Re: Ask DrewDevil your legal questions
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If you declare bankruptcy what happens to your 401k?
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't know much about bankruptcy, but in general, your creditors are made to back off while you offer a reorganization plan to pay them off at a discount. My hunch is that the bk court would resist forcing you to disgorge your retirement funds, given the high taxes and penalties, but I honestly don't know.
[/ QUOTE ]
I believe that's under chapter 11 (or 13 I forget). Under chapter 7 you don't have to pay anything back. But if you have a house with large enough equity they can put your house up for sale. Then if they sell it they have to give YOU the first $7500. Then the rest goes to your creditors.
As far as 401k's go I believe if you have one and you're fully vested they can take some of it from you.
Keep in mind I'm not a lawyer but I have known people who have gone bankrupt. This is also in Tn so I don't know how much of it varies by state, if any.
|