It Can Happen to Anyone
Imagine a scenario where a single parent is desperate to get to the office to clock in. If he or she doesn’t arrive in time, they could be terminated for being late. They go over the speed limit hoping to make it in but get pulled over for going 35 in a 25 and for having a broken tail light.
Now they have another bill to pay. Bills upon bills. Bills for their son’s doctors appointments, electricity, cell phone, water, garbage, car payment, rent, storage unit, day care and more. They forget to pay, they don’t contest the ticket, life is hectic. They get another ticket. Now they have two tickets with one in collections. The collections company threatens to have their license suspended if they cannot pay everything that is due, or at least a large down payment followed by installments. And then, their license gets suspended.
They keep driving because if they don’t, they can’t get to work and daycare. They get another ticket, this time for driving with a suspended license. Driving while your license is suspended can lead to tickets exceeding $1,000. They now have little hope of getting out of this situation with an affordable payment plan through the collection company. So, what are their solutions?
How Bankruptcy Can Help You Get Your Driver’s License Back
In a chapter 13 bankruptcy, as long as each and every ticket that is holding up your license is listed, you can get your license back for less money, and in 10 days (sometimes sooner). The act of filing the bankruptcy is enough to unsuspend the license as long as your attorney gets all of the required paperwork over to the department of licensing.
If your license is suspended due to a car accident, you may be able to get your license back through Chapter 7 bankruptcy as well.
How Much Does it Cost
There are two different types of fees to file chapter 13 bankruptcy: the attorney’s fee and the filing fee. The attorney’s fee is generally set by the court, but the amount that you pay upfront is negotiable with the attorney. Once the case is filed and the case information is sent to the DOL, and the collections agencies, the chapter 13 payment plans begin 30 days after filing. The amount that you have to pay back on your tickets depends on your income, assets, and the types of tickets you have.
For someone like the person in the scenario above, her income is low, so she will likely only end up paying on tickets and attorneys fees. The amount paid on the tickets will arguably be limited to the amount of the criminal traffic fines. This person would only be responsible for paying the criminal component of the ticket for driving without a license. This results in a huge savings, and a payment plan significantly less than she could get from the collection agency.
Bankruptcy FAQs
You could save processing time by getting married first, if that’s a possibility for you, by avoiding the wait times for K1 visas to become available.
An immigrant visa is issued to foreign nationals who intend to live in the United States permanently. This type of visa grants foreign nationals the right to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis.
A nonimmigrant visa is issued to foreign nationals who intend to visit the United States temporarily. This type of visa grants foreign nationals the right to enter the United States for a specific purpose, such as tourism, study, or business, and for a limited period of time.
The processing time for a family-based US visa varies and depends on the type of visa requested, the availability of resources and staffing, and the amount of information submitted. Generally, the processing time can range from a few months to several year
The required documents vary depending on the type of visa requested, but generally include proof of relationship (such as a birth or marriage certificate), evidence of financial support, and any other applicable documents to prove eligibility.
The process for obtaining a family-based US visa involves submitting an immigrant visa petition to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and then attending an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate in the country of origin.
Potential employers, with your consent, may run a background check and be granted access to your credit report. Therefore, they will be able to see if you’ve filed a bankruptcy claim.
However, keep in mind that it is very unlikely that you will be denied a job because of your bankruptcy. There are state laws in effect to protect candidates from being discriminated against based on their financial standing.
Your current employer is not allowed to fire you, or demote you, due to bankruptcy. If they do, you are entitled to take legal action against them.
If you are currently searching for a job, it’s very unlikely that bankruptcy would prevent you from getting a position that you’re qualified for.
All government bodies are legally obligated not to deny you a job based on your filing of bankruptcy.
While private employers are not bound by this, they must provide a reason, also known as “just cause”, for why they decided not to hire you. This is to ensure no discriminatory practices are taking place.
When you file your bankruptcy through Curtis, Casteel and Palmer, we automatically enroll you in a credit rebuilding program called 720 Credit Score.
There is no ‘exact’ number of points that your credit rating will fall when you file for bankruptcy. It’s influenced by several factors such as the type of bankruptcy filed, the amount of debt cleared during your bankruptcy proceeding, and what standing your accounts and credit report was in when you filed. On average, you can expect to see a drop in your credit score between 130 and 240 points.
Bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for 7-10 years, affecting your ability to open credit card accounts and get approved for loans with favorable rates unless you take steps to rebuild.
A chapter 7 bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for 10 years and a chapter 13 for seven years. As you begin a new history of paying your bills on time, your credit score will improve. The goal of 7 steps to a 720 credit score is to get your credit score to 720 within 2 years.
It depends on how long it takes to collect all applicable documentation. The faster you get the necessary paperwork into us, the quicker we can file your case. We can usually file your case within one day after receiving all the documentation. Chapter 7’s usually take 3-4 months, while chapter 13’s usually last for 3-5 years.
The cost of our bankruptcy services will vary depending on the nature and complexity of your case. The guidelines for pricing are as follows:
- Chapter 7 bankruptcy: $700 – $2,000 (The average case is about $1,200 – $1,500)
- Business bankruptcy: $1,500+
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy: $4,000, as set by the court
Some cases are taken on a pro-bono basis based on your personal need and the complexity of your case. Start by filling out this form. A representative will reach out to discuss your options.
Yes. We only require a $100 down payment to get started for Chapter 7, $1,000 for Chapter 13, and the price for businesses vary. However, it should be noted that we can’t begin filing with the court until the full attorney fee is received.
Joshua Curtis
Robert Casteel
Steve Palmer
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer Serving Lynnwood & Snohomish County
Proudly serving the communities of Lynnwood, Edmonds, Everett, Mill Creek, Bothell, Shoreline, Brier, Mountlake Terrace, Kenmore, Woodinville, Lake Forest Park, Northgate, Seattle and all north King & Snohomish Counties.