<prompt> Human: My mom just called me to ask how to set up a crowdfunding page and then broke down crying when I asked why. Appealing to Reddit wisdom to help them through this crisis because they are both unemployed, my dad is sick, and they have made many poor financial choices to help their kids and I desperately I want to help them.My parents took out a major equity line of credit on their home in 2008 right before the housing market collapsed to help put me and my brothers through college they had paid off the first mortgage, and then continued to draw from it when they both lost their jobs my mom was in a car accident and not fully functional for a while. The amount they owe now is roughly 500k more than the home is worth, and its a balloon payment so its due now or they lose the house in 30 days. Bank of America refused to let my parents refinance and sent them the refusal letter a week after the balloon deadline, even though theyve been dutifully making all of their payments for the past 10 years.What are their best options? What would happen if they declare bankruptcy? They live in Illinois. Should I have them speak to a lawyer, and if so how much do they charge, and how do you find one thats not trying to just prey on vulnerable people? Should I try to sign as a co-signer to see if the bank would let them refinance that way, knowing that the amount they owe is more than the worth of the home, and they might never find employment again because of their age and health? Should I try to find a wealthy benefactor to buy the debt and refinance that way? Please help... any advice would be much, much appreciated.  <response>: Do NOT sign as a cosigner!!! It sounds like they need to declare bankruptcy. 