What Is The New Brunswick Personal Property Security Act (PPSA)?

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PPSA legislation provides a central registry for filing notices of security interests in personal property, allows both individuals and institutions to record their financial interest in personal property (cars, boats, appliances, etc.). Bankruptcy eliminates all of your unsecured debt such as credit cards, bank loans, tax debts, unpaid bills and payday loans.  However, secured debts such as vehicle loans, mortgages and home equity lines of credit are typically not included in a bankruptcy.

Guaranteed, Co-Signed and Joint Loans

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Generally, a co-signor is usually jointly and severally liable for 100% of the debt.  This means that, if there is a default, the lender will pursue the primary debtor and the co-signer at the same time and will be happy to collect their entire debt out of whomever they can recover from first.

Why Would My Trustee Oppose My Bankruptcy Discharge

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Your Trustee is required to oppose your discharge if you do not complete specific duties or tasks: complete both mandatory counselling sessions, report you monthly income to the Trustee, sessions, make all agreed upon payments, including voluntary, surplus income, and equity payments.  These are only some of the duties that you must complete.

How to Avoid Bankruptcy

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You can’t go bankrupt if you have no debt! Bankruptcy is a relief valve for people and companies who find themselves unable to cope with overwhelming debts. Bankruptcy is not necessarily the only option for resolving debts, but the availability of other options depends on individual circumstances. The sooner you identify and get assistance with your debts, the more options you have.

Advantages of Filing a Consumer Proposal vs. a Bankruptcy

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A consumer proposal can be creative and involve the sale, over time, of assets and payment of all or a portion of the equity in those assets to your creditors. This would allow you to settle your debts through a lump-sum payment instead of having to make monthly payments.

How Will A Consumer Proposal or Bankruptcy Affect My Credit Rating?

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The proposal stays on your credit file for 3 years from the date of completion. A first bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for a period of 6-7 years (depending on which Province you live in) from the date of discharge. A second bankruptcy will be reflected on the debtor’s credit report for a period of 14 years from the date of discharge.

Personal Bankruptcy in 12 Steps

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Recognize the Problem, often the most challenging step as it requires that you admit that you are having financial troubles beyond your control and need help. Contact a Licensed Insolvency Trustee, the Trustee will provide a free confidential consultation and review your financial situation and discuss your options.

Filing Your Income Tax Return After Bankruptcy

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As part of the bankruptcy process, your Licensed Insolvency Trustee is required to file your income tax return for the year of bankruptcy and any returns that came due during the calendar year prior to bankruptcy. Any tax refunds for either of these periods will come directly to your bankruptcy estate for the benefit of the unsecured creditors.

Dealing With Increasing Insolvency Rates

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There are lots of factors but, I think the greatest single contributor is the proliferation of easy credit combined with low levels of financial literacy.  High debt levels limit financial flexibility and the ability to weather and recover from financial setbacks resulting from job loss, reduced income, illness, separation/divorce, and other life events.

February 2016 – Bankruptcy & Consumer Proposal Statistics

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Canada – Personal bankruptcies were down 1% and consumer proposal filings were up 9.5% as compared to the 12-months ended February 28, 2015.

New Brunswick – Personal bankruptcies were down 3.9% and consumer proposal filings were up 19.9% as compared to the 12-months ended February 28, 2015.