Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Stop the Pain! Call Doug Dern, 810-632-9160
Make Bill Collectors Leave you alone!
I am a Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney. I will help you.

Chapter 7 is a liquidation Bankruptcy. Chapter 7, in a nut shell, wipes out your unsecured debt. Unsecured Debt is debt such as credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, judgments, law suites, debt that is not secured by collateral.

If you qualify for a chapter 7 all your unsecured debt gets discharged. A Bankruptcy discharge legally relieves you of the obligation to pay that debt. Your Debt disappears!

Imagine having those phone calls stopped!

The Automatic Stay.
LAWDOG Bankruptcy: Automatic Stay & Relief From Stay
Under Federal Law once you file Bankruptcy creditors can not call you or write you, or contact you in anyway. If they violate the Automatic Stay you can have them held in contempt of court. You can receive money from your creditor if they call you after you file bankruptcy. The Federal Courts take this very seriously. US CODE: Title 11,362. Automatic stay

Secure Debt... You may be asking yourself if all my unsecured debt is discharged what about my secured debt, i.e. house, car, or boat loans. That is your choice. You can either keep it and pay it off or you can surrender it back to the creditor. You have to be current on the loan to reaffirm the secured debt. If you have arrears on secured debt you want to keep then you will probably need to file a Chapter 13. For instance, if you are current on your house payment you can file a Chapter 7 and continue to make your payment. If you are behind your can stop a foreclosure through a Chapter 13 and reorganize your mortgage.

Can you imagine stopping the pain and getting a fresh start? Call me, today 810-632-9160. I will help you.

Means Test:
One of the most confusing changes in the Bankruptcy Law was the Bankruptcy Reform act of 2005. It is known as the " Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005."
Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This act requires what is known as a means test. Understanding the means test is a bit tricky. Basically, it uses the Debtors 6 month average income. If the Debtor's 6 month average is below the median income for the state and County then the debtor automatically quantifies for a Chapter 7. The average median income for Michigan is around $55,000.00 for a single person with no kids. This number changes regularly. If you are over the median income then you are required to take the means test.

Means test step 2. If your income is over the median then you have to take your income less allowable living expenses and times that figure by 60. This is your available income over a 5-year period for debt repayment. If that amount is over $10,000.00 then you will have to file a Chapter 13. That dollar amount is $166.67 a month.

If you are over the median income but under the $166.67 a month disposable income then you multiply your disposable income by 60 and if it is less then 25% of total unsecured debt then you can file a Chapter 7. If it is greater then 25% of your debt you will have to fill a Chapter 13.

Call me, Today! 810-632-9160... At the Law Office of Doug Dern I am committed to helping you get a new start. Exemptions.
US CODE: Title 11,522. Exemptions
I get ask a lot if you have to give up your assets.
No. You can keep most if not all of your assets. Under the bankruptcy code you can exempt your personal assets. for instance:

Home equity $20,200
Household goods $9,850
tools $1,850
Motor vehicles $3,225
Jewelry $1,225
Wild Card $925

If you don't have $20,000 equity in your home then you can use $10,000 as a wild card.

These are not all of the exemption but cover most people. By exempt that means it is yours to keep and the creditors can not go after them. They are protected. Of course, if you have non exempt assets a Chapter 13 might be your better option.

Do you dream of being Debt Free? Are you sick of predatory lenders? Tired of being the victim? Call me, Doug Dern at 810-632-9160 or email me now. I will help you.

What is not discharged?
Some things can not be discharged. Like: Taxes, Student loans, domestic support obligations, criminal fines, some law suites, fraud debt

Are you looking for an affordable Bankruptcy Lawyer? Call me Today 810-632-9160. Stop the pain. Stop garnishment. Stop the phone calls. Call me, now!

Credit Counseling & Debtor Education Course.
The Bankruptcy Code requires credit counseling and debtor education. The Credit Counseling must be done before you file. The second part, the Debtor Education must be done after you file.

There are a number of places that are approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee's Office.U.S. Trustee Program/Dept. of Justice the prices vary. If you do it online at Humming Bird Credit Counseling. I will pay for it. You read that right its free. I will pay it. Hummingbird Credit Counseling and Education.You can begin this now.

Bankruptcy Procedure:

U.S. Trustee Program/Dept. of Justice

In a Chapter 7 you will be required to go to a 341 meeting of Creditors. This is a hearing that will be in Flint, Detroit, or Ann Arbor Michigan depending on which county you live in. This is usually a painless event. You are required to show your ID and Social Security Card. You are also required to provide the Trustee with 60 days pay stubs and most recently filed taxes. There may be other applicable documents. This hearing takes less then 5 minutes. Creditors are invited to come. They rarely come. Do you think the person that has been calling you and humiliating you really wants to see you face to face? Do you think a predatory lender that has caused you so much pain wants to see you when you have a tough aggressive Bankruptcy Attorney at your side?

Seriously, are you sick of the phone calls? Do you have garnishments? Are you in pain? Is your debt killing you? Would you like a fresh start? Don't you owe it to yourself to call Doug Dern? A 5 minute phone call could change your life. I make bill collectors leave you alone!

Call me 1-810-632-9160 or email me now We are a debt relief agency we help people file bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.