When you face bankruptcy and more debt then you can actually repay, what you need to do is think about getting help from a credit counseling service. Credit counseling service is going to handle your most private information and because of that you should think twice who to hire. Perform a thorough check of the service you want to hire. Make sure you hire a competent and trustworthy service.

First check as many services or companies as you can find on the internet. You can also check your local Yellow Pages but that, in my opinion, is much slower and less efficient way to search. Youll get far more info searching the web and in much less time then searching the Yellow Pages.

By checking up on them via internet you can get costumer reviews, also ask around about costumer satisfaction on the internet groups and forums. You can also check for a BBB (Better Business Bureau) signs (these are not awarded easy) and other marks of the reliable service.

Credit counseling agencies offer myriad of services, some will offer you their service free of charge, while others will do that if they deem you in need of their service. Naturally there are also services which youll have to pay for. Some are going to ask you for up front payment, while others will charge you at the end of the process.

Right from the start you need to find out exactly how much youll have to pay for their services, you dont need any surprises here. When you decide if you are going to be able to hire a certain agency, you can sign the contract and start with your credit repair. Most of the work from now on will be handled by credit consolidation service.

Credit counselors will help you come up with a plan to repay all your debts, theyll outline what you need to do in order to clear your outstanding balances. The credit counseling service will take in calculation all your income, as well as any possible unforeseen financial troubles that can come your way, like unexpected medical bills for example.

All your debts are then merged in to one monthly based payment. Sometimes your credit counseling service may decide to buy your debt from the creditors. The agency can also mediate between you and your creditors and convince them to extend the grace period, accept a lump sum payoff or suspend the collection for some time.

Credit counseling service can help you to speed your way out of debt, but not even they can erase 100% damage you have done to your credit score in the past. Even if it can take you some time to clear negative items from your credit report, by working with a credit counseling agency you can significantly speed up your effort.

Hiring a credit counseling agency will enable you to start making regular payments and that will have a positive effect on your credit report and it will also be extremely important for any of your future credit applications.

Only a few years ago, Congress made multiple huge changes to the bankruptcy laws which impacted how bankruptcy would be filed, and even who is eligible. For example, no longer can you file bankruptcy just because you are tired of paying your bills, but with the new laws, there is a defined set of procedures that must be followed for each chapter being filed, and your financial status will be evaluated under a microscope, where you must be approved before you can even file.

But one of the areas that was left pretty much untouched by the wide range of changes was Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. This chapter was originally constructed to prevent a home from being put on the foreclosure block. But with the massive number of foreclosures that are happening in the US today, it is unfortunate that many people still do not know that Chapter 13 Bankruptcy filing can still be used to prevent foreclosure on their home.

For the average consumer, there are three different types or chapters of bankruptcy that may be available to them, depending on their specific circumstances. The first one is Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, which is the most common type and is also sometimes referred to as a liquidation. Obviously the reason it is known as liquidation is because most of their debt is discharged by allowing the court-appointed trustee to liquidate all of their non-exempt assets. Even with this chapter, however, be aware that there are certain types of debts that cannot be discharged by going bankrupt.

Although it used more appropriate to be used by either businesses or people with substantial assets and income, another type of bankruptcy available to the consumer is Chapter 11, frequently also known as a business reorganization. This type does not wipe out debts, but rather it allows the person or business to reorganize its debt structure and make revised payments to the creditors, sometimes over a longer period of time, and sometimes also with a reduced interest rate. Creditors usually are willing to do this, since collecting their money over time and with interest is certainly better in their eyes than to have the debt wiped out completely via a different chapter.

The last type or chapter of bankruptcy available to the consumer is Chapter 13, frequently also known as the Wage Earner's Reorganization. This type is the least expensive to file and is typically used by consumers who still maintain their ability to make their payment obligations, usually within three to five years. The total value of their assets which are classified as non-exempt is used as a basis and guideline for the amount that needs to be repaid over this period of time, as well as considering their level of income and any debts which cannot be discharged.

But what many consumers do not realize is that Chapter 13 Bankruptcy also allows property owners to stop foreclosure proceedings if they are behind on their mortgage payments. While the same can be said for the other chapters of consumer bankruptcy, Chapter 13 is particularly designed to permit the consumer to pay the delinquency in equal monthly payments for as long a period of time as 60 months (5 years). The mortgage lender has no choice but to agree to this, as long as all the other requirements and qualifications of this chapter are met.

The procedure to be qualified to file this chapter is more stringent than the others, since it involves a thorough examination of total debt and total income. No chapter of bankruptcy is any longer consider to be a "do-it-yourself" process with all the new legal requirements in place, so regardless of what chapter you are thinking about, it is strongly recommended that you consult with a qualified bankruptcy lawyer and ensure that both you and your property, combined with your specific situation, actually do qualify.

The biggest benefit that you can have with Chapter 13 bankruptcy, if you qualify and if you are facing foreclosure proceedings, is that it buys you time. That time can be used to make your current financial situation better, or it can also be used to find the right buyer for your property. If you move forward with this, keep in mind that the time you are granted with this is finite, and you need to start planning and take action NOW.

If you are trying to decide which is the best route, chapter 13 bankruptcy or debt settlement, there are a few important things you must first understand. Debt settlement is a way for you to work out a reduced price and pay off your debt entirely to your creditor.

Hector Milla Editor of the "Best Debt Settlement Companies" website -- http://www.BestDebtSettlementCompanies.org -- pointed out;

I know a corporation and probably a LIMITED partnership requires an attorney to file a BK in California, but does a 100% general partnership have to hire an attorney as well or can it go "in pro per"?

Thanks!