Bankruptcy is sometimes viewed negatively, even though it can be a positive solution to getting out of debt. If you’re someone who would rather try anything else except bankruptcy, there are a few different options for you. If those don’t meet your needs, it’s worthwhile to talk to your attorney about bankruptcy and what it can really do for you.
There are a few main ways to avoid bankruptcy. Probably the most obvious is paying down your debts. You don’t necessarily have to pay them in full if you take time to negotiate them. Call your creditor and talk to it about the potential for settling your debts. If you have some money saved, then paying off the debt in bulk at a reduced rate might be possible. Your creditor may also lower your interest rate or payments, helping you get caught up and back on track financially.
Another thing you can consider is working with a debt-settlement agency. These programs work by gathering up all your debts and creating a single monthly payment that you need to pay. You pay the one payment to the settlement agency, who then doles out the funds to each creditor. The agency generally works with creditors to have your payments lowered. You will need a pay a fee to the agency for its help.
These are just two possibilities that you may want to consider. If these don’t seem like they could work for you, consider speaking to your attorney about options that might work better in your situation. There are multiple ways to get back in control of your finances.
Source: U.S. News: Money, “5 Ways to Avoid Filing for Bankruptcy,” accessed April 25, 2017
