How to Find a Bankruptcy Company
In order to file for personal bankruptcy, you will need the professional support of an experienced bankruptcy attorney. Filing for bankruptcy involves creating a bankruptcy petition to file with the bankruptcy court in your jurisdiction. The bankruptcy petition contains "schedules" that list your assets, income and your creditors. It also classifies what "class" your creditors fall into, either secured, unsecured or priority unsecured. There are many unlicensed people that will offer to fill out bankruptcy paperwork, but this is illegal, so don't allow yourself to be taken in by one of these illegal bankruptcy petition "preparers."
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Ask your friends or family members for a reference. The best legal representation can usually be found by asking other people who have been in the same predicament. Usually a bankruptcy attorney will be part of a bankruptcy firm, which is incorporated into a bankruptcy company. Ask them how well they thought the bankruptcy company represented them in their bankruptcy proceeding. Were they able to contact a bankruptcy attorney easily and were their phone calls returned promptly? What was the final outcome of their bankruptcy case? Was it discharged or dismissed? A discharge means that the case was successfully ended and all debts were discharged. A dismissal means the case was thrown out of bankruptcy court.
-
2
Call your local bankruptcy trustee for a referral. If you are not satisfied with any referrals you've received from friends or family, it is a good idea to call your bankruptcy trustee (either a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 trustee will have referrals for personal bankruptcy attorneys). The trustee can usually mail you a list of attorneys that handle cases within their jurisdiction. Call several of these bankruptcy companies and set up consultation appointments with at least three of them (most will offer a free consultation).
-
-
3
Visit your bankruptcy companies for a consultation. When visiting these bankruptcy companies, keep careful note of how you are treated and how well the bankruptcy attorney explains the procedure. If there are other people in the waiting room, ask them about their experiences with the bankruptcy firm. Don't let the attorney talk you into signing an attorney agreement until you've spoken and met with several different firms. Make your final decision about which bankruptcy company you want to represent you in bankruptcy proceedings and call them to sign an attorney agreement.
-
1
