Personal Bankruptcy

Personal Bankruptcy

It's a radical step, but each year factors like unemployment, credit card debt, and medical expenses push more than a million Americans into bankruptcy. We look at the implications of filing for personal bankruptcy, and how free debt counseling can help, before or after the fact.

It's a radical step, but each year unemployment, credit card debt, medical expenses and other factors push more than a million Americans into personal bankruptcy. Major changes to bankruptcy law in 2005 have made filing more difficult and expensive, and excluded some debts from bankruptcy protection, meaning they won't be forgiven. We look at the implications of filing for personal bankruptcy, and how free debt counseling can help, whether before or after the fact.

Guests

Sandra Block

Personal Finance Columnist, USA Today; Co-Author, "The Busy Family's Guide to Money" (Nolo)

Robert Lawless

Professor, University of Illinois College of Law; Co-Director, Illinois Program on Law, Behavior and Social Science

Sandra Brown

Financial Specialist, ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions

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Comments

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Can you tell me how long a bankruptcy 7 or 13 stays on your credit?

If you pay everything off under your Chpt 13. Can you get it taken off your credit report immediately?

Can you file Chpt 7 and still keep your home? Will it only impact your credit card debt?

Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:33pm

can you talk about bankruptcy dismissal pros and cons?

Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:39pm
The Kojo Nnamdi Show is produced by member-supported WAMU 88.5 in Washington DC.