Sunday, March 17, 2024
HomeMust ReadHow Many Times Can You File Bankruptcy In Your Lifetime

How Many Times Can You File Bankruptcy In Your Lifetime

Receiving Another Bankruptcy Discharge

How Many Time Can I File Bankruptcy How Many Years Do Have To Wait? Cox Law Group, PLLC

You’ll qualify for another discharge if you meet the waiting period rules. Here’s how it works.

Chapter 7 to Chapter 7. If you received a Chapter 7 discharge previously, eight years must elapse between the old and new filing dates.

Chapter 13 to Chapter 13. Two years must elapse between the two filing dates to receive a discharge in Chapter 13. Because a Chapter 13 repayment plan usually takes three to five years to complete, you’ll likely be eligible for a second discharge after finishing the first case.

Chapter 7 to Chapter 13. Four years must elapse between the Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filing dates. Chapter 13 has its benefits even if you don’t receive a discharge, however. For instance, you can pay off priority debts, such as newly-incurred taxes or domestic support arrearages. Or, you can catch up on missed mortgage or vehicle loan payments and keep a house or car. Filing for Chapter 13 immediately after receiving a Chapter 7 discharge is commonly referred to as a Chapter 20 bankruptcy.

Chapter 13 to Chapter 7. If you received a Chapter 13 discharge and you’d like to receive a Chapter 7 discharge, you’ll have to wait six years between filing dates. But there is an exception to this rule. The six-year rule won’t apply if, in the previous Chapter 13, you paid back:

  • all of your unsecured debts, or
  • at least 70% of your unsecured debts in a plan proposed in good faith and implemented through your best efforts.

We Are Watching Trumps 7th Bankruptcy Unfold

Donald Trump was a businessman who ran six businesses that went bankrupt because they couldnt pay their bills. Trump, who is running for president again, repeats some of his business mistakes and risks the demise of another venture: his political operation.

Trump, a charismatic real-estate investor and swashbuckler in the 1980s, bet big on Atlantic Citys rise after New Jersey legalized gaming. Trump acquired three casinos that couldnt pay off their debts by 1991. In 1991, the Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza and Trump Castle declared bankruptcy.

Trump transferred his casino assets to a new company, which went bankrupt in 2004 after the lenders restructured the debt. In 2009, the company that emerged from this restructuring declared bankruptcy. Trumps sixth bankruptcy was the Plaza Hotel which he purchased in 1988. It was declared bankrupt in 1992.

Trumps 2016 surprise win mirrors the 30-year-old arrival of Atlantic Citys brash young man. Trumps presidency is now in its fourth year. He gets poor marks from voters for his handling of the coronavirus crisis. The outbreak exacerbated this at Trumps White House.

Democrat Joe Biden is winning in most swing states, and an Election Day blowout could be possible. Trump has suggested he wont leave office if he loses, threatening a constitutional crisis and political legacy.

Trumps bankruptcies are an essential reason for the Trump campaigns current turmoil.

These are five similarities:

Aug How Many Times Can You File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

After scouring the Internet, sitting down with lawyers and searching your soul , youâve decided to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Still, youre worried about the future what happens if you file for bankruptcy now and get into financial trouble later on?

Chapter 7 exists to help you get out of debtquickly and easily. Tally up your bills, make sure you pass the means test, account for any non-exempt assets, and away you go. An experienced bankruptcy lawyer can help get you into a better position relatively fast.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, its easy to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy you can do it hundreds of times. The real question, however, is whether you can get what you want a discharge of debts when your case is filed.

As weve said in these virtual pages in the past, theres no limit on the number of times you can file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Nor is there a time limit between filings. You can file as often and as many times as you like.

There are, however, limits on how often you can get a discharge. Under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code,you must wait 8 years from the time you first filed Chapter 7 until you can get a second Chapter 7 discharge.

If it is too soon to get another Chapter 7 discharge, an option is to file Chapter 13. You are eligible for a discharge in Chapter 13 as soon as four years after filing Chapter 7.

Read Also: Epiq Corporate Restructuring Llc

How Soon Can You File Bankruptcy Again

You filed a few years ago. How many years before you can file bankruptcy again? It depends on what type of bankruptcy you filed originally and what chapter of bankruptcy you plan to file now.

How Often Can You File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidates assets to pay off debts, including credit card and medical bills. Though Chapter 7 wipes away unsecured debts, you may have to sell nonexempt property to pay your creditors in the process. To quality for Chapter 7, you must meet a low income requirement.

  • You filed Chapter 7 and are filing Chapter 7 again. For those filing Chapter 7 successively, you must wait to file again until eight years have passed from the date of the first filing.
  • You filed Chapter 13 and are now filing Chapter 7. Repayment plans usually take two to five years under Chapter 13. What if you need to file bankruptcy again? If you want to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy after a Chapter 13 case, you will have to wait six years unless you have paid your unsecured debts in full or have paid off 70% of the claims on your repayment plan. In that case, you will be able to file Chapter 7 sooner.

