Best Bankruptcy Lawyers in Vancouver, WA

From filing to discharge a Chapter 7 lasts as little as 3 months. A chapter 13 may last between 3 and 5 years. A good attorney should be able to tell you at the initial consultation how long a chapter 13 would last if you file that type of bankruptcy.

Generally, only your creditors are informed of your bankruptcy filing. Bankruptcy is a public record so the filings are available to be found. However, a person would either need to do a public bankruptcy search on PACER (and have an account) to find out about your bankruptcy. Unless you owe your employer money, they would not know about a chapter 7 bankruptcy. However, if you file chapter 13 they would likely know because the chapter 13 payments come out of your paychecks in form of a wage deduction. Federal Laws prohibit employers from discriminating against you based on a bankruptcy filing.

Yes, but there may be some timing issues. You cannot get a discharge in a chapter 7 bankruptcy case if you have filed (and received a discharge) in a prior chapter 7 that was filed within the past 8 years. However, you are able to refile a chapter 13 which may be a good way to stop garnishments, get creditors off your back, etc. even if you are not eligible for a chapter 7 due to a prior filing.

If you find yourself struggling with any type of debt and having trouble making ends meet, it makes a lot of sense to at least explore the option of bankruptcy. The best way to determine if bankruptcy is right for you is to do a little bit of research, and then meet with a local, experienced bankruptcy attorney to go over your options. Most of us offer free consultations and are happy to discuss your situation and explore options to help you get some debt relief.

In certain cases, taxes may be able to be discharged in a Washington Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The general rule is that the taxes must be due more than 3 years ago, actually filed by the debtor on time, or at least filed 2 years before the bankruptcy, and assessed more than 240 days (8 months) ago. Also, there must be no fraud or willful evasion. These rules can be tricky, so if you have tax debt is it important to seek the advice from an experienced professional to discuss your tax options in bankruptcy. Even if you are unable to discharge the taxes in full a chapter 13 may help to get the taxes paid back without further interest or penalties.