When you owe debt to creditors, you may be able to negotiate repayment terms directly with them rather than go through bankruptcy proceedings. This can often result in a better outcome for both parties since it avoids the time and expense associated with litigation. 
Here are some strategies for negotiating with creditors outside of bankruptcy procedures such as filing a bankruptcy in Birmingham or anywhere else in Alabama.
Establish Contact
The first step in any negotiation process is to establish contact with the creditor. You should be prepared to provide basic information about yourself and your financial situation, such as proof of income, current expenses, and any assets that you have available to use toward paying off your debts. Be sure to keep all communication records in case they are needed at a later date. If you need a bankruptcy lawyer in Decatur, or wherever you are, to help you with this they might be able to as well.
Identify Your Goals
Before beginning negotiations, it’s important to know what exactly it is that you want from the process. Are you looking for an extension on payments or a reduced interest rate? It’s also helpful to identify any concessions that you’re willing to make in order to come to an agreement with the creditor. For example, if you are going through a divorce then you might have your divorce lawyer in Birmingham help you with your negotiations too.
Analyze Your Options
Once you know what your goals are, it’s time to analyze your options for achieving them. Do you think that a payment plan or lump sum settlement could work best for your situation? What about requesting a lower interest rate or waiving fees associated with the debt? Knowing what is possible before beginning negotiations will help ensure that you can reach a fair agreement during the process.
Make an Offer
Once you have identified potential solutions, it’s time to make an offer. Be sure that your proposal is reasonable considering both parties’ interests and needs. If necessary, explain why this solution would be beneficial for everyone involved and provide evidence demonstrating how it could be achieved realistically.
Follow Up & Negotiate Further if Necessary
Don’t forget to follow up after making an offer and be prepared to negotiate further if necessary. The creditor may counteroffer with something different than what was originally proposed so make sure that both sides understand any changes being made before agreeing on anything concretely.
Negotiating with creditors outside of court proceedings can potentially save time and money while still allowing debtors the chance to repay their debts on more favorable terms than those dictated by courtroom proceedings alone. By establishing contact, identifying goals, analyzing one’s options, making an offer, and following up/negotiating further if necessary, individuals can increase their chances of coming out ahead in these types of negotiations without needing costly legal representation or lengthy court battles.
Attorney Steven A. Harris regularly blogs in the areas of family law, bankruptcy, probate, and real estate closings on this website. Mr. Harris tries to provide informative information to the public in easily digestible formats. Hopefully you enjoyed this article and feel free to supply feedback. We appreciate our readers & love to hear from you!