Q: I'm behind on my mortgage payments due to being laid off. Will I lose my house if I file Chapter 7? Should I do a
Chapter 13?
A: Many factors affect the answer but it depends on how much equity you have in your house and how much you are behind.
A:
Filing for bankruptcy when you’re behind on the mortgage creates some risk better not left to the discretion of the lender. Your lender may either demand that you get caught up right away or ask the court for permission to start the foreclosure process.
It's wise to talk to an experienced bankruptcy attorney to discuss either getting caught up on payments before filing the chapter 7 or to consider a chapter 13 bankruptcy which would allow you to repay arrears over a three or five year period.
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.
