What to expect.

I believe in relationships, not barriers.   Calls ring to my personal cell phone and be answered by me if I am available.  Your emails come to me, not my staff.   Of course, you will be introduced to my staff and have their contact information.  My staff are not gate keepers, they are key members of our team.

First meeting.
You will be greeted and asked to fill out some basic information. I only ask for very minimal information in order to check for any conflicts. I respect your privacy and your information will not be shared. You will meet with me directly. We will discuss your unique situation and I will ask a number of questions that relate to bankruptcy and other matters. We will discuss your options and answers to any  questions  you may have. Your appointment will not be limited to 15 minutes, nor will you be charged if your appointment goes beyond 15 minutes. Again, the goal of our meeting is simply to inform you of all your options and answer your questions so you are comfortable with however you choose to proceed. It is not possible to put an arbitrary time limit on this process as so many other attorneys do. By the end of your appointment you should know and understand your options.

Choosing to file a bankruptcy.
If you choose to file bankruptcy you will proceed with an attorney. Many firms give you a huge package of forms and send you off on your own to assemble the information. I feel this is my job. You will sit face to face with me, not by yourself and not with support staff. I simply do not believe a bankruptcy can be done properly with a full discussion of the details with a bankruptcy attorney. I will fill out the information and answer questions. You will be given a list of items that will need to be provided and information on where to obtain the mandatory credit consultation. Once you provide the required information, the official forms will be prepared. You are not required to pay anything to begin this process.

Appointment to sign the bankruptcy papers.
Once all of the official forms are completed, we will schedule an appointment to sign your papers. Again, you will meet with me. The papers will be reviewed with you, explained to you, any additional questions answered and finally the papers will be signed. It is at this point when all attorney fees must be paid in full. I cannot file your case until all fees are paid or I would be one of your creditors.


Post-bankruptcy filing.
After you file, the court will send notice to all of your creditors informing them that you filed and telling them they may not contact you trying to collect debts. I will send you a letter outlining the remainder of the process. You will receive a notice generally about 10 days after you file. The notice will come from the court. The notice will tell you the date and time of a mandatory meeting. I will be with you and will review the questions that will be asked before the meeting. You will not be alone. I will also be there after the meeting to answer any questions.

After the meeting of creditors.
After the meeting (or before) you will need to attend the mandatory credit education. You will be given instructions on how to get this done. Your case will then stay open for approximately 90 days after the meeting in order to allow certain time limits to run. During that time, we will work on any reaffirmation agreements for your house or car if necessary. Finally, you will be issued a discharge, which is the court order eliminating most of your debts.