Bankruptcy Discharge for The Second Time

old_debtBankruptcy Discharge for The Second Time

Technically, there is no limit to the number of times that you can file an Assignment in Bankruptcy.  The practical issue is that after the first bankruptcy, it gets harder to get discharged from the bankruptcy.  In a second bankruptcy, you are still entitled to an automatic discharge but the minimum period of time is increased from 9 months in a first bankruptcy to 21 months.  If you have surplus income, the minimum period until you are discharged is 36 months.  Simply stated, the second bankruptcy takes longer to finish and is more expensive than the first bankruptcy.

If there are any circumstances in the second bankruptcy that causes the trustee, a creditor or Office of the Superintendent to oppose you automatic discharge, the court will not look kindly on the fact that this is a second time bankruptcy.  This is especially true if both bankruptcies have a similar cause.  It is for this reason that your trustee (for your 2nd bankruptcy) will ask you for copies of the documents from your first bankruptcy.  Your trustee will want to be very explicit in describing the cause of your 2nd bankruptcy.  It may be a hassle for you to find your old papers, but your trustee is only trying to help you.  About two months before your discharge, your trustee is required to write a report* in which he describes what he has found during his administration of your file.  In this report, the trustee must recommend that you receive an automatic discharge or he is required to oppose your discharge which may result in an appearance in court by yourself.

* Report on the Bankrupt’s Application for Discharge is required under Section 170 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.  It is often simply called the “170 report.”

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.  

Do I have to make payments to creditors during my bankruptcy?

Do I have to make payments to creditors during my bankruptcy?creditor

The only creditor payments that you should make are for ongoing living expenses (rent, mortgage payments, heat, hydro, water, telephone, car payments, etc.)  If you have arrears, discuss with your Trustee right away. Depending on the amount, and the nature of the creditor, you may have some options.  If you are getting pressure from a collector to make payments while in bankruptcy, make sure to tell your trustee. Do not assume that you are required to pay, even if a collector claims that you are.

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.  

Parents Going Through Bankruptcy

Parents Going Through Bankruptcy

Hello, I have a few questions regarding my parents and their sudden decision to file for bankruptcy. This information came as an absolute shock to my wife and I. My dad called to let us know that he and my mother are filing for bankruptcy and he insisted that there is nothing to worry about and asked me to keep this information confidential in our family. My parents have always had an average combined income, my mother retired five years ago and my father retired two years ago. He explained that they have debt that they can no longer hide and they are unable to keep up payments. I just have difficulty believing that this is the best option for them. I want to research options and help my parents get out of this financial situation. What do you suggest I do to help my parents with their finances or what initial steps do they need to take?  Thanks for your time and advice.     MB

Dear MB,

It is always a smart idea to research options and also important to review options with your parents instead of for your parents. We usually make recommendations based on a case-by-case situation. It is important to talk to a licensed trustee in bankruptcy. There are several options to consider before filing for bankruptcy and usually a Consumer Proposal is an important option to consider. However, in order to best serve your parents, we would have to take a closer look at their tax returns, annual budget and combined debt and income to obtain a better understanding in order to give proper guidance and advice. We hope this will help you with the first few steps.

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. 

Do I have to list all my debts?

Do I have to list all my debts?Do I have to list all my debts?

Yes, it is very important to list all of your debts in a bankruptcy. Here are some reasons why:

  • Bankruptcy is a very powerful remedy, but the law which gives you protection also requires that all creditors be included. It’s a give and take.
  • Since all creditors are subject to the Stay of Proceedings, leaving some creditors out of the process (whether relatives or “just one credit card”) is granting those creditors collection privileges that are not available to the others unless they obtain court approval (using credit during bankruptcy is generally not permitted).
  • If you change your mind about that debt in the future, you may be liable to repay the entire amount.
  • The purpose of bankruptcy is to obtain a fresh start. Unless all debts are included, a fresh start is much more difficult.
  • Of course, if you feel that your circumstances warrant not including a particular debt, discuss this with your trustee.  He or she will help find a solution to your dilemma.

Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. 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.