One of the many reasons people file bankruptcy is to get a “discharge” of their debt. A discharge is a Court order, which states you are no longer obligated to pay the discharged debt back. Some debts cannot be discharged. For example, you cannot discharge debts for:
- Most taxes (yes, I see you’re trying to avoid the IRS)
- Child support (don’t be an idiot, pay the kids)
- Alimony (pay it now)
- Most Student loans
- Court fines and criminal restitutions; and
- Personal injury caused by driving drunk or under the influence of drugs. This can include a DUI and DWI.
Darn, don’t you wish some of this wasn’t included. Oh well, the IRS will be knocking on your door sometime soon.
The discharge only applies to debts that arose before the date you filed. If the Judge finds that you received money or property by fraud, that debt may not be discharged.
The Judge can also deny your discharge if something dishonest has been done in connection with your bankruptcy case, such as destroying or hiding property, falsifying records, lying or ignoring a Court Order.
Here’s the bottom line with this stuff. Don’t avoid paying your bills. I know that it hurts sometimes, but get out and work your tail off, pay your bills, love your family and have a great day.
This article should have given you a brief overview of bankruptcy discharges and what you can do about them. If you are someone you love is going through bankruptcy, consider finding a Sarasota bankruptcy attorney with a reputable standing and a good AV rating.
Filed under: attorney, bankruptcy, bradenton, lawyer, sarasota
