Hello all, I am new to this forum, and have searched the posts and found some relevant information, but not quite what I need to know. Here is my family's background and questions:
We moved to Costa Rica last September (have not returned to US since) and had around $100K in CC and student loan debt at the time. Our last place of residence was in WV, but we have had our mail sent to a PO Box in Miami, which will expire this Sept (we do not plan to renew the PO Box, after which time we will have no US contact location). By now our debts would be significantly more due to interest payments. We have made no payments on anything since we have left.
There have been many notices sent to our post office box in Miami and many calls made to our family members, but there has been no actual contact with us since we have essentially dropped off the planet (haven't had phone access until the last few weeks even, as it takes so many months down here to get a phone hooked up). We have no assets in the US anymore. Since we do not plan on returning to the US to live, we are not concerned about our credit or liens/judgments, BUT we are concerned about any potential arrest warrants being issued.
If I understand correctly, if we were to be sued, this would be a civil matter, not criminal, and no warrant would be issued? What if we were called to a hearing and didn't show up, could a warrant be issued then? We would like to be able to visit the US occasionally to visit family, and are concerned that when crossing the border, if there are any warrants for our arrest, they could be triggered. Is there any legitimacy in this?
We are willing to file chp 7 bankruptcy and would do so ourselves if need be, but if not necessary, we would prefer to just ignore the whole deal and avoid the stress and hassle of this matter (especially since we have two small children we would have to take back to the US with us to deal with the 341, etc), not to mention the expense, and we are trying to live VERY simply/inexpensively (we moved down here with the intention of attaining self sufficiency and producing most if not all of what we need, ie avoiding the need for much money). If we did file, would we need to file out of WV? Would we be able to submit everything online or by fax, and then just show up for the 341, or would we have to be in the US for more than that?
Also, what about the potential changing of the US laws; if things get bad enough that stricter laws are passed on debtors, would we be grandfathered under the old laws, or could warrants be issued under any potential new laws?? What is the SOL in WV for any such issues? OH, one more VERY important issue is that of obtaining residency in Costa Rica...in order to do so, we will need to have a criminal background check done. If any suits are filed against us, would this show up on a criminal background check, or is that considered totally a civil matter, non related??
Thanks so much for any help on this....I've read alot online but it is very hard to find info pertaining specifically to debtors no longer living in the US. Take care, Jamie and family
We moved to Costa Rica last September (have not returned to US since) and had around $100K in CC and student loan debt at the time. Our last place of residence was in WV, but we have had our mail sent to a PO Box in Miami, which will expire this Sept (we do not plan to renew the PO Box, after which time we will have no US contact location). By now our debts would be significantly more due to interest payments. We have made no payments on anything since we have left.
There have been many notices sent to our post office box in Miami and many calls made to our family members, but there has been no actual contact with us since we have essentially dropped off the planet (haven't had phone access until the last few weeks even, as it takes so many months down here to get a phone hooked up). We have no assets in the US anymore. Since we do not plan on returning to the US to live, we are not concerned about our credit or liens/judgments, BUT we are concerned about any potential arrest warrants being issued.
If I understand correctly, if we were to be sued, this would be a civil matter, not criminal, and no warrant would be issued? What if we were called to a hearing and didn't show up, could a warrant be issued then? We would like to be able to visit the US occasionally to visit family, and are concerned that when crossing the border, if there are any warrants for our arrest, they could be triggered. Is there any legitimacy in this?
We are willing to file chp 7 bankruptcy and would do so ourselves if need be, but if not necessary, we would prefer to just ignore the whole deal and avoid the stress and hassle of this matter (especially since we have two small children we would have to take back to the US with us to deal with the 341, etc), not to mention the expense, and we are trying to live VERY simply/inexpensively (we moved down here with the intention of attaining self sufficiency and producing most if not all of what we need, ie avoiding the need for much money). If we did file, would we need to file out of WV? Would we be able to submit everything online or by fax, and then just show up for the 341, or would we have to be in the US for more than that?
Also, what about the potential changing of the US laws; if things get bad enough that stricter laws are passed on debtors, would we be grandfathered under the old laws, or could warrants be issued under any potential new laws?? What is the SOL in WV for any such issues? OH, one more VERY important issue is that of obtaining residency in Costa Rica...in order to do so, we will need to have a criminal background check done. If any suits are filed against us, would this show up on a criminal background check, or is that considered totally a civil matter, non related??
Thanks so much for any help on this....I've read alot online but it is very hard to find info pertaining specifically to debtors no longer living in the US. Take care, Jamie and family
which may really up our chances of qualifying.
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