Alternatives to Bankruptcy
Understandably, many people are reluctant to file for Bankruptcy. There are many non-bankruptcy options available to you and we will be forthcoming with you if one of those options is the best fit for you. Every individual and family has a different set of circumstances, so please contact our law office to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your unique situation. Here a few options depending on your situation:
- Debt Collection and Lawsuit Defense: Sometimes a client will come to us with one debt that is giving them trouble. Usually they have received a letter demanding payment or a lawsuit has already been filed. If you have just one debt and a valid defense to the collection attempt, then you might not have to file for bankruptcy. Under these circumstances our law firm could represent you by responding to the letter you received and/or defend you in the lawsuit.
- Payment Negotiations: Another option is to negotiate with your creditors to settle the debt for lesser amount.
- Offers in Compromise: If you owe back taxes, you may qualify for an Offer in Compromise to pay a lesser amount. We can help you with Offer in Compromise process for the IRS and State.
- Debt Settlement Companies: Instead of negotiating with your creditors yourself, you could hire a debt settlement company to persuade your creditors to settle for less than what you owe. However, there are a lot of scams out there. In our experience, most people waste time and money trying this option only to find out they would have been better off filing for bankruptcy.
Ciolek, Ltd.