BANKRUPTCY

Chapter 7
This is available for individuals, legally married spouses (as a joint filing) and businesses and is designed to eliminate most types of debt, often without the loss of property such as houses, vehicles, personal property or retirement savings.

Chapter 13
This is available for both Individuals and legally married spouses (as a joint filing) and is designed to reduce certain types of debt through an affordable payment plan, often without the loss of property such as houses, vehicles, personal property or retirement savings. This option is often used to prevent foreclosure or repossession, resolve or get out of legal proceedings that have already commenced, and in many cases reduce your current vehicle payment and interest rate. This is also available for people who have already filed a Chapter 7 in the last 8 years.

Chapter 12
This is available for both Individuals and legally married spouses (as a joint filing) and is designed to reduce certain types of debt through an affordable payment plan, similar to a Chapter 13, but specifically for Family Farmers or Fishermen.

Chapter 11
Normally available only for businesses and is offered as a way to reorganize the business debts of an operating corporation.

Negotiation/Arbitration/Settlement
This is available for both Individuals and legally married spouses in lieu of a bankruptcy filing to attempt to reach a settlement with your creditor(s) to resolve your debt issues and reduce or eliminate creditor collection efforts.