{"id":5654,"date":"2020-10-27T10:50:41","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T10:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/?p=5654"},"modified":"2023-05-05T01:24:38","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T01:24:38","slug":"six-steps-to-filing-bankruptcy-in-west-virginia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/six-steps-to-filing-bankruptcy-in-west-virginia\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Steps to Filing Bankruptcy in West Virginia"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you struggling with overwhelming debt? Filing bankruptcy in West Virginia can provide the debt relief you\u2019re looking for. Read on to learn how to <a class=\"linkilo_keyword_link  hyperlinks\" href=\"\/west-virginia-means-test-estimator\/\"  rel=\"dofollow\" title=\"file bankruptcy\" data-linkilo-keyword-link=\"linked\">file bankruptcy<\/a> in West Virginia.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-fontsize=\"34\" data-lineheight=\"41.14px\" class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"--fontSize:34; line-height: 1.21;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Choose_the_Type_of_Consumer_Bankruptcy\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Choose the Type of Consumer Bankruptcy<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662b69ac3a60e\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662b69ac3a60e\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/six-steps-to-filing-bankruptcy-in-west-virginia\/#1_Choose_the_Type_of_Consumer_Bankruptcy\" title=\"1. Choose the Type of Consumer Bankruptcy\">1. Choose the Type of Consumer Bankruptcy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/six-steps-to-filing-bankruptcy-in-west-virginia\/#2_Prepare_Your_Bankruptcy_Paperwork\" title=\"2. Prepare Your Bankruptcy Paperwork\">2. Prepare Your Bankruptcy Paperwork<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/six-steps-to-filing-bankruptcy-in-west-virginia\/#3_File_Your_Petition_to_Court\" title=\"3. File Your Petition to Court\">3. File Your Petition to Court<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/six-steps-to-filing-bankruptcy-in-west-virginia\/#4_Go_Through_the_Bankruptcy_Process\" title=\"4. Go Through the Bankruptcy Process\">4. Go Through the Bankruptcy Process<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/six-steps-to-filing-bankruptcy-in-west-virginia\/#5_Attend_the_Meeting_with_Creditors\" title=\"5. Attend the Meeting with Creditors\">5. Attend the Meeting with Creditors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/six-steps-to-filing-bankruptcy-in-west-virginia\/#6_Wait_for_your_Bankruptcy_Discharge\" title=\"6. Wait for your Bankruptcy Discharge.\">6. Wait for your Bankruptcy Discharge.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before filling out your bankruptcy petition, you should first determine which type of personal bankruptcy you\u2019re eligible to file for. There are two types of bankruptcy available to debtors like you &#8211; Chapter 7 or liquidation bankruptcy, and Chapter 13 or wage earners plan. To know whether you\u2019re qualified to file for Chapter 7 according to the bankruptcy act, you have to pass the means test.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this test, the bankruptcy court compares your monthly income and living expenses to the median income level for your household size in West Virginia. If your disposable income falls below the median, you qualify for a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/west-virginia-chapter-7-bankruptcy-attorney\/\">Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if you exceed the median income, you won\u2019t be eligible to <a class=\"linkilo_keyword_link  hyperlinks\" href=\"\/emergency-bankruptcy-west-virginia\/\"  rel=\"dofollow\" title=\"file for bankruptcy\" data-linkilo-keyword-link=\"linked\">file for bankruptcy<\/a> under Chapter 7. Instead, you can declare bankruptcy by converting your bankruptcy case to Chapter 13. If you\u2019re unsure which type of bankruptcy best fits your financial situation, consult a <\/span><b>local <a class=\"linkilo_keyword_link  hyperlinks\" href=\"\/west-virginia-bankruptcy-attorney\/\"  rel=\"dofollow\" title=\"bankruptcy attorney\" data-linkilo-keyword-link=\"linked\">bankruptcy attorney<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-fontsize=\"34\" data-lineheight=\"41.14px\" class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"--fontSize:34; line-height: 1.21;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Prepare_Your_Bankruptcy_Paperwork\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Prepare Your Bankruptcy Paperwork<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve decided to <a class=\"linkilo_keyword_link  hyperlinks\" href=\"\/emergency-bankruptcy-west-virginia\/\"  rel=\"dofollow\" title=\"file for bankruptcy\" data-linkilo-keyword-link=\"linked\">file for bankruptcy<\/a> in Chapter 7 or 13, the next thing to do is to fill out the appropriate bankruptcy forms and compile the necessary supporting documents. This includes listing all of your unsecured and secured debts along with their creditors, all of your assets and personal property, and recent financial transactions. You\u2019ll also need to disclose your average income and monthly expenses, as well as tax returns for the past two years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note that you also need to attend a credit counseling course, since your certificate of completion should be filed with your petition. If you have a property that qualifies under bankruptcy exemption, you can include a list of the exempt property so that it can be protected throughout the bankruptcy process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may seek assistance from a bankruptcy petition preparer or a <\/span><b>reliable <a class=\"linkilo_keyword_link  hyperlinks\" href=\"\/west-virginia-bankruptcy-attorney\/\"  rel=\"dofollow\" title=\"bankruptcy attorney\" data-linkilo-keyword-link=\"linked\">bankruptcy attorney<\/a><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to ensure that your bankruptcy petition is accurate and avoid delays in your processing time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-fontsize=\"34\" data-lineheight=\"41.14px\" class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"--fontSize:34; line-height: 1.21;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_File_Your_Petition_to_Court\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. File Your Petition to Court<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5656\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Bankruptcy.jpg?resize=300%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Filing Bankruptcy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Bankruptcy.jpg?resize=66%2C66&amp;ssl=1 66w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Bankruptcy.