Now that you are a client of our firm, we want to be sure that you understand the process of filing for bankruptcy. The following are things you should know about the process. If there is something you are unsure of after reading this list, please call us to ask.
- Before your case can be filed, you have to sign your petition. When you retained us, you may have signed some documents. You may come in for one or more visits after that. However, there will be a final visit when you actually sign your petition and associated papers, which are then filed.
- You must do credit counseling before we can file your case. This is a painless counseling session that you either do over the telephone or on the internet, and lasts about an hour. We will set this up for you when it is near the time for your filing.
- When creditors call, it is helpful to you if you do answer the telephone and tell them you are filing for bankruptcy. If they ask for my name and address, please give it to them. You can tell them you will be filing in a few weeks and you can also tell them what chapter you will be filing under. You need not tell them anything else. If they ask any other questions, please refer them to me.
- DO NOT make any large financial transactions without discussing them with me. This includes borrowing any money from retirement plans or from anyone, including your family or friends. Don’t buy anything other than usual family needs. Don’t buy or sell cars. Don’t have anyone give you anything. It may be all right to do some of these things, but you must talk to me about it first.
- Save all of your paycheck stubs and give them to me when you come into the office.
- Save everything you receive from your creditors, including regular bills, collection letters form your creditors, letters from outside collection agencies, and especially anything you receive from lawyers. Bring all of this in with you when you come into the office.
- If you receive a summons in a lawsuit from a creditors, do not panic. Call me and I will advise you how it will be handled. If you cannot get in touch with me for a day or two, or over a week-end, do not worry. We will have plenty of time to take care of it.
- If you have a car lease or a car loan, you have to keep making the payments if you are going to keep the car. This applies in both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.
- If you have a house, and are planning on keeping it, you have to keep making the payments on your mortgage or mortgages. This also applies in both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.