How Often Can You File Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to pay back a portion of your debt through a repayment plan, so you can keep your property. Repayment plans are typically drawn out over two to five years. Youll need to show you have enough income to make payments.

Multiple Bankruptcies On Your Credit Report

How Often Can You File for Bankruptcy?

You may need to consider a court date in between filing for multiple bankruptcies. In some cases, an automatic stay can expire before your next bankruptcy discharge is filed. You need to make sure the discharge happens before the automatic stay expires.

Your credit report may have language such as:

  • Bankruptcy Chapter 13 – discharged
  • Filing date: 01/01/2013Status date: 01/01/2014

It could also say “there is a bankruptcy on your credit report” or “you have recently filed for bankruptcy” without listing specific details.

Having multiple bankruptcies on your credit history usually means you will have a hard time finding lenders and low interest rates, and you will have a poor credit score for a year or more.

Read Also: Bankruptcy Petition Preparer

Donald Trump Is The King Of Bankruptcy Filings Destroying Many Lives Along The Way

Donald Trump spewing his birther-crap again just for attention, is seriously defensive when asked about his bankruptcies over the past two decades. Trumps Taj Mahal Hotel was built by Trump selling bonds to raise over 800 million dollars, then declaring bankruptcy which turned the bonds into junk-bonds. For all of Trumps hyperboles about his riches, if you and I did what he has done we would be imprisoned for life years ago!

For legendary tycoons, Donald Trump tops the list, but how many times has Donald Trump filed for bankruptcy? The 90s recession wasnt picky about who it affected. Donald Trump felt the pinch as well. His decision to use high interest bonds to finance the assembly of the Taj Mahal casino caused life to get very stressful for the tycoon.

In 1991, unable to pay a $3.5 billion loan, he declared business bankruptcy. He also came close to filing personal ruin. At the time, his personal debt was estimated to be around $900 million. Due to the bankruptcy, banks and bondholders lost millions. They came to a compromise with Donald Trump. The banks gave him lower interest rates and a longer time frame to repay the debt and Donald Trump gave the investors half the ownership of the Taj Mahal. In mere months the casino was back in business.

Posted on: Apr. 23, 2010

No Personal Involvement!

If You Didn’t Receive A Discharge

If your debts weren’t discharged in your first filing, then you might be eligible for a discharge immediately, but it will depend on why the court dismissed your case.

  • Court dismisses your case without prejudice. If the court dismissed your bankruptcy matter because you failed to complete a requirement, you’d likely be able to file right away and receive a discharge. For instance, the court might have dismissed your case because you didn’t file your financial management certificate or it could have been that the court didn’t confirm your Chapter 13 plan because you couldn’t show you had enough income to make the required payments.
  • Court dismisses your case with prejudice. In this case, you’ll need to wait 180 days from the time of the dismissal before filing a new matter. The 180-day waiting period would apply if you voluntarily dismissed your case after a creditor filed a motion for relief from stay . The court can also order a 180-day waiting period after finding that you tried to abuse the bankruptcy system with serial filings.
  • Court denies your discharge. You might be able to file again, but it’s likely that the court won’t allow you to discharge the debts from the earlier case. Trying to hide assets, lying on your bankruptcy papers, trying to defraud your creditors, or abusing the system, can result in the court preventing you from filing for whatever amount of time it deems appropriate.

Also Check: How Many Times Donald Trump Bankruptcy

What Determines Bankruptcy Eligibility

When it comes to filing multiple bankruptcy petitions, the most important factor is time. If you had your debts dismissed in a prior bankruptcy, you will have to wait a specific length of time before being eligible for another discharge.

The ability to file another bankruptcy and get a discharge is contingent on a number of variables.

  • the type of bankruptcy previously filed
  • the date the previous bankruptcy was filed
  • whether the previous bankruptcy was discharged, dismissed, or dismissed with prejudice

When you are eligible for another discharge, the length of time you have to wait depends on whether you previously got a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 discharge and the kind of bankruptcy you wish to file again.

Reasons To Switch Your Bankruptcy Filing From The Previous Chapter

Should I File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Because of Covid-19?

The type of bankruptcy you file will change your repayment plan, the amount of unsecured debts you owe, and the amount of time the bankruptcy stays on your record. It may make sense to file for a different bankruptcy than you used in your previous case.

A bankruptcy attorney can help you understand the best debt relief options for you. An attorney can’t change the time limits between filing dates, but they can help you decide if switching your Chapter is a smart idea. They can also help you prepare to file as soon as the date is available to you.

You can apply one of these strategies to your second bankruptcy filing:

  • Switching from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13: If you pay off unsecured debts during Chapter 7, you can file a Chapter 13 to create a repayment plan to pay off tax debt or other debts that were not discharged during the Chapter 7 filing.
  • Switching from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7: If you pay back 100% of unsecured debt to creditors, the six-year waiting period can be waived. In some cases, you only need to pay back 70% of unsecured debt. The first bankruptcy case needs to be in good faith in order to file for Chapter 7.
  • Repeating Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing: Some people may repeat Chapter 13 filing to manage student loans or tax debts repayment. These debts cannot be discharged, so they must eventually be paid in full.

