Facing Foreclosure In Pennsylvania? Skilled Legal Help Is Available.
When money issues arise, they can quickly jeopardize everything you’ve worked so hard for, including your home. Foreclosure is often the result of overwhelming debt issues, and many Pennsylvanians who file for bankruptcy are already facing the threat of foreclosure.
Thankfully, help is available when you contact The Law Offices of Everett Cook, P.C. Attorney Cook has more than two decades of experience assisting clients with bankruptcy and a wide variety of other issues related to debt. As your lawyer, he can protect your rights and help you exercise your options for addressing debt and keeping your home.
Halting Foreclosure Proceedings Through Bankruptcy
Whether you file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, the court immediately issues what’s known as an automatic stay. This powerful mandate halts all creditor collection activities and stops foreclosure proceedings. Although the automatic stay is a temporary measure, it can provide the time and stress relief necessary to come up with a long-term solution that allows you to address your debt and foreclosure concerns.
Limited Foreclosure Prevention Options Under Chapter 7
Although Chapter 7 is a relatively fast way to achieve debt relief, it affords few options for preventing foreclosure. A home is a secured (collateralized) debt, and delinquent mortgage payments are nondischargeable.
At the very least, the automatic stay will allow you to delay foreclosure and stay in your home longer. But you can also use this time to come up with a plan to become current on your mortgage payments and formalize that agreement with your lender. By discharging other debts, you may free up funds to satisfy mortgage arrears.
Chapter 13 Is More Effective At Preventing Foreclosure
Because Chapter 13 focuses on reorganizing and repaying debts, it can be used much more effectively to keep you in your home. When you create a repayment plan with attorney Cook, you can include a proposal for catching up on your late mortgage payments. This agreement can be formalized with the lender, and Mr. Cook can carefully review all documents (from both you and the lender) to ensure that all information is accurate and that your rights and interests are protected.
Other Foreclosure Defense Options Outside Of Bankruptcy
The 2008 housing crash and financial crisis revealed just how disorganized and punitive the mortgage lending industry can be. Major lenders were foreclosing homes and kicking out owners due to lost paperwork and other errors made by the lenders themselves. If you believe your foreclosure is a mistake or that your lender is engaging in misrepresentation or fraud, attorney Cook can help you pursue relief through litigation.
If there were no legal issues like those mentioned above, Mr. Cook may nonetheless be able to help you avoid foreclosure by negotiating a mortgage modification or proposing a forbearance agreement. A short sale is also possible as an option of last resort. It would mean losing your home but could help you avoid the long-term damage caused by foreclosure.
Don’t Wait To Seek Legal Help – Contact The Firm Today
With an office in Allentown, The Law Offices of Everett Cook serves clients throughout the surrounding areas of Pennsylvania. To learn how attorney Everett Cook can help you seek financial relief and potentially avoid foreclosure, contact the firm to schedule an initial consultation. Just call 610-673-0907 or reach out online.
Everett Cook is a debt relief agent. He helps people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.