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Will filing for bankruptcy put a hold on my eviction process from public housing

I live in public housing in Ridgefield, WA. I have a 3 day notice to pay rent or vacate the premises. If I don't on Nov. 14th they will go to court to file a lawsuit. I am 2 1/2 months behind. I can get it caught up but they are not willing to take partial payments because I have been behind on my rent in the past. I have been thinking about filing bankruptcy and now that I am facing an eviction I wonder if filing for bankruptcy will stall the eviction process? I don't know how this will work. I have a full time job but it will be difficult to come up with moving expenses when I need to pay the past due rent. Also id they are not willing to take partial payments do I still pay my current rent or should I keep it to move and let my apartment manager know that I have moving out?

Thank you for you help.

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Attorney answers (2)

Reputation Level 14
Bankruptcy will stall the process, but it could take as little as two weeks for your landlord to get the stay lifted. You need to consult a bankruptcy attorney about your specific situation to determine what to do with your rent payments.
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Reputation Level 15
Not a good idea to solve an immediate problem like eviction with a long-term process like bankruptcy. In 2005 the bankruptcy laws changed. A personal bankruptcy now requires a kind of credit counselling first. which adds to the length of the process. A bankruptcy court (federal) is not the place to seek a local injunction to prevent an eviction. Most counties in WA have a landlord-tenant rights organization that can point you in the direction of some immediate relief. I recommend you start there.
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