Foreclosure help, Tampa  Bankruptcy Lawyer.
Attorneys and Debt Counselors
Tampa, Bankruptcy Attorneys
3019 West Azeele Street
Tampa, Florida 33609

Phone: 813-876-3328
Fax: 813-876-3306
E-mail: pdc@bkrptlaw.com
© 2008 - 2009 Attorneys and Debt Counselors, P.A. All rights reserved
This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the
formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Persons accessing this site are encouraged to seek independent counsel for advice regarding their individual
legal issues. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you
free written information about our qualifications.
(813) 876.3328
According to RealtyTrac, U.S. Home foreclosures increased 112 percent between the first quarters of 2007 and 2008.
The Tampa Bay region is one of the hardest hit areas in Florida and the rest of the country. Obviously, foreclosure help
in Tampa, FL is desperately needed, but many nervous homeowners are not sure where to turn or who to trust. In
addition, a lot of people facing foreclosure in Tampa, FL may not realize that a bankruptcy attorney can help them avoid
foreclosure.
How can you receive foreclosure help by filing bankruptcy? Through
something called an “automatic stay.” An automatic stay is issued
when you file a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The automatic
stay gives you protection against your creditors until the bankruptcy
court has time to consider everyone’s rights in the case. As long as
the automatic stay is in place, your creditors—including your
mortgage lender—cannot take action against you. During an
automatic stay, you will be protected from
collection calls,
repossession, and foreclosure.

The foreclosure help you receive from an automatic stay may be
limited. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, the automatic stay expires
when your debts are discharged. This may only take a couple
months, and then your mortgage lender would be allowed to continue
with the foreclosure of your home.
However, with a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the automatic stay remains in effect for the life of your Chapter 13 repayment
plan, which could be up to 5 years. As long as you make payments as agreed in the Chapter 13 plan, you can stay in
your home and avoid foreclosure. After you are finished making the payments in your Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan, you
should be able to keep your home as long as you continue to make mortgage payments.

One final note: do not seek
foreclosure help from bankruptcy scam operators. In the Tampa, FL area, you may have
seen advertisements targeting people who are having trouble paying their mortgages. Sometimes calling themselves
a “foreclosure service” or “mortgage consultant,” these scams will ask you to pay your mortgage payments directly to
them. They may also ask for the deed to your home. Meanwhile, the scam operator will file a bankruptcy in your name,
usually without your knowledge. During the brief time that the fraudulent bankruptcy case stops foreclosure of your
home, the bankruptcy scam pockets your money and leaves. This means you could lose your home and the money
you paid to the scam, in addition to having a bankruptcy on your record.

If you need foreclosure help in the Tampa, FL area, contact a Tampa bankruptcy lawyer for assistance. Attorneys and
Debt Counselors offers a free initial consultation to anyone considering bankruptcy in the Tampa Bay area, including
homeowners who may use bankruptcy as a way to help them avoid foreclosure. Please contact us at (813) 876-3328
or e-mail pdc@bkrptlaw.com for more information.
Experienced and Affordable, Personal Service.