Minneapolis Bankruptcy Lawyer

Many people in Minneapolis, Minnesota struggle to pay their bills. They may lose hope that they'll ever be able to cover their debt. One option they may turn to is bankruptcy.

There's no magic formula for deciding when bankruptcy is the right choice. It's an option you might consider if you:

• Are paying only minimum amounts on your bills
• Can't budget yourself out of debt within five years
• Are getting notices that your mortgage or loans are being foreclosed
• Have had a severe financial setback, such as losing your job or a major client, a divorce or a costly illness

Bankruptcy does not get rid of all debts. You're still responsible for:

• Alimony
• Child support
• Most recent back taxes
• Most student loans
• Recent large purchases of more than $600 for luxury goods bought within 90 days of filing
• Fines or penalties of government agencies
• Fraudulent debts
• Cash advances of $875 within 70 days of filing

As a Minneapolis, Minnesota consumer, you can file for bankruptcy in Minnesota under either:

• Chapter 7 (Straight Bankruptcy) to wipe out all debts except those listed and get an immediate fresh start or
• Chapter 13 (Wage Earner Bankruptcy) to set up a repayment plan to pay back your debts over several years' time.

Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act

On April 20, 2005, the President signed into law the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, which limits individual access to US bankruptcy courts. Some of the changes, which were effective October 17, 2005, included:

• New requirements for eligibility for Chapter 7
• Longer payment terms for some Chapter 13 cases
• New presumptions against debtors with increased penalties
• The reduction of judicial discretion to balance competing interests

What Can I Keep?

"Exempt" property is property that you are allowed to keep. What property is exempt is determined by state law. The items and amounts in this section may change in the future. Updated information can be found in the state code.

In Minnesota, you may choose state or federal exemptions.  If you have significant equity in your home, you may find the state exemptions to be more beneficial.  Otherwise, the federal exemptions are usually better.