IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement)

An Individual Voluntary Arrangement, or IVA, is a financial agreement which legally binds both you and the entities you owe money to. Depending on how you are holding up financially, and how much you still owe on your debt, the amount of your payment may vary. The length of time you are allotted to pay the amount back can last for up to five years. After you complete the full term of payments the rest of the debt you owe is then considered to be legally settled.

An IVA is not the same thing as a debt management service. It is a formal agreement between two or more parties, namely you and your creditors. Because this is a legal document, an insolvency practitioner should be consulted. An insolvency practitioner is someone who has been licensed to establish IVAs. An insolvency practitioner can review your current financial situation and advise you as to whether an IVA is a possible solution to your debt problems.

The insolvency practitioner will interview you about your financial situation, in order to determine possible repayment figures. They will then write a proposition that outlines the terms based on the information provided during the interview. After examining the documents for accuracy, you will have to sign them. Once this is done, the courts will accept an interim order on your behalf, which will stop any creditor from pursing legal action based on your debts to them.

Your creditors will then be notified of a meeting to discuss your circumstances with the insolvency practitioner. Creditors usually handle these conferences via mail or fax – not in person. Creditors will be asked to accept or deny the terms of the proposition put forth by your insolvency practitioner. In order for your IVA to receive final approval, at least three-quarters of the creditors will have to agree to the terms.

However, this is not the end of the process and you will still require the aid of the insolvency practitioner. The practitioner will continue on with you, and monitor your payments to ensure that everything is being paid as necessary to each creditor. Many people have only paid 35% of their debt, with the remaining considered fully paid. Once you finish all of your monthly payments within the given span of time – which could be as long as five years – you will be fully relieved of all debts against you. The best part is the fact you will not lose any possessions or property.

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