The prospect of filing for bankruptcy protection is never appealing. But that does not mean that it is never the right choice. Much of the negative view of personal bankruptcy is wrapped up in social mores and pretenses, spurred along by a healthy dose of misinformation and misunderstanding about the law and the legal and financial implications of filing for bankruptcy. Though it would, of course, be preferable to you and your creditors if you were able to satisfy the terms of your repayment agreement, the economic pressures of life can prevent that, even if you have the best of intentions.
Certainly, an individual has a degree of financial responsibility and culpability in the matter. Willfully and knowingly making purchases with the intent to defraud creditors is inexcusable and may be punishable by criminal and civil actions. Additionally, it is advisable to maintain an open dialogue with your creditors so that you can attempt to keep them informed about your ability or inability to make specific payments. When this becomes impossible, however, bankruptcy may offer the most beneficial path to resolution as it grants your creditors partial satisfaction of a debt and it frees you from lingering financial obligations. Medical bills are by far the most common debt to trigger a personal bankruptcy filing. Continue reading ‘Medical Bills and the Reality of Bankruptcy’ »