When a person files a chapter 7 bankruptcy case, their non-exempt property (if any exists) is liquidated to pay as much money back to his/her creditors as possible. So, in a chapter 7 case the debtor could lose all or most of his/her non-exempt property.

A person filing a chapter 13 bankruptcy case usually retains his or her non-exempt property. However,  he/she is required to pay the value of the non-exempt property to his/her creditors. The determined amount is usually paid by the debtor, through the chapter 13 plan, over 3-5 years.

Don’t be alarmed, many people contemplating bankruptcy have very little or no non-exempt property. However, you should consult with a knowledgeable bankruptcy lawyer if you are thinking about filing for bankruptcy.

Long Island Bankruptcy Attorneys

As always, the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC at 516-858-2620 is here to assist you.

Please visit our Bankruptcy category to learn more about filing chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy.