Ohio Bankruptcy Discharge: Debts To Wipe Out

Many Ohio families struggle to pay their debts. In some cases, filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be their best chance at getting a fresh start, free of most consumer and unsecured debt.

But the bankruptcy process is not simple. There are a number of steps a debtor must follow, and even then there are some debts that bankruptcy cannot completely eliminate. Speak with a bankruptcy lawyer for personalized legal advice.

Before You File

Under bankruptcy law, a debtor must do two things before qualifying for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection:

1. Take an approved credit counseling course, which can be done online, within the six-month period prior to filing.
2. Must pass a “means test.” Basically, you need to compare your average income for the six months before your bankruptcy filing with the median income level for the State of Ohio.

If your average income is below the state median, you automatically qualify for Chapter 7. Otherwise, you need to complete a more extensive means test that calculates your disposable income. This is how much you have available after paying necessary living expenses to repay your creditors.

If you have too much disposable income, you will not be able to file for Chapter 7. But you can still file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. “The main difference is that a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a repayment plan of the debts for a period of up to five years,” says Brian Flick, an attorney at DannLaw in Lakewood, Ohio. “Chapter 7 is a complete liquidation and discharge of the debts, at that time when the case is filed, except for what’s not dischargeable.”

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After You File

If you do qualify for Chapter 7, Ohio law allows you to “exempt” or keep many assets of your assets so you can still meet your basic personal and family needs.

Any non-exempt assets are then liquidated by a court-appointed trustee and used to pay off your creditors as much as possible. Whatever unsecured debts remain will then be discharged by the court. Once discharged, you no longer have any legal obligation to pay the debt, and the creditor cannot take further collection action.

Bankruptcy Does Not Discharge All Debts

But not all debts can be discharged. Congress has declared that debts arising from child or spousal support obligations, fines for breaking the law, many tax debts, and civil judgments arising from drunk driving can never be discharged under Chapter 7.

Other types of debts, notably federally guaranteed student loans, can only be discharged if the bankruptcy court finds it would create a significant “hardship” for the debtor. “It’s very difficult to do that,” adds Flick. “It is 100 percent case-specific.”

In addition, individual creditors may object to discharge of their debts on the grounds of fraud or deliberate misconduct on your part, such as embezzlement. You can also be refused discharge of any debts that you neglected to list on your bankruptcy filings.

Financial Management Program

Finally, before any debtor can receive a Chapter 7 discharge, they must complete an approved “financial management” program.

This is separate from the pre-filing credit counseling course mentioned above. You must file a form certifying that you completed the financial management course after you file your Chapter 7 petition but no more than 45 days after the bankruptcy court schedules a required meeting of your creditors.

Find Legal Help

If you’re thinking of filing for bankruptcy, consider reaching out to a reputable Ohio bankruptcy attorney.