Whether You Can File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Keep Your House Depends on Your State Homestead Law
Until 2020, Virginia had the worst bankruptcy homestead protection in the country. Single homeowners (Virginia has great protection for real estate owned by married couples), could protect only $5000. That was written in the Virginia Code in 1919, when $5000 would have protected almost every house in Northern Virginia.

Before Bankruptcy, There Are Two Ways Your Credit Score Tricks You
 
Are you worried about what bankruptcy will do to your credit score?
Your credit score is the tool the banks and credit card companies use to trick you into paying them, even when you can’t afford it. Think for a moment. Is your credit score more important than feeding your children?  Probably not.

Make your mortgage payment in Chapter 13
It’s easy to lose track of your mortgage payments in Chapter 13.  They don’t call you if you miss a payment.  It seems like nothing happens.
But if you slip back to three or four payments behind, they go to the judge and ask permission to foreclose you.  Even if you scramble to catch up, they tack on legal fees that you have to pay.

Success in Chapter 13: What You Need to Know
You want to be one of three consumers who succeed in Chapter 13.  As the lawyer in over a thousand successful Chapter 13 cases, I’ve collected tips for success in Chapter 13.
The Chapter 13 Trustee in Northern Virginia is Thomas Gorman

Here’s what we usually need for our second meeting
My Be Happy form asks the information the bankruptcy court needs to approve your case. So we can “be happy.”