If you are reading this, you are not a legal or financial professional. You are probably a young working parent with a spouse and kids to support. You likely also struggle to meet your monthly financial obligations or overcome crippling debt.
You may have realized that bankruptcy is the ideal way to address your circumstances. Now that you are ready to file, you need to know what you can and cannot do. It is easy to find out what you should do when filing, but it is equally critical to avoid the actions below.
Distributing assets to others
If you are the keeper of the family heirlooms, you may think it is okay to pass them to a relative so that you can keep them in the family. Although it is understandable to want to preserve these heirlooms, giving them away can harm your bankruptcy.
Acquiring fresh debt
A bankruptcy filing means you cannot afford to take on even more debt. Avoid seeking a loan or spending the remaining credit on any cards you hold before filing your bankruptcy documents. A court will view this as a means of cheating the system.
Misrepresenting financial elements
Whether unintentionally or on purpose, being untruthful about your assets and debts can lead to the failure of your bankruptcy. It serves your best interest to disclose all assets and debts when seeking relief through bankruptcy. Be sure to gather all financial documents to avoid leaving something critical out of your filing information.
We also urge you to learn more about Oregon bankruptcy laws when filing. Doing so ensures that you choose the type of bankruptcy (Chapter 7 or 13) that best meets your young family’s needs.