Can You File Bankruptcy Without a Job?
Filing for bankruptcy is a difficult and often times intimidating decision to make. It is often seen as a last resort when one is too far in over their head. But what if the person is unemployed, can someone who doesn’t have a job file for bankruptcy?
Unemployment and Bankruptcy
Most people who decide to file for bankruptcy do so because of high amounts of debt that cannot be managed on their current income. However, for the unemployed, income is nonexistent yet the debt remains. Filing for bankruptcy in this situation is certainly a possibility.
Do You Qualify?
The first step is to determine if you are eligible to file for bankruptcy. Increasingly, filing for bankruptcy is an available option for those looking to find debt relief, even if they are unemployed. Although many specific details of eligibility can vary from individual cases, there are a few generalized rules to keep in mind:
- If you do not have enough steady income, you may qualify to file for bankruptcy because debt-to-income ratio is not taken into account when filing for unemployment related bankruptcy.
- If you have income that is too high to pass the means test, your situation may be classified as a special hardship case. In this case, you may have to prove that you can’t pay your debts even when getting a job.
- If the court determines you have the financial capacity to pay some of your debt, a repayment plan may be put into place and bankruptcy may not be granted.
Conclusions
The answer to whether you can file bankruptcy without steady income is yes, but it is important to understand the specifics of your situation as eligibility may depend on a number of different factors. It is best to speak with a financial professional familiar with bankruptcy to discuss your options.
If you are ready to take the steps to regain financial stability in a way that works best for your current situation, it is important to consult a debt relief attorney and review the pros and cons of bankruptcy filing and bankruptcy alternatives.
Remember, filing for bankruptcy is serious, and it is important to educate yourself on the pros and cons before you move forward with the process. Bankruptcy will have a lasting effect on your credit score and your ability to get loans from financial institutions, so it’s important to seek out the best option for you.