Best Bankruptcy Lawyers Palmdale, CA

Palmdale, CA Bankruptcy FAQs

• Where do I file for bankruptcy in Palmdale, California?

  Palmdale residents may file for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California located at the San Fernando Valley Division at 21041 Burbank Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91367. You may also file at the Los Angeles Division at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on 255 East Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

• Where can I get bankruptcy forms in Palmdale, California?

  You may get your Palmdale bankruptcy forms at the official website of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, which can be accessed here: https://www.cacb.uscourts.gov/forms-overview.

• How often do Palmdale residents file for bankruptcy?

  According to data published by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, there have been 5,006 bankruptcy filings in 2023 from Los Angeles County, where Palmdale is located. Bankruptcy rates in the area have been declining these recent years, with 14,075 filings in 2020 to 8,879 filings in 2022.

• What is the most common type of bankruptcy case in Palmdale?

  In 2023, Chapter 7 is the most common type of bankruptcy filing from Los Angeles County, which has Palmdale under its jurisdiction. The second most common type of bankruptcy in the area is Chapter 13, with 988 filings in the same year. So far, there have only been 104 Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in 2023.

• Can Palmdale debtors file for bankruptcy by themselves?

  Debtors in Palmdale may file for bankruptcy by themselves, as the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California even offers an online self-representation tool for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 pro se filers, meaning those who have chosen not to enlist the services of an attorney. Despite this, however, only 7.6% of filers in Los Angeles County for 2023 were pro se cases. Petitioners are still advised to obtain legal assistance if they are able to.

• What happens to mortgages in a Palmdale Chapter 7 bankruptcy?

  Chapter 7 bankruptcy petitioners in Palmdale who have mortgages are allowed one of two options: either “reaffirm” the mortgage and keep making payments or surrender the home to the lender. In order to qualify for a reaffirmation, the petitioner must either be current on their mortgage payments, catch up on their payments within a few weeks of filing for bankruptcy, or renegotiate a loan modification or repayment agreement with the lender.

• Can mortgages be discharged in a Palmdale Chapter 13 bankruptcy?

  Those in Palmdale who have filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be able to discharge their second mortgage as unsecured debt. Apart from this, the “automatic stay” that is put into place after filing prevents most collection efforts, including the foreclosure of their property. Finally, Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows petitioners to restructure their mortgage into a three-year to five-year payment plan.