Before You Pawn Grandpa’s Gun: Bankruptcy Options in Western Pennsylvania

In Western Pennsylvania, gun ownership is part of family tradition. From the Appalachian foothills to the forests of the northern tier, generations have passed down not just hunting stories, but the firearms that carry them. 

Part of the tradition is having and owning firearms suitable for the hunt. Some families have shotguns and rifles from their fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers. In many cases guns are family heirlooms, with great emotional and sentimental value. Imagine how difficult it must be to part with such treasured items.

When Debt Pushes Families to Pawn Family Heirlooms

Nevertheless, it is not uncommon to walk into a pawnshop in the greater Pittsburgh area and see a wall filled with firearms. Pawning items of value, often with sentimental value worth far more than any price tag attached, is an unfortunate option that many turn to in a time of debt crisis. Turning to a pawnshop to meet short term financial needs is more of a symptom than a solution – a symptom of spiraling debt and the accompanying anxieties.

If you or someone you know are looking to pawnshops for fast cash to pay bills, especially credit card debt, it is likely time to consider other options. Job loss, medical problems, exploitive high-interest credit cards and a myriad of other outside forces beyond our control can put us at the wrong end of the balance sheet. There are better and less emotionally painful ways to address debt issues than pawning Great Grandfather’s 12 gauge shotgun or the Winchester rifle your father passed on to you.

Bankruptcy May Be a Better Option Than Selling What Matters Most

One option to be considered is personal bankruptcy.Depending on your situation, bankruptcy can eliminate certain types of debt or restructure repayment into something more manageable. For many individuals, it provides a meaningful financial reset and a clear path forward.. It can take years to pay down credit cards while barely keeping up with the interest charges. People coming out of bankruptcy can generally improve their credit scores within a year or two to a point where home ownership is back on the table and sleepless nights due to debt anxiety are a thing of the past.

Depending on your situation:

• Chapter 7 bankruptcy may eliminate qualifying unsecured debts such as credit card balances and medical bills.
  
• Chapter 13 bankruptcy may allow you to reorganize debt into a structured repayment plan.

A Financial Reset — Not a Financial Failure

Bad debt happens to good people. Layoffs, credit card debt, and home foreclosures are at all time highs. Debt beyond your ability to pay it off is not a failure. It is merely a situation that needs to be addressed with the right tools. Federal bankruptcy laws are designed to do just that. Bankruptcy law is a tool to fix debt issues and provide fresh starts.

Our system doesn’t work if we allow people to languish in debt, perpetually live off public assistance, and lock them into lower standards of living. Our system works best when we lift people up, give them a fresh start, and put them on a path of self sufficiency and being a contributing member of communities.

Debt Relief in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania

At Van Horn Law Group, we work with individuals and families throughout Western Pennsylvania who are facing:

• Credit card debt
• Medical bills
• Wage garnishment
• Foreclosure concerns
• Lawsuits from creditors
• Overwhelming unsecured debt

Every financial situation is different. That’s why we offer a free, confidential consultation to help you understand your options under federal bankruptcy law.

You may have more choices than you realize.

Before you pawn Grandpa’s gun, talk to an experienced bankruptcy attorney about whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy could help you protect your assets and move forward with confidence.

Contact Van Horn Law Group today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward a fresh financial start.