Don’t Miss: Which Statement Regarding Bankruptcy Is Not True

Bankruptcy Court Time Limits For Consumer Bankruptcy

  • Chapter 7: To receive another Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge, you need to wait eight years to file from the date you filed the previous Chapter 7 case.
  • Chapter 13: While it takes three to five years to complete a Chapter 13 repayment plan and discharge your case, you are usually able to file again immediately. However, if you want to file sooner, you need to wait two years after the date you initially filed.

Need Help Filing A New Bankruptcy

If you find it necessary to file another bankruptcy, we can discuss your situation in depth and complete privacy by phone or at a sit down free consultation.

Orange County bankruptcy attorney, Norma Duenas, is an experienced bankruptcy attorney who graduated from the University of San Diego Law School, Cum Laude. Ms. Duenas has handled many complex Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases. She has previously assisted clients in litigation, immigration matters and has handled hundreds of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases in the Riverside, Orange County, Los Angeles, Temecula and Murrieta areas of Southern California.

If youd like to have a no cost consultation with bankruptcy attorney Duenas, you can make an appointment with our founding attorney, Norman Duenas, by calling or if its after hours and well get back to you.

Also Check: How Many Times Has Trump Declared Bankruptcy

Refiling Bankruptcy After A Dismissal

Dismissal may sound like discharge, but theres a huge difference.

A discharge means youve met all the requirements set by the bankruptcy court. Youre no longer on the hook for the applicable debts and your case is closed.

Dismissal means your case has been closed without your debts being eliminated. Its as if you never filed for bankruptcy. Youre back to Square One and your creditors can start hounding you again.

You can refile after a dismissal, but how soon depends on why your case was dismissed. For instance, you must complete a credit counseling course from an approved agency within 180 days before filing for bankruptcy.

The counselor gives you an idea whether theres a better alternative to bankruptcy, like enrolling in a DMP. If you decide to go ahead with bankruptcy, you must have a certificate showing you completed the counseling course.

Failure to comply will result in the court automatically dismissing your case. But if you scramble and take the course, you would likely be permitted to refile right away.

If it looks like youre trying to game the system, you will have to wait 180 days to refile. The bankruptcy code defines that as willful failure of the debtor to abide by orders of the court, or to appear before the court in proper prosecution of the case.

Examples would be:
  • Lying to the court.
  • Concealing or transferring property in an attempt to defraud creditors.

Advertiser Disclosure

How Often Can You File Bankruptcy

How Often Can You File Bankruptcy? How Many Times Can You ...

4 minute read ⢠Upsolve is a nonprofit tool that helps you file bankruptcy for free. Think TurboTax for bankruptcy. Get free education, customer support, and community. Featured in Forbes 4x and funded by institutions like Harvard University so we’ll never ask you for a credit card. Explore our free tool

In a Nutshell

You can file more than one bankruptcy in a lifetime. How many times depends on how long it’s been since your last bankruptcy case and what type of bankruptcy you filed. We’ll break it down for you.

Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer.

Have you filed bankruptcy in the past but are faced with a financial situation that you canât resolve despite your best efforts? If youâre facing a possible wage garnishment due to unexpected medical bills, unpaid tax debts, or any other type of debt youâre no longer able to pay, you can ask the court for bankruptcy protection a second time.

Know that youâre not alone. A 2006 paper on a found that 8% of bankruptcy filers end up filing bankruptcy again. The 2005 changes to the Bankruptcy Code, intended to reduce overall filings, have not had much of an impact on this number.

Bankruptcy is a legal way for individuals who can no longer afford to pay their debts to get permanent debt relief through a bankruptcy discharge. The Bankruptcy Code provides for three types of consumer bankruptcies known as Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

You May Like: How Many Times Has Trump Filed Bankrupcy

How Often Can You File Bankruptcy In California

For chapter 13, its every two years.For chapter 7 cases, its every eight years.Four years must elapse between the chapter 7 and chapter 13 filing dates.How long do you need to wait?

How many times can you file for bankruptcy?How many times depends on how long its been since your last bankruptcy case and what type of bankruptcy you filed.How many times or often can you file a bankruptcy case in california?How much time between bankruptcy filings?

How often can a person file for bankruptcy in california?How often can someone file for bankruptcy?How often can someone file for bankruptcy?How often can you file chapter 7 bankruptcy faqs

How often can you file chapter 7 bankruptcy in california?How often can you file under chapter 13?If the case was dismissed, you may file again after 180 days.If you completed a debt repayment plan and were granted a chapter 13 discharge, you must wait 2 years before you can receive another chapter 13 discharge and, as a general rule, you must wait 6 years before you can receive a chapter 7.

Jason jenkins jun 16, 2021 many or all of the products featured here are from our.Luckily, you can file for bankruptcy as many times as you want but not necessarily receive a discharge as many times as you want.One of the most important questions is determining your monthly plan payment.Or, you can catch up on missed mortgage or vehicle loan payments and keep a house or car.

RELATED ARTICLES

Popular Articles