Chapter 7 attorneys work with insolvent businesses and individuals to liquidate assets in order to satisfy creditors before discharging any remaining debt. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is the most common application of the United States bankruptcy code, accounting for nearly 65% of all individual consumer bankruptcy filings each year. It involves the liquidation of assets, as opposed to debtor reorganization or debt restructuring governed by other aspects of US bankruptcy laws. Chapter 7 attorneys file for individuals or businesses in US Federal courts which for all bankruptcy in the United States, retains exclusive jurisdiction.
For individuals or businesses that have no remaining assets to liquidate, Chapter 7 can be a quicker process than other kinds of bankruptcy. Once the assets have been liquidated and the proceeds dispersed to the creditors, Chapter 7 lawyers work with courts to finalize the process and discharge the debtor. When there are no assets to liquidate and no objections by creditors or other involved parties Chapter 7 attorneys can complete the process very quickly, in a matter of months leaving both debtors and creditors to move on with their lives.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy may not be as attractive as other forms of bankruptcy for companies that wish to stay open, because it mandates that the business close unless the trustee decides to keep it open. This can be one reason for Chapter 7 attorneys who work with creditors to request the courts to force the debtor into Chapter 7. Creditors may not wish to go through the more lengthy process of debt restructuring, and may wish to simply recover what they can get right now and move on. It is possible that they will benefit from taking their losses all at once or that their investors feel best about putting the issue behind them.
Individuals who have multiple income streams or a lot of assets to lose may prefer other means of addressing their financial troubles. Yet Chapter 7 attorneys can assist them to retain some of their assets, such as their home and car. In this case there is some involvement by the states in that they each have their own lists of exemptions under Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. These exemptions can include liens, mortgages, automobile loans, student loans, child and spousal support, and debts accrued due to crimes the debtor may have committed.
Like other forms of bankruptcy, Chapter 7 is a complicated and risky process. Without a skilled and experienced Chapter 7 attorney to guide clients through the confusion and pitfalls, debtors can easily find their situation worsened rather than improved. A good Chapter 7 lawyer can avoid the dangers and carry the debtor to more stable, safer economic grounds.