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Bankruptcy.jpg?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Bankruptcy.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Bankruptcy.jpg?fit=338%2C338&amp;ssl=1 338w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/>After you\u2019ve filled out the petition in bankruptcy, you or your attorney should file it to a West Virginia district bankruptcy court. The paperwork detailing your bankruptcy information should also be filed along with your petition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re applying for Chapter 13, you also need to include a repayment plan proposal when you filed for bankruptcy. <\/span><b>Bankruptcy attorneys<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help you come up with a payment plan that\u2019s financially feasible for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note that you need to pay the filing fees when you <a class=\"linkilo_keyword_link  hyperlinks\" href=\"\/emergency-bankruptcy-west-virginia\/\"  rel=\"dofollow\" title=\"file for bankruptcy\" data-linkilo-keyword-link=\"linked\">file for bankruptcy<\/a>. You can check online to see how much you need to pay for filing bankruptcy under Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, or for converting a case of bankruptcy from one chapter to another.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-fontsize=\"34\" data-lineheight=\"41.14px\" class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"--fontSize:34; line-height: 1.21;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Go_Through_the_Bankruptcy_Process\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Go Through the Bankruptcy Process<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After filing bankruptcy with the court, the automatic stay is put into effect. This injunction stops creditors and <a class=\"linkilo_keyword_link  hyperlinks\" href=\"\/bankruptcy-basics\/\"  rel=\"dofollow\" title=\"debt\" data-linkilo-keyword-link=\"linked\">debt<\/a> collectors from making collection calls for the duration of your bankruptcy case. The stay can also prevent repossession and foreclosure proceedings, allowing you to keep your home and car in bankruptcy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another important part of the process of bankruptcy is the bankruptcy trustee. The appointed bankruptcy trustees are in charge of reviewing your bankruptcy information and ensuring that claim holders are paid as much as possible. As such, your assigned trustee may require you to provide additional information regarding your financial situation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-fontsize=\"34\" data-lineheight=\"41.14px\" class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"--fontSize:34; line-height: 1.21;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Attend_the_Meeting_with_Creditors\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Attend the Meeting with Creditors<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About a month after the bankruptcy was filed, your trustee will schedule your 341 creditors\u2019 meeting. During the meeting, you\u2019ll need to answer questions asked by the bankruptcy trustee under oath.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creditors rarely attend the meeting. However, those who do can ask you questions and raise objections. Typically, an objection is settled through negotiations between you, the debtor, your legal counsel, and your creditors. If a resolution is not reached, a bankruptcy judge may intervene.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 data-fontsize=\"34\" data-lineheight=\"41.14px\" class=\"fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" style=\"--fontSize:34; line-height: 1.21;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Wait_for_your_Bankruptcy_Discharge\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Wait for your Bankruptcy Discharge.<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For both types of bankruptcy, a debtor education course is required to receive a discharge in bankruptcy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you filed Chapter 7, the trustee will sell your nonexempt property, distribute the proceeds to your lenders, and allow creditors two months to challenge your right to receive a bankruptcy discharge. If there are no challenges, you\u2019ll receive a notice about your dischargeable debts being eliminated in three to six months.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you declared <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/west-virginia-chapter-13-bankruptcy-lawyer\/\">bankruptcy Chapter 13<\/a><\/strong>, you need to get your plan confirmed in court and make the required monthly payments. You\u2019ll receive your discharge after completing your repayment plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/\"><b>bankruptcy attorneys<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help you pursue Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy and become debt-free. Contact us at <\/span>Thomas E. McIntire &amp; Associates, L.C.<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and schedule an appointment today!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5655,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Filing-Bankruptcy.jpg?fit=338%2C338&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5654"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5654"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5654\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6631,"href":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5654\/revisions\/6631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mcintirelaw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}