Stockton Student Debt Relief Lawyers 

If you fail to make payments on a federal student loan for up to nine months, you are generally considered to be in default. You are deemed to be delinquent the first day after missing a payment. For those in default, you could be facing unpleasant consequences. 

What Happens If You Don't Pay Student Loans

These can include:

• Collection fees from third-party servicers added to your balance
• Wage garnishment
• Ineligibility for new federal student loans or grants
• Money withheld from your income tax refunds
• Money withheld from Social Security or other government payments
• Damage to your credit score for up to seven years
• Potential professional or vocational license suspension
• Denial of security clearances, promotions, and more for military service members or federal employees

To avoid these consequences, you should tackle your delinquency earlier rather than later. Without answers, you could wind up paying more than your original loan amount. Getting help from a knowledgeable student debt attorney at our firm can lead to finding appropriate solutions for your dilemma.

Student Loans & Bankruptcy

In general, student loan debt is not dischargeable through bankruptcy. Only in extremely limited cases could you prevail in court through what is called an “adversary proceeding” against your student loan lender who will likely challenge your case. In these situations, you must prove that repaying your debt would cause extreme hardship. This hardship could consist of a severe health condition backed up by medical testimony proving that you are physically or mentally unable to earn enough to make your payments. Other forms of hardship may include dire economic conditions that put you at a poverty level or having reached retirement while still owing a substantial amount of student loan debt. However, courts have wide discretion in deciding whether your circumstances fulfill the “hardship” criterion. 

Other Forms of Student Debt Relief

Other, more available forms of student debt relief may be pursued depending on your situation. 

These may include:

• Refinancing your existing debt.
• Consolidating multiple loans into one monthly payment to a single lender.
• Deferment of your debt for up to 36 months. This gives you a chance to straighten out your finances so that you can afford payments when they resume.
• Forbearance. This temporarily decreases or suspends your payments for up to 12 months. An example of this is the COVID-19 suspension of student loan payments by the Department of Education in 2020 extending up to September 30, 2021.

Let the Law Office of John Kyle & Gregory Smith Help You 

When unable to make your student loan payments, you should turn to a qualified attorney who can help you pursue the best possible option. Our firm can provide the guidance you need to explore your available alternatives. Our goal is to help you navigate the applicable process towards a resolution that suspends, reduces, or otherwise handles your situation. We want you to be able to move forward without the stress of delinquency and the consequences of default. With more than 30 years of experience in debt relief, we are well-equipped for the task.

Reach out to us online or at (209) 243-7560 to get experienced legal assistance from our student debt lawyer today.