How To Claim Bankruptcy Without A Lawyer
Each and every year millions of struggling individuals contemplate filing for bankruptcy, yet most don’t even know where to start. They’ve heard the commercial advertisements of companies that promise to eliminate debt completely through the bankruptcy process, and they’ve probably even done a bit of research on their own. One thing that’s clear for most people is the filing doesn’t require the services of a lawyer or other financial professional. If you’ve decided to go it alone, the following article will offer some basic advice to help see you through to the other side.
Before helping you understand how to claim bankruptcy without a lawyer, it’s important to talk briefly about what bankruptcy is intended to accomplish. Despite what you may have seen on television about bankruptcy being an easy, no hassle process, filing a bankruptcy claim can be extremely stressful. Not only will you be required to expose your financial mishaps in public, you will also need to spend time collecting information related to your assets, liabilities and household income. A record of your assets will be provided to your creditors, and some of these assets may be liquidated to pay back a portion of your debt. You will also be required to pay several hundred dollars in order to file a claim.
In order to initiate a bankruptcy claim, you will need to fill out some required paperwork and submit it to the bankruptcy court. The information you provide regarding your assets, liabilities and income will be used to determine whether or not you qualify for bankruptcy protection, and if so, what type of bankruptcy is best for you. You will be required by law to enroll in a credit counseling course, which is designed to teach you the basics of managing your finances.
Ultimately, the decision to secure a lawyer for your filing is entirely up to you. Although obtaining a lawyer is completely optional, doing so will offer you several advantages including the ability to work with someone that has experience on the subject and also someone that can offer you advice regarding some of the alternatives that exist.
Posted: May 16th, 2010 under Debt Relief Programs.
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