Bankruptcy Assistance Programs for Native Americans

Millions of people around the country, including Native Americans, are in debt. In fact, they are in over their heads, which means they are greatly struggling to get by. They are falling behind in making the payments on the numerous loans they have, and may no longer have the income to keep up the cycle of payments each month throughout the year. Each year, many people file for bankruptcy around the country. The good news is that there are bankruptcy assistance programs for Native Americans who feel that is the best route to take.

Bankruptcy, according to the U.S. Courts, helps people who can no longer pay their debts get a fresh start. Those who declare bankruptcy get a fresh start because they are able to liquidate their assets to pay debt or to create a repayment plan that they can afford. For millions of people each year, bankruptcy may seem like the best option to take. It offers a way for people to start over and be able to do something to manage the debt that they currently have. Not being able to pay the bills each month can be an extremely stressful situation. Bankruptcy is an option that can help ease that stress so that people can get back on their feet.

There are bankruptcy assistance programs for Native Americans that can help you through every step of the procedure. These programs have been designed to help you determine if bankruptcy is the best option for you, and to help you work your way through the procedure. Here is some information to keep in mind regarding bankruptcy assistance programs for Native Americans:

• There are different types of bankruptcy to consider, including Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy where much of your property is sold in order to pay your debts. This type of bankruptcy is usually for those who have a limited income and do not have a way to pay back the debt. For example, they may have a home or vehicle they owe on that they can no longer afford. The home or car would be sold in order to pay the loan off. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, your assets are not sold. You will be able to make payments on a plan that is mandated by the courts, and you will often be able to keep all of your property. You will make payments on the debt over a specific period of time, and then you may have some debt that is discharged, which you will not have to pay back.
• Bankruptcy assistance programs for Native Americans are offered by attorneys, as well as by organizations. The programs help to make filing for bankruptcy easier. The programs help ensure that people understand the bankruptcy process, and it helps them with filing for it.
• When working with a bankruptcy assistance program you want to ensure that you are provided with the information you need to make an education decision about choosing that route. You also want to be informed of the process, the fees include, and what you will need to do in order to declare bankruptcy. A bankruptcy assistance program should be able to help you determine which chapter is the right route for you, what type of payment plan you can comfortably afford, and help you with all of the legal paperwork to complete the process.
• Bankruptcy is a legal process that must be done according to the law and through the courts. You will most likely need to attend a court date and go before a judge to declare that the information submitted is true, and that you cannot afford the debt that you have. The court process is usually very fast, where you are only before the judge for a couple of minutes, and then the process is over.

With bankruptcy being a legal procedure, it is important that everything is accurately handled. Many attorneys specialize in bankruptcy filings, and may have a bankruptcy assistance program that they offer, or that they can refer you to. For those who cannot afford to hire an attorney to work with, they may find a bankruptcy assistance program through their local Tribal Office, or by contacting the free legal aid service in their state.