Bankruptcy in Dubbo - does it matter if it is voluntary?

When it comes to Bankruptcy Dubbo, quite often people aren't aware that there are both voluntary, and involuntary bankruptcy - both have distinct methods and rules.

Involuntary bankruptcy happens when a person you owe money to involves the court to declare you bankrupt. Normally when you get one of these particular notices, you have normally 21 days to pay all the debt. If you don't, then the creditor returns to the court and requests the court to issue a sequestration order that declares you bankrupt. A trustee is selected, and then you have 14 days to get the documents in and after that you are bankrupt.

You can object to a bankruptcy notice by going to court after the 21 days have expired and put your case forward, to prevent it going to the next level. Other than the way you became bankrupt there is in fact no distinction between Involuntary Bankruptcy and or Voluntary Bankruptcy - once you are simply declared bankrupt, they're administered to in the same way.

However, when it concerns Bankruptcy for this, the stress, torment and fear that accompanies this method is incredible. If you think you are prone to be made bankrupt by someone, get some help and act on that advice. Generally I've found it's always more effective to know what you can and can't do before you have someone bankrupt you. Once you are bankrupt, it's typically too late.

Voluntary Bankruptcy

However, when it comes to Bankruptcy, sometimes there are times that it is the most effective option. So you may want to ask yourself, 'when should I consider voluntary Bankruptcy?'.

This question is not the same for every person of course, but typically I find that one way you could work it out is to figure out just how long it will take you to pay all of your debts - if its longer than 3 years (the period you are declared bankrupt), then this may really help you make that decision, and help you to understand Bankruptcy.

Once, I had an 80 year old pensioner, who spoke to me once regarding * Bankrupcty tell me that her credit card statement calculated how long her debt would take to pay at the level she was paying off her account, and it was 35 years! Imagine 35 years for one credit card bill.

Credit rating damage can really help you think this through. If you move house and overlook to pay your $30 phone bill for 6 months more, it's very likely the phone company will default your credit file. That default will sit on your file for 5 years, so for $30 you can have your credit file very seriously damaged for that period of time - and all of this will impact how you have to approach Bankruptcy.

In many ways, the ease with which companies/credit providers can default your credit file is vicious. The punishment doesn't seem to match the crime in my book. So if you already have defaults on your credit report for 5 years, bear in mind that bankruptcy is on your credit file for a total 7 years then its rubbed out completely.

So if your credit rating is a big detail in trying to decide whether to participate in a Debt Agreement or Personal Insolvency Agreement or Bankruptcy remember they will all sit on your credit file for a total of 7 years. The biggest variation is that with a DA or PIA you repay the money and nevertheless have it on your file for 7 years.

Bankruptcy

I have stated the word a few times now, but when it comes down to it, Bankruptcy is the biggest part, and the part more people are afraid of when they come to me to discuss their financial situation and Bankruptcy. The other side of crime and punishment equation is bankruptcy, and in this specific country the arrangements are very generous: you can go bankrupt owing millions of dollars and after 3 years it's all finished with no strings attached. Compared to countries like the United States, our bankruptcy laws are extremely generous.

I don't claim to know why that is but a couple of hundred years ago debtors went to prison. Nowadays I suppose the government feels the sooner it can get you back on your feet working and paying tax, the better. It makes more sense than locking you up which in turn costs the taxpayer anyway.

Bankruptcy wipes all your debts including ATO debts with the exception of a few things:

·         Centrelink Debts, Court Fines like parking and speeding fines.

·         HECS or Fee Help loans.

·         Money to take care of a car accident if the car was not insured.

There is far more that can be said about doing this and Bankruptcy in general but the objective of this blog was to help you decide between a few readily available options. When getting some advice, don't forget that there are always alternatives when it comes to Bankruptcy in Dubbo, so do some study, and Good luck!

If you want to find out more about precisely what to do, where to turn and what questions to ask about Bankruptcy, then feel free to get in touch with Bankruptcy Experts Dubbo on 1300 795 575, or visit our website: bankruptcyexpertsDubbo.com.au.