Q: What does disputed mean in bankruptcy?
I am filing bankruptcy and the forms ask whether each debt I list is disputed. What does that mean?
A:
If you believe that you do not owe the money, that you do not owe as much money as the creditor claims that you owe or if you dispute that the claim is secured, then you should check the disputed mark.
That issue would be a very simple concept for an attorney. If you are having problems with issues like that, you may not even realize that there are other issues that must be resolved. The US courts completed a study in 2011 that showed that the chance that you will not receive a discharge in a chapter 7 and that your case will be dismissed is 8 times more likely if you are unrepresented that filing a case while being represented. The numbers for chapter 13 were staggering. While 55% of attorney represented chapter 13 debtors were able to get their plan confirmed, only 0.4% of pro se chapter 13 debtors' plans were confirmed. That is 550 out of 1000 versus 4 out of 1000.
You really need to take the time to meet with an experienced bankruptcy attorney that handles chapter 7 and chapter 13 cases. Most attorneys will meet with you at no charge for the initial appointment. You can use the Justia "Find a Lawyer" link at the top of this page to search for an attorney
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
