Phoenix Repossession Attorney
When a financial disaster results in the possibility of vehicle or property
repossession, it can be one of the most frustrating circumstances to experience.
Even when you try your hardest to get on top of your financial situation,
you may just sink faster into a negative financial state. If your creditors
have warned you of potential repossession or have repossessed your property,
you must take immediate action and discuss your case with our
Phoenix bankruptcy lawyer at Leonard V. Sominsky, ESQ., PC.
When Can Repossession Take Place?
If you are concerned that your missed payments and debt may result in repossession,
you should not wait until it is too late to take action. The process of
repossession takes place when a secured debt is not being paid and the
lender obtains a court order. In most cases, you can default on your loan
by missing just one payment, which means that the creditor is entitled
to take back the goods.
A loan can be considered defaulted in any of the following cases:
- Insolvency, or failure to meet financial obligations
- Sale of the collateral
- Damage to or destruction of the collateral that significantly devalues it
- Lack of insurance that creditor requires
What Can a Creditor Repossess?
Creditors are strictly regulated regarding what they can and cannot take
from individuals who have defaulted on a loan. For instance, a creditor
cannot repossess items that are not specifically named as collateral on
the loan that has defaulted. They also cannot repossess unsecured debt
items like purchases made on a credit card.
Property that can be repossessed includes:
- Homes
- Cars
- Property offered as collateral
- Items you rent with the option to buy
When it comes to vehicle repossessions, the creditor can repossess the
property without judicial action as long as it is performed in a peaceful
manner. The creditor is permitted to take the vehicle at any time after
it has gone into default unless the contract specifies a time period prior
to repossession.
How Can You Stop a Repossession?
While not the right option for everyone, bankruptcy can be extremely helpful
in putting a stop to creditor action. This includes repossessions. Both
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 can halt any repossessions from creditors by
putting an automatic stay into place. In a Chapter 13 filing, you may
have to continue making car or hosue payments after time, but relief from
other eliminated debts will likely free you up to do so.
Other options for stopping a repossession may include negotiating a reduction
in how much you owe in exchange for guaranteed regular payments over a
certain amount of years or paying a large lump sum and getting the rest
forgiven. You will need to work with a skilled advocate who can petition
on your behalf.
Deficiencies After Repossession
One frustrating aspect of repossession is the concept of deficiency, which
occurs when the property value is less than what you owe. In these situations,
you might still owe your creditor a "deficiency" after repossession.
This means that even when you've lost your property to pay off debts,
you still may be at the mercy of collections agencies.
One way to avoid this with a vehicle is by working with a Phoenix bankruptcy
lawyer to reduce your car payments through a 722 redemption. If you owe
more on your car than it is actually worth, this motion can allow you
to reduce the payments to only what the current market value of the vehicle
is. It also helps you stop your car from being repossessed in the first
place. Through this process, you can secure more reasonable car payments
to ensure you can keep up with the cost of your vehicle.
Talk to a Qualified Phoenix Bankruptcy Attorney
In Arizona, laws are set in place to protect both parties in the event
that repossession proceedings occur. If you are prepared to get out of
debt to avoid repossession, contact Leonard V. Sominsky, ESQ., PC for
help to take the necessary legal action to protect yourself. If you are
afraid of losing your possessions, keep in mind that you do have options.
With the care and attention we provide to each case, our Phoenix repossession
defense attorney can help you salvage your financial situation.
Ready to put a stop to the repossession of your property? Schedule a
free case evaluation
with us to get started!