Payday loans, also commonly known as cash advances, check advances, or paycheck advances, may seem like an appealing option to those falling behind on their bills. However, when people start to rely heavily on payday loans, they can get stuck in a pattern and end up filing for bankruptcy.

What is a Payday Loan?

A payday loan described as a short-term, high-cost loan that is generally for $500 or less. These act as a cushion to your immediate cash needs and need to be paid back within two weeks or close to your payday. Since payday loans charge triple-digit annual percentage rates (APRs), they can be a burden to repay. In fact, if you're not mindful, you may end up going overboard, and these negligent payday loans may end up costing you a lot more.

Can Payday Loans Be Discharged When Filing for Bankruptcy?

Payday loans are known as “unsecured debt.” This is because they do not entail any property as collateral in case of failure to pay. Unsecured debt is eligible to be discharged when someone files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. It can also be added in the court structured repayment plan if filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Through this, the debtor is allowed to repay the loan over time at his/her convenience. Hardship provision is an option given when filing for bankruptcy. This means that the debtor can remove all or a portion of these debts, according to his personal situation. This can be decided and determined by the bankruptcy attorney based on being unable to complete the repayment plan. Sometimes, lenders will subtly include a disclaimer in your paperwork, which states that the debt cannot be foregone despite bankruptcy. However, you don't need to worry; these disclaimers have no place in the court of law. Along with unsecured loans, cash advances and payday loans can be fully discharged in a bankruptcy proceeding.

Loans That Cannot Be Discharged in Bankruptcy Proceedings

The point of declaring bankruptcy is to achieve a fresh start rather than skirting creditors with the intention of never repaying their money. To ensure this, bankruptcy courts state that any debt or loan taken within 60-90 days before filing for bankruptcy cannot be discharged.

Things to Pay Attention To

It is usual for some payday loans to be renewed automatically every month till full payment is received. Lenders might try to twist this in the bankruptcy court to show that the loan is newer than 60 days. However, in such cases, your bankruptcy attorney can make the court aware of the loan's initial date. This will help the court refer to the date you obtained the loan and rule in your favor. In case a lender has a post-dated check for an amount that is out of your current budget, make a quick trip to the bank, pay a small fee, and get payment stopped on that check. This will relieve you of additional stress in bankruptcy court. For more information, speak with an experienced bankruptcy attorney – schedule your free 1-hour consultation today: https://seanflynnlaw.com/calendar/