Most people consider bankruptcy as a very last resort, which is what it is meant to be. You should carefully and thoughtfully approach bankruptcy with a complete understanding of all the nuances associated with the bankruptcy process. It is important that you research and understand all possible outcomes to bankruptcy. The remainder of this article is devoted to a very brief summary of the pros and cons of bankruptcy.

Although bankruptcy can seem like a magical way of dealing with your debt, the idea of actually filing can also be intimidating and confusing. Perhaps you were watching television and saw an advertisement for a Los Angeles bankruptcy attorney. You may have seen an ad online or in a newspaper or magazine, as well. Bankruptcy is beginning to look like a viable option for you. However, before you decide whether or not to file, you should educate yourself as much as possible about the process. Here are a few basic facts about bankruptcy.

There is a rumor that if one is going to file for bankruptcy they might as well make credit card purchases on high priced items in Beverly Hills or Los Angeles because the debt will all be discharged anyway. On the contrary, the Bankruptcy court is typically unsympathetic to individuals whom they believe have charged up their credit cards prior to filing for bankruptcy. Therefore, to have the Bankruptcy Court give you the benefit of the doubt, you need to discontinue using your credit cards for 90 days prior to filing your petition.

Exhausting all remedies prior to filing for bankruptcy is clearly important because bankruptcy is known as the “last resort.” Filing BK will remain on your credit report for as long as 7 years in a Chapter- and 10 years in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. Therefore, consider all other options prior to filing.