Personal Bankruptcy for Dummies [Paperback]

James P. Caher (Author), John M. Caher (Author)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback) | Publication Date: February 1, 2003

The number of new personal bankruptcies filed each year continue to increase. And there is no relief in sight. Bankruptcy is never a painless or easy decision, but with a little know-how, you can get through this process with a minimum of headache, heartache, and indigestion. With a clear focus towards the future, you can then begin to get your finances—and your life—back in order.

If you’re considering bankruptcy, are currently in the process of filing for bankruptcy, or on the brink of bankruptcy and looking for a way to get through debt, Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies can help you make the best decisions about your financial future.

Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies is a nuts-and-bolts toolbox, which covers both Chap7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Written by two seasoned experts on bankruptcy law, this easy-to-follow guide walks you through the bankruptcy process and explains how to rebuild your credit after filing for bankruptcy. Straightforward answers and re liable advice can help you sort out all of your possibilities, with a clear understanding of what you have to gain and what’s to lose. This carefully written guidebook will show you how to:

• Consider alternatives to bankruptcy
• Decide which type of bankruptcy is right for you
• Prevent further financial damage before filing for bankruptcy
• Defend yourself from bill collectors and the IRS
• Save your home and other important assets
• Wipe out credit card debt
• Use bankruptcy to deal with tax debts
• Repair your credit and stay out of financial trouble

Filled with expert tips and tactics for navigating the world of bankruptcy, Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies gives you the ammunition and information you need to intelligently and confidently choose your own best path and get back on your feet again.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Caher brothers are no dummies; they have clearly done their homeworkand treat anyone interested in being responsible about this significant anddifficult choice with respect (and a dash of humor where appropriate). Thisreviewer recommends the book to anyone interested in learning more aboutthe bankruptcy process." (New York Law Journal), August 12, 2003)

From the Back Cover

Learn to defend yourself from bill collectors and the IRS

Expert tips and tactics for repairing your credit and getting back on your feet

If you’re considering bankruptcy, you need straightforward answers and reliable advice. Thankfully, Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies is here to help you get your finances – and your life – back in order. It answers all your questions about filing and makes the process as painless as possible. This straight-shooting guide won’t pull punches, but it will pull you out of debt!

Praise for Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies

"Bankruptcy is never a painless or easy decision. Personal Bankruptcy For Dummies cuts through the guilt, complexity, and mystery surrounding bankruptcy to help consumers on the financial brink make the best decisions about their futures."
– Travis B. Plunkett, Legislative Director, Consumer Federation of America, Washington, D.C.

"The Cahers have written a carefully detailed guidebook of a complex legal system. They arm consumers with the information necessary to make critical economic decisions. It is a must-read for anyone in financial trouble."
– Professor Elizabeth Warren, coauthor of The Fragile Middle Class: Americans in Debt, Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (February 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764554980
• ISBN-13: 978-0764554988
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #975,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable primer for anyone considering bankruptcy, February 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Personal Bankruptcy for Dummies (Paperback)

This tome is an absolute godsend for those who are considering filing for bankruptcy yet may not know much about the process. This book covers all the bases concerning Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings. From common mistakes and misconceptions to the highly specific legalese of bankruptcy law, this book addressed nearly every one of my concerns about this complex and emotionally challenging process. I opened the front cover a bankruptcy know-nothing and set it down feeling like an attorney.

This is not a DIY guide to financial rebirth (in fact the authors highly discourage this), but more of an "Everything-You-Ever-Wanted-to-Know-About-Bankruptcy-but-Were-Afraid-to-Ask" reference. The authors do not delve into the minutia of the process. They seek to be more like tour guides, leading you through the perilous wilds of US bankruptcy law with their collective wealth of knowledge on the subject. I found more useful information in the first 10 pages of this book than I did in six hours of web-surfing.

The most superlative compliment I can bestow upon this volume is that it helped to allay my fears and crystalize my plans for my financial future.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, an understandable bankruptcy book!, August 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Personal Bankruptcy for Dummies (Paperback)

This book is clear, concise, understandable and even funny at times. The authors have done an incredible job of taking a very complicated topic and making it understandable for a lay audience. At the same time, they avoid talking down to the reader.

Personal Bankruptcy for Dummies is, first and foremost, a very useful tool for anyone even thinking about bankruptcy. It answers all the questions without preaching or browbeating. It ought to be read by every potential bankruptcy client before they meet with a lawyer.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Incredible, July 30, 2004

By 

Ahhbach - See all my reviews

This review is from: Personal Bankruptcy for Dummies (Paperback)

Very solid, down-to-earth advice, and they make you feel a little bit better about yourself.