You didn't mention what the young lady does for a living. IF her job (present or future) involves the need for a security clearance from the federal government, a bankruptcy could hinder her chances of employment and/or promotions.

Find the non profit community legal services in your area and get in to see them. NFCC.org is also an option for advice on bankruptcy or creating repayment plans with her creditors. Best of luck.

Find an attorney that specializes in bankruptcy. They often give free consults and then you can ask the questions to the attorney. Also find a flat rate bankruptcy attorney, meaning one fee depending on the type of bankruptcy and they do not charge by the hour.
I would not recommend a credit repair company.

Bankruptcy
 

I would probably just pay off her debt. Why wait until you die to help your loved ones. Bless them while you can see the gratitude in their eyes. Of course, I would have a serious talk with her about not doing it again.
That’s just me. 😎

Try Credit Counseling, Debt Management | InCharge Debt Solutions. Nonprofit and works with credit issuers and its clients. They will assess situation and if bankruptcy only option, it will advise. They can negotiate on your granddaughter’s behalf to lower interest and consolidate into one monthly payment based on income. Please stay away from the shady debt relief places. InCharge is much better solution than bankruptcy. Certified counselors who can also help answer questions on bankruptcy as last resort. Good luck.

Trinity Debt Management
 

She could call Trinity Debt Management at 18007939049. It’s a Christian based nonprofit credit counseling agency. They work with creditors on the clients behalf and negotiate interest rate reductions and elimination of late fees. According to their website, … participants in the program can become debt free and just 3 to 5 years.

Get different credit cards to use going forward.
She has 3 choices.
Pay it off.
Stop paying the 20k. Wait a bit and contact CC co and offer a settlement in lieu of bankruptcy. Offer 5k for total payoff. Get IN WRITING a paid in full agreement, along with requirement to report favorable to her credit report. Then move on. Do not allow any access to bank acct. Send bank check (or CC might suck out all bank acct funds available). Credit score may still be hit hard.
Third choice is bankruptcy. Stop paying on all CC since it will go away anyhow and not need to be paid. Future CC access will be easier than now because she cannot discharge any debt for 7 years.

Reality is that none of these choices are very good. Hope this helps. Hard life lessons learned in the worse way.

Homepage - Community Legal Services central Florida legal aid

If she lives elsewhere, find legal aid in her area.

She should freeze her personal credit so no new credit will be issued by anyone.

Was she one of the people saying I need to make a living wage at my job as she is buying something else on credit with out thinking of the payments she was racking up? Or was she the one driving around in the car with a 600 a month payment? Did she not have any adults around her telling her credit cards are for poor people ? Maybe she is one that screws up and waits for mommy and daddy or grandma to bail them out and all she gets out of this is " wow that was close"

RedsMom you are an angel and you have given me just the information I need. Her parents are devout Christians and they would entertain this before many other avenues.

I should not even bother with you, but NO, NO and NO. She was very young, he is 16yrs older and very handsome and he stalked her and she thought he really loved her.

I am going to assume you are one of those men who automatically blame the female, and she is finding the system agrees with you. The men get away and the female pays.

And vice versa... I have seen women bankrupt their husbands and boyfriends by overspending and in other ways.

Are you the one who didn't read the OP's post to learn that her boyfriend racked up all the debt and then skipped town and left her high and dry with the bill due?

I read the OP and that is NOT what was stated. Here it is verbatim.

"She has allowed herself and a boy friend to run up $20K in credit card debt on her cards. He has taken off and she cannot pay it off."

----1--u need a new lawyer....

2---don't opt for bankrcy

3- take control yourself, line up all the debt and start making phone calls...you can negotiate all of the debt to 50-75% of amount owed just by explaining the situation and that you will be paying off in lump sum !!

....then make you granddaughter pay you, whatever she can afford...be reasonable, peeps make mistakes in life, :crap2: