Filing bankruptcy can provide relief and ease the burden of debt so you can get back on your feet. Filing bankruptcy can stop foreclosure, repossessions, and wage garnishments and bring an end to relentless calls from creditors and debt collection agencies. Each of these benefits of bankruptcy has a tremendous impact on your financial and personal well being. Once you have determined that bankruptcy is the right choice for you, there are steps you should take to prepare for your filing.
Understand what your options are before filing bankruptcy.
There is plenty you can do to prepare for filing bankruptcy. By reading this, you’re already one step closer. Doing your homework so that you have a good understanding of the language and your options regarding filing, and finding a bankruptcy attorney who can best represent you are important first steps in helping your bankruptcy succeed. Understanding what your options are and the process ahead helps to ensure that you have a smooth path along this journey. While it’s best to have a bankruptcy attorney working for you to help you understand and make the best choices, doing research before you meet with your lawyer can give you a solid leg up in your case.
Review your financial situation.
Take some time to do a detailed review of your income and expenses. Make a list of all of your assets including property you own and your regular income. Compare this to your expenses including any tax debt, loans, medical bills, etc. This simple step can do two very important things. First, it can help you gain a more realistic sense of the magnitude of your debt. Creditors can be overbearing, and by getting your finances in order, you may discover that the amount of debt you face may not be as overwhelming as it feels. The second benefit of this step is that it can help you and your attorney determine whether filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy will be the right choice for you.
Gather documents.
When you are preparing to file for bankruptcy, you will need to gather the necessary documents that will help you, your bankruptcy attorney, and the courts determine the best course of action. This includes your credit reports, tax information, pay stubs, loan documents, and titles to any property you own. Each of these, when considered together, will help your attorney plan the best course of action and will be required by the courts in order to assist in determining your case. Your bankruptcy lawyer will provide you with list of any other documents that you need before filing your bankruptcy case. Walking into the attorney’s office for your bankruptcy consultation with these items will save time and will give your attorney the best possible idea of how to help you.
Get credit counseling.
In the State of Georgia, attending two credit counseling sessions is required in order to file for bankruptcy. One of these courses must be completed before filing, or your case cannot be filed. These courses must be taken through state approved agencies and can be completed online or over the telephone. Many online courses will allow you to print your certificate of completion immediately. This will help you get the ball rolling on your bankruptcy much faster and will save you a step or two once you meet with your bankruptcy attorney. The second session is to be completed after you file, but before your case is discharged. Both courses are meant to help you move forward from your bankruptcy with a better understanding of how to avoid overwhelming debt in the future.
Find a good bankruptcy lawyer.
Once you’ve done your research, have a solid idea of your financial standing, and a basic knowledge of what filing bankruptcy will mean for you, it’s time to find a bankruptcy attorney. A good bankruptcy attorney will walk you through the process. Finding a bankruptcy law firm such as Hall & Navarro is crucial to getting the best outcome for your case. Hall & Navarro has decades of experience helping people with bankruptcy and is dedicated to helping each individual client. It’s also important to have a lawyer on your side who will help you understand what’s happening along the way, so that you can make the most informed decisions about your future.
At Hall & Navarro it is our goal to help ease the burden of debt and get you the best possible outcome for your case. Our bankruptcy team will walk you through your bankruptcy with as little stress as possible. If you still are not sure about whether filing for bankruptcy is the right choice for you, submit a free Bankruptcy Case Evaluation or take our 60 Second Financial Check-Up Quiz then, call us and let us put our experience to work for you.
