Will I Lose my RESP in Bankruptcy?

Will I Lose my RESP in Bankruptcy?

An RESP is set up usually by a parent or other family member by way of a contract with an Bankruptcyinstitution (the scholarship fund) for the benefit of their child. The standard wording in the contract results in the RESP being considered an asset of the parent or other person that is divisible among their creditors in the bankruptcy. If you are in this situation, speak to your Licensed Insolvency Trustee about buying the RESP back from the bankruptcy so that it can continue to be of benefit to your child when he or she starts their post-secondary level of education. The purchase price and terms of payment can be negotiated but generally start at the dollar amount that the trustee would get if the RESP plan was collapsed. The usual payment terms are that you must pay the settlement amount for the RESP before you are discharged.

Please see related article – Will I Lose my RESP in a Consumer Proposal?

 

Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation formTo learn more please visit our YouTube  Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.

 

Bankruptcy and Debt Exclusion

debt settlementBankruptcy and Debt Exclusion

What is debt exclusion from bankruptcy? A bankruptcy or proposal will get rid of most of your debts, but not necessary all of them. This is because certain debts are secured to your assets. The most common being a mortgage on your home or a loan on your car. If you want to keep the house or car, you must continue to pay the debt secured to the asset. In addition, other debts listed in Section 178 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act specifically exclude certain debts from being included in bankruptcy as a matter of public policy.

These debts include spousal support, child support, debts originating in fraud, debts incurred while acting in a fiduciary capacity. These also include debts resulting from an assault, fines and penalties awarded by a court (income tax, traffic and criminal). Finally, student loans are not included in your bankruptcy unless you have not been a student for seven years. However, in cases of severe hardship, a court can reduce the seven year limit to five years.

Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.  

You Need a Good Credit Score

Why do you need a good credit score?

You have decided to buy a house (mortgage), buy a car (car loan) or go into business Can I keep my credit cards if I go Bankrupt?(operating line of credit to finance inventory, accounts receivable, etc.). You go to your bank and they look at your credit score. The credit score is a number (from 300 to 850) that is based on a number of factors such as your payment history (35% of total), how much of your available credit have you already used (30% of the total), what type of credit you have and how long have you had the credit, as well as how many creditors that you have in total.

Before you start the loan application for that big purchase, consider ordering a copy of your credit report yourself. They are available free by regular mail from both Equifax Canada and Trans Union of Canada. Read the report carefully so that you know what the bank will be looking at. If you spot a mistake, notify the credit bureau immediately to correct their report. The notification is by filling out the Consumer Update Form that the credit bureau will send you with your credit report. It is always advisable to attach any proof or documents that you might have to prove what you are saying is correct. Unless the error is self-evident, please allow time for the credit bureau to investigate your report of the error and correct their records. Always ask the credit bureau to confirm to you that they have updated your credit report.

Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation formTo learn more please visit our YouTube  Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.

 

Can I buy a car while I am Bankrupt?

Can I Buy a Car While I am Bankrupt?Car

There is nothing that prevents you from buying a car while you are bankrupt. If you are financing the purchase of a car, you must disclose that you are an undischarged bankrupt. This is the period between the date you filed the assignment in bankruptcy and the date that you are discharge from the bankruptcy process.

Even if you do not disclose this, the company financing the car will find out when they get a credit report on you. Now you have lost credibility which may result in a higher interest rate due to the risk factor or they will cut back on the amount they are willing to loan you. You might have to settle for a less expensive car that does not require a lot of financing. In Ontario, a vehicle is exempt up to a value of $6,600. If the vehicle is required as a “Tool of Trade”, the required exemption is increased to $11,300.

It would be wise to discuss your budget with your Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT) at the start of your bankruptcy as the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Directive 11 R2) may result in you having to pay part of your income to your creditors. If someone in your family is giving you the money for the car, they should register a lien on the car for the amount of the money that they are giving you. This will make sure there is no equity that will accrue to your creditors. In the same thought, someone may give you a car while you are bankrupt in order to help you. You do not want your trustee to consider this as an asset for your creditors.

Consider the options:

1. Lease the car in their name and add your name to the insurance. Consider increasing the insurance to give the family members maximum protection.

2. If the vehicle is transferred into your name, the donor could put a lien on it for the value of the car.

There are always options for you to consider. Please discuss them with your trustee.

 

Contact “Rumanek & Company Ltd” for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.