars which I can manage, consulting few lawyers which invloves hefty fees and some suggests Bankruptcy. I had no Insurance when this accident occurred. The plaintiff hasn�t claimed any dollar charges so far but has asked for damages and ways to satisfy that amount include Insurance dets.The Police report describes my Fault.

Had a new job from feb03 in VA but it all occured in NJ, I am in this new job in VA'please suggest from which state I should file if at all I have to file it.

Secondly, Chapter 13 or 7 and Will it be safer enough if I am in job and how about any problems in future jobs, Also I am on H1 Visa which is an employment visa, how far it can effect that. Also my recently opened bank accounts in VA, will these bank accounts be affected if I go for Chapter 13 or 7, & which one is Safer.

I am really confused right now. I could just manage to support my family since I was affected badly due to economy.

I can't afford Lawyers fees. Will negotiation be a better solution?

I need advice


Asked on 6/07/03, 10:51 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

John Sawyer Sawyer & Azarcon, P.C.

Re: Please suggest the right solution!!

Your questions are highly technical and involve venue -- proper filing location -- and plannning/decisions about the effect of employment on whether you can/must file Chapter 7 (liquidation) or Chapter 13 (reorganization - individual wage earner plan), in addition to the immigration question that you have raised. You need to consult directly with bankruptcy counsel. It cannot be done effectively on the Internet. If you cannot get a free consultation from a local bankruptcy attorney, you should go to legal aid.

I have been a bankruptcy practitioner for many, many years and have found both workouts and consumer credit counselling to be dismal failures. For a workout to be successful, you must get all creditors to agree -- very difficult at best. CCC can get the agreement, but at a stiff price. CC usually involves an unworkably stiff budget for too long, with absolutely no money for travel, gifts or any recreation.

Most importantly, workouts and CCC usually do absolutely nothing to actually repair your credit, contray to popular belief. If you start with a bad credit report, you end up that way (i.e., the negative entries remain), even after you have completed the workout or CCC.

I get calls all the time from bitter people who have completed CCC, but who cannot get a mortgage (or a competitive rate) simply because the adverse entries remain on the credit report for the statutory period. Interestingly enough, these people are usually told by mortgage brokers to file bankruptcy and wait two years.

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Answered on 6/08/03, 8:09 am


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