IVAs (Individual Voluntary Arrangement)

An Individual Voluntary Arrangement, or IVA, is a formal way to settle your unsecured debts. Now, to be eligible for an IVA you must be insolvent - in other words be unable to repay your debts when the repayments fall due. This is why IVAs are generally used as an alternative to bankruptcy. But unlike bankruptcy, an IVA doesn't put all your assets at risk, but equity in your property will be taken into consideration in the final year of the IVA.

An IVA is a binding agreement to repay your creditors at a rate you can afford over a certain period of time, which is usually five years. If you have at least £120 of disposable income each month, it could be a great way for you to pay off unsecured debts that have built up in a fixed timeframe with substantial debt relief.

Now, to be eligible for an IVA, you need to have at least £12,000 of unsecured debts and have at least two creditors. And it's important to remember that the IVA will show up on a public register and on your credit file.

Atlantic Financial Management will appoint your insolvency practitioner, who is licensed and regulated under insolvency law to set-up and supervise the IVA. There are many advantages of an IVA which include the peace of mind that even if one or more of your creditors vote against your IVA they are still bound by it, if the majority approve your proposal (i.e. 75% of the voting creditors by value of debts represented).

Once approved, an IVA will stop those chasing phone calls, collection letters and legal enforcement actions from your unsecured creditors. Interest is usually frozen as long as you keep up with your payments. You should be able to continue running any business you have.

Once you've completed your IVA, any remaining unsecured debts are written off. If this sounds like the right debt solution for you then find out more about starting an Atlantic IVA right here.

Important points to remember:

• An IVA is entered on a public register.
• Whilst on an IVA and for a year after completing it your credit rating will be affected - an IVA may last 5 years but the effect on your credit rating will last 6 years and potentially longer if the term of your IVA is extended.
• If your IVA fails, you may be made bankrupt and you remain liable for the balance of your debt and any Insolvency Practitioner fees and costs already incurred.
• Remember, you are not obliged to enter a debt solution with Atlantic Financial Management and you are able to cancel at any point whilst your IVA Proposal is being prepared without any financial penalty.