Filing for Bankruptcy in Massachusetts
Mooney McGinn LLP
Offices in Cambridge and Danvers, Massachusetts
Cambridge: 617-245-8080; Danvers: 978-767-4221
E-Mail
"Being in bankruptcy was a difficult place for me to be, but Mooney McGinn was able to make it as painless and humane as possible. I am now out of debt and working to build things back up."
We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
Mooney McGinn LLP helps with consumer bankruptcy under Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 of the federal bankruptcy code.
- The Basics of Chapter 7 & 13 Bankruptcy
- Bankruptcy Basics - Frequently Asked Questions
- Bankruptcy Top Ten Mistakes to Avoid
- Bankruptcy & Home Foreclosure
- What Information Do You Need to File for Bankruptcy?
- The Means Test
- Bankruptcy - Income Tax Relief in Bankruptcy
- Bankruptcy Basics - Attorneys' Fees
- Homestead protection
What is a Bankruptcy Discharge?
One of the reasons people file for bankruptcy is to get a "discharge." A discharge is a court order that states that you do not have to pay most of your debts. Some debts cannot be discharged. For example, you cannot discharge debts for:
- Most taxes
- Child support
- Alimony
- Most student loans
- Court fines and criminal restitutions
- Personal injury caused by drunk driving or under the influence of drugs
The discharge only applies to debts that arose before the date you filed. Further, if a judge finds that you received money by fraud, the debt will not be discharged.
You can receive a Chapter 7 discharge once every eight years. Other rules may apply if you previously received a discharge in a Chapter 13 case. No one can make you pay a debt that had been discharged, but you can voluntarily pay any debt you wish to pay. Some creditors hold a secured claim (for example, the loan company that has a lien on your car). You do not have to pay a secured claim if the debt is discharged, but the creditor can still take the property.
Contact Mooney McGinn LLP
Mooney McGinn LLP has two Massachusetts offices to serve our clients - in Danvers and in Cambridge. We offer an initial phone consultation to all new clients.
Call our attorneys in Cambridge at 617-245-8080, in Danvers at 978-767-4221, or contact us by e-mail via the Contact Us page.
