If you’re like most people, you need to borrow money from a lender to buy or lease a vehicle, making monthly payments over time. When you take out a car loan, you give your lender a security interest in the vehicle. That means the car, truck or motorcycle purchase is a secured debt, and in most cases, the lender can demand the entire balance owed if you miss just one or two payments. If you are unable to immediately pay in full at that time, the lender may have the right to reclaim the vehicle in order to secure repayment of the loan. This is known as repossession.
But people facing the repossession of a financed car, truck or motorcycle have options that may allow them to keep their vehicle. At the law firm of Jeff Field & Associates, our attorneys work to help Atlanta-area clients keep their vehicles through negotiation, bankruptcy filings, and bankruptcy alternatives. We seek arrangements that let you catch up on back payments, and when this isn’t possible, we represent you in court to fight repossession.
If you have missed a payment, there is usually time for you to explore your options and take action, but it is important to move quickly. You should not ignore any notices from your lender, as a letter stating that you have missed a payment could be your only warning that repossession is coming. If your lender chooses to accelerate your loan, they may be able to recover the vehicle without a court ruling. That’s why you need to seek assistance from a skilled attorney as soon as possible to help you keep your vehicle.
In addition to making it hard for you to get to and from work, repossession negatively affects your credit score and can remain on your credit report for up to seven years from the time your auto loan became delinquent. To avoid this, our attorneys work with you and your lenders to find alternatives to repossession. We work to modify or renegotiate loans or have you consider bankruptcy or bankruptcy alternatives so that you can stop repossession or, in some cases, even foreclosure. Alternatives to bankruptcy include:
If bankruptcy makes sense for you, our attorneys will work to get a court to cancel some of your debts while allowing you to keep some of your assets. Additionally, a judge will order an automatic stay as soon as your bankruptcy case is filed, preventing your creditor from repossessing your car and giving you more time to catch up on payments. Our attorneys can guide you through the Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy process.
If you are facing the repossession of your vehicle or other property, you need the assistance of knowledgeable attorneys who will work to make things easier for you. At Jeff Field & Associates, we use a variety of legal tools to solve your legal problems. To learn more, schedule a consultation at one of our offices in the Atlanta area by calling 404-381-1278 or contacting us online.
Scottdale Jeff Field & Associates 342 North Clarendon Avenue Scottdale, GA 30079 (404) 499-2700 |
Marietta Jeff Field & Associates 2470 Windy Hill Rd SE #319A Marietta, GA 30067 (404) 499-2480 |
Douglasville Jeff Field & Associates 8657 Hospital Drive #103A Douglasville, GA 30134 (404) 499-2448 |
Gainesville Jeff Field & Associates 117 Bradford St S #7 Gainesville, GA 30501 (404) 499-2630 |
Lawrenceville Jeff Field & Associates 195 W Pike St #109 Lawrenceville, GA 30046 (404) 499-9380 |
Athens Jeff Field & Associates 2500 W Broad St #602 Athens, GA 30606 (404) 499-2767 |
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