If I’m in debt of approximately $100k in student loans and am trying my best in trying to repay but not making a dent, can I file bankruptcy?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If I’m in debt of approximately $100k in student loans and am trying my best in trying to repay but not making a dent, can I file bankruptcy?
I can’t breathe. I’ve enrolled in income based programs to try to lower my payments but this is not making any dents and my loans are getting bigger and bigger.
Asked on September 15, 2014 under Bankruptcy Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
If these are government-backed or -insured student loans, then unfortunately bankruptcy will almost certainly not help you. Those types of student loans can only be discharged in bankruptcy if you can show "undue hardship." However, undue hardship is that due to paying the loans, you cannot even maintain a minimal standard of living; that is a very hard thing to show, since even living in a cramped, old apartment, eating ramen most nights, and taking public transportation instead of owning a car, *is* having a minimal standard of living. You essentially have to show that you can't afford food or a roof over your head due to the loans. Plus you have to show that this situation is likely to persist for some time--that is, that you have no reasonable prospects of getting more work or a better job. If you can't make this showing, you can't discharge the student loans in bankruptcy.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.