Nondischargeable Debt
Some debts, such as debts that you incurred as a result of fraud, alimony, child support, criminal acts, wages owed to others, penalties and fines, student loans and certain taxes, and credit card use for luxury goods and services are not discharged in bankruptcy.

Taxes
In many instances, you can discharge income taxes owed to the Internal Revenue Service and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. To be discharged, taxes must be over three years old, a tax return must have been filed more than 2 years prior to filing bankruptcy and the taxes must have been assessed for over 240 days prior to filing bankruptcy. Bankruptcy provides an effective method to get out of tax debt. If your taxes are not over three years old, you may pay your tax arrears through a chapter 13 plan.

Homesteads - Save Your Home
When you file bankruptcy, the equity in your real estate and personal property is exempt up to certain values. In Massachusetts, you may elect to use either the Massachusetts exemptions or the Federal exemptions. An exemption is equity in property that you can keep even though you file bankruptcy. In Massachusetts you can file a homestead on your real estate and protect $300,000.00 of the equity in your real estate. Please call Attorney Ellis if you have detailed questions regarding the nature and dollar amount of exemptions available to you.

Lien Avoidance
Under many circumstances, when you file bankruptcy, you may file a motion with the bankruptcy court to avoid liens, attachments and executions field against your home. Attorney Ellis will draft and file the appropriate motion for you as part of the services that he renders to you when you file a bankruptcy.