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Bankruptcy and Divorce in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Indiana

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Bankruptcy and Divorce in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Indiana

When Divorce and Bankruptcy Over-Lap

Financial difficulties can lead to major problems in a marriage. One spouse may have accumulated an overwhelming amount of debt, including credit card debt, that the parties cannot possibly re-pay. In these situations, bankruptcy is an option to consider. At Stange Law Firm, PC, we offer caring and representation for those considering bankruptcy and divorce in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Indiana. Being burdened with debt is hard in itself. Going through a divorce simultaneously can make it tremendously worse. Our attorneys understand and will provide you with the caring, honest advice you need in this situation. Talk to a St. Louis divorce lawyer about the issues you face. You can also contact us online.

Do I File for Bankruptcy or Divorce First?

For couples who reach the point where divorce and bankruptcy both become options, their most common question is whether they should file for divorce or bankruptcy first. Often, most want to get divorced first and then deal with the debt later. However, as a general matter, we often recommend filing bankruptcy before filing for divorce and, minimally, speaking with a bankruptcy attorney first before you make the decision. Whether you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the critical thing is that you are at least not ignoring the debt issue before getting divorced. That is important for two reasons: (1) Eliminating the debt means that there is one less issue to deal with in the divorce, and (2) you may not be able to extinguish this debt later if you are ordered to pay it pursuant to a marital settlement agreement and divorce decree. There is a Missouri Court of Appeals decision known as Henderson v. Henderson, which illustrates the difficulties a party might face if they take on debt in a divorce that they cannot afford to pay — with the idea that they can later extinguish it in bankruptcy after the divorce.  We did a prior podcast on this topic as well that you can listen to as well: Divorce or bankruptcy first? Understanding the Limitations of Bankruptcy If you file bankruptcy during divorce proceedings or after, you could still end up being responsible for debts that were assigned to your ex-spouse by the family court. If your name is on a loan, that’s all that matters to most creditors. Thus, if your ex-spouse stops making payments, the creditor may come after you. This is another reason to consider filing for bankruptcy before filing for divorce. Spousal maintenance (alimony) and child support payments also cannot be eliminated in bankruptcy. While Stange Law Firm, PC, does not practice bankruptcy law, we can refer you to a bankruptcy attorney to help you assess your options. We provide the visitors of our website with information regarding divorce/separation. You can read articles about family law, view informational videos, listen to our podcast, or download our mobile application.

Schedule Your Consultation with our Multi-State Divorce Lawyers in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, or Indiana Today

To learn more about how bankruptcy affects divorce, call our firm or send us a message online to schedule an initial consultation.

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Helpful Information for Individuals Going Through a Divorce

You can also find out the following topics on our webpage by clicking below or looking at the menus:
Dissolution of Marriage
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Legal Separation
There are some instances where married parties are separated, but are unsure whether their marriage can be reconciled or may later need to be dissolved. We can help with a legal separation if thi...
Family Law
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Annulment
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Collaborative Law/Mediation
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontes
Paternity Law/Mediation
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Guardianships and conservatorships Law/Mediation
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a d
Surrogacy Agreements
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Name Change
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Orders of Protection
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Step-parent adoption
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Adoption
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Minor emancipation
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Grandparents' rights
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Appeals
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Child Support
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Child Custody
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Juvenile Matters
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Modifications
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Contempt
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
Military Divorce
Unfortunately, there are times when a marriage is irretrievably broken and a divorce is the only option. We can help with your uncontested, contested, simple or complex divorce case.
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From our webpage, you can also read articles about family law, view informational videos, seminar videos, listen to our podcast, download our mobile application, or view support calculators for MissouriIllinoisKansas, Nebraska, or Indiana.

If you are looking to find and hire a child custody lawyer, contact us online or by phone to schedule a consultation at any of our convenient locations.

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Prenuptial Agreements Line by Line

Aspatore Books from Thomson Reuters Westlaw
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Strategies For Family Law Illinois

Aspatore Books from Thomson Reuters Westlaw
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Strategies For Military Family Law

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