This is probably the worst "Hi form a newbie" I've ever posted in any forum

[fileda13]

Hi all. Just filed Chapter 13 last Friday and found this forum.

Short story - 51 years old, self employed for the past few years, been fighting the fight for too many years and needed a new beginning. Never was late on any payments, but with no equity in the house, no retirement monies saved, $92k in CC's, $150k in co-signed school loans, I decided it was time.

341 meeting in 5 weeks.

I know how I got to this point, and I assume as with many of you the reasons are many - some controllable some not. I equate it to life. No reason to look back - just look forward.

[tobee43]

welcome to the forum fileda13!!

you will find much support and great advise on this great resource forum!!

we have an excellent group that have endured their chapter 13's well and have much to share!!

best of luck to you!

[keepsmiling]

Glad you found us- the more the merrier! Believe it or not this can be quite a merry bunch even thru all this #%!*. Between the humor, virtual hugs and the huge amount of acquired communal wisdom, this group is like being thrown a lifesaving ring.

From another self-employed person---Hang in there and fight the good fight. Keep reading here so you ensure a livable plan.

[fileda13]

Changing the life style will be difficult, and how to pay for unforeseen emergencies will be bridges I cross when I get there. My wife is not on the filing as most of the unsecured was in my name. The attorney recommended that the one joint cc and my car which she co-signed would be paid off 100% in the plan which would just leave less for everybody else. I had looked first into those debt consolidation companies but after research I backed off. Plus, there are tax ramifications to debt relief for personally discharged credit card debt that don't exist with Chapter 13 debt relief.

I don't beat myself up because this path has been a long and winding one to get to this point. Some people would probably look at me and call me stupid for the simple fact that I'm a CPA, and with my financial knowledge I should have known better. But to me that's irrelevent. I'm accountable for the parts of the reasons that got me here that I could have controlled, yet I'll never know that if I stepped back 20+ years and changed certain things that it would have prevented me from filing.

My fear is my tarnished name IF somebody falls upon the public record of my filing. That's another bridge I'll cross if/when I get to it.

[IamOld]

Fileda13 - welcome - Your good name should not suffer because of the economic poop-storm that's been let loose on us! Now, I admit to having also been a card-a-holic, but we're all in this together. WELCOME!!!!! and very very best wishes!!!

[frogger]

Welcome to the party! I'm sure that none of us planned in our life to be visiting this forum, but as they say, sh....
it happens and we'll just deal with it.

[tmkats]

Changing the life style will be difficult, and how to pay for unforeseen emergencies will be bridges I cross when I get there. My wife is not on the filing as most of the unsecured was in my name. The attorney recommended that the one joint cc and my car which she co-signed would be paid off 100% in the plan which would just leave less for everybody else. I had looked first into those debt consolidation companies but after research I backed off. Plus, there are tax ramifications to debt relief for personally discharged credit card debt that don't exist with Chapter 13 debt relief.

I don't beat myself up because this path has been a long and winding one to get to this point. Some people would probably look at me and call me stupid for the simple fact that I'm a CPA, and with my financial knowledge I should have known better. But to me that's irrelevent. I'm accountable for the parts of the reasons that got me here that I could have controlled, yet I'll never know that if I stepped back 20+ years and changed certain things that it would have prevented me from filing.

My fear is my tarnished name IF somebody falls upon the public record of my filing. That's another bridge I'll cross if/when I get to it.

I'm a CPA also and if it helps I will be filing a Ch 7 by the end of the yeaer. If people call you stuipid for filing since you are a CPA and should have known better, then I'll jump in the boat with you.

Like you said, there were various reasons that we had to go down this road, but it is what it is. And unless someone is snooping public records, no one should know unless there is a reason for them to do a check on you. There isn't anywhere that says being a CPA requires you to divulge the reason you filed. If you are a good CPA and your clients trust you, then don't worry. Life happens to the best of us.

[keepsmiling]

I know some attorneys in the same boat- including dh, who has an MBA as well. In fact, one of the atty's I spoke to said she expects more to be filing. First, those who did real estate/title work; next, the divorce attys. Apparently nobody even has $ to get divorced.

This recession has hit EVERYONE. Anyone who thinks it can't happen to them has their heads well stuck up their rears.

[df04527]

Hindsight is 20-20 and the best teacher for the future if one is willing to acknowledge it. Sounds like your headed in the right direction and with the right attitude.

[ValleYum]

Welcome fileda13!! You have landed at a GREAT forum. Although hubby and I filed a 7, the posts above just prove to me that this is truly an awesome forum for anyone finding themselves in a BK situation. Hang in there. It is what it is.

[df04527]

I have to agree with VY above. There is nothing here but empathy and passion to help others that find themselves in a similar situation. Many other forums get ugly and lose track of that passion quickly. You wont find that here and, in fact, you probably wont leave when your through it!! :>

[fileda13]

When one embarks on a journey into the unknown, any journey, it is special to have a group of people in ones corner who are experiencing (or have experienced) the same journey. Whether it be camping or cars or electronics or music, sharing ones journey with others is part of the growing process.

Obviously embarking on a C13 journey is nothing like love of music, cars, etc. It's a definite life changer and a serious one, and it seems I found a place I can come to over the next five years and share my story with others, and help others in the same situation. We all know we got here from different paths, and we all know our C13 journey is a unique one for each.

[chicagoed195]

Life happens to you regardless of whether you are a doctor, a lawyer or an Indian chief (or even a CPA). Like the rest of us in this position, we can only hope to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievments of the future!!

[lillymarlene]

Welcome fileda13. Everyone here is so right, this can happen to anyone. I'm not a CPA but at one time my family had a thriving business. Now what's left is just a shadow of what it once was. Though, I never persued a formal career in the particular field, I aced all my accounting/financial courses I had in college. I just couldn't apply what I learned to myself I guess.

Best wishes, and you've come to the right place.