If you’ve fallen behind on your monthly car payments, your lender likely has the legal right to repossess your vehicle. From your lender’s perspective taking action may make sense. If your creditor doesn’t think that you can make timely payments, the value of the car may be the only thing standing between him and a bad debt.
From your perspective, of course, losing your car is the last thing you need. If you’re like most Texans, your car isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. To get to work in the morning, go home at night, or to buy groceries on the weekend, you must have your car. Losing access to your car – even temporarily – may cost you thousands of dollars in lost time, lost wages, and lost opportunity.
To tap the brakes on your car’s repossession, exercising your state rights and remedies may be required. To repossess your car, your creditor must have an attached, enforceable security interest in your car. If the creditor has fallen short in executing the necessary steps for an attached, enforceable security interest, you may be able to keep your car. Additionally, your creditor cannot breach the peace in the act of repossession. So, there may be practical limits on his repossession efforts, too.
To slam the brakes on your car’s repossession, filing for personal bankruptcy may be necessary. The Bankruptcy Code’s automatic stay and other powerful provisions may give you the ability to retain your car. By filing a Chapter 13 plan, you may be able to restructure your note, reducing the size of your monthly payments, and moving toward a more acceptable debt structure.
Need to find out more information about how to manage your creditors expectations and, if necessary, protect your legal rights and interests? The attorneys at the law firm of Fears Nachawati are prepared to help you do just that. With years of experience, we’re prepared to give you the advice you need to navigate the challenges you face.
