If you’ve thinking about filing for bankruptcy, attending a consultation with a bankruptcy lawyer, such as from Chorches Bankruptcy Law, can help to ensure that you’re making the most informed decision possible about any and all debt relief options available to you at this time. To make the most out of your bankruptcy consultation experience, it can be helpful to take a little time to write down your questions and gather relevant information. That way, the bankruptcy attorney you’re meeting with can spend their time giving you feedback that is personalized to your situation and is as comprehensive as is possible.
Steps to Take Before a Bankruptcy Case Evaluation
Depending on the ins and outs of your financial situation, you may be in a position to either file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Either way, the information you’ll need to gather this point is the same, save for one major exception. If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you’ll need to make a list of all of the property and assets you own. This doesn’t need to be a tedious task (for example, you don’t need to list all the dishes in your house, only that you own dishes). However, it is an important one, especially if you own any property of significant value. Listing your property will help your attorney determine whether filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy will be a good idea for your family or whether doing so could lead the trustee assigned to your case to sell any of your property that is particularly valuable.
Save for that one exception, all of the information you’ll want to gather pre-consultation is the same, regardless of which bankruptcy “chapter” you’re planning on filing. You’ll want to start by going online and pulling a free copy of your credit report. Next, you’ll want to gather your most recent tax return and recent paystubs and benefits statements to give your attorney a strong sense of what kind of income your household benefits from. Finally, you’ll want to pull your recent bank statements. After all your documentation is gathered, take a few minutes to write down any questions you may have so that you can reference your concerns easily during your consultation. Doing so will help you avoid spending any of your consultation time lost in thought, wondering what it was that you wanted to ask.
Legal Assistance Is Available
If you have not yet scheduled a consultation with an experienced lawyer, please do so now. Attending a consultation will not commit you to file for bankruptcy or to take any other form of action. The decision to act on the options available is always up to you. Attending a consultation simply allows a lawyer the opportunity to evaluate your case, answer your questions, and to objectively assess each of your options in turn per your unique financial circumstances. Struggling with debt can be a truly overwhelming reality to grapple with. You don’t have to do it alone. Speaking with an experienced bankruptcy attorney can help. Call today to schedule a consultation.