Understanding Bankruptcy and Student Loans
Are you hoping to get rid of your student loans through bankruptcy? Before you make any major decisions, it is important to understand how hard that is to do. The reason it is so easy to get a student loan is because they are so hard to discharge. If they were easier to get rid of, they would be harder to get a hold of in the first place.
At the Thompson Law Firm in Chandler, Arizona, we help clients get debt relief through bankruptcy, but we understand how hard this can be for people with student loans. Attorney Christy Thompson, an experienced bankruptcy lawyer, is ready to answer your questions and help you understand your options when it comes to clearing your debts through bankruptcy.
The Difficulty in Discharging College Loans
There is an old bankruptcy test where you count the head, arms and legs of a potential bankruptcy debtor. If the number is greater than two, the debtor will not be able to discharge their student loans. While this is not the official measurement, it speaks to how difficult it is to get rid of your student loans. Put another way, without a severe disability that renders you unable to work and incapable of care for yourself independently, you will not be able to discharge your student loans.
Student loans used to be dischargeable under a number of circumstances. Today, you have to demonstrate undue hardship in order to discharge them. Whether you have federal or private loans, the standards for discharge are equally high.
Just because you cannot discharge your college loans through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy does not mean there are not ways for you to get debt relief. As a board-certified bankruptcy law specialist, experienced attorney Joseph C. McDaniel can help you understand your full range of debt settlement options
