"I
considered handling the case on my own, but I'm glad I didn't. Thanks,
John, for making
this scary experience easier. You're the best!"
- L.Q. - North Richland Hills, Texas
...SEE MORE COMMENTS FROM REAL CLIENTS
Bankruptcy Work Do We For You
THE
LEAST YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE WORK WE DO FOR YOU:
- We prepare and file the complex paperwork for
you.
- Bankruptcy is a maze, we we'll do the work and guide you through.
The bankruptcy system is a complex maze of codes, rules, and
procedures. The work your attorney performs is rarely done in your
presence, so it's hard for you to know exactly what happens behind the
scenes. The following is a partial list of the work involved in
representing a bankruptcy client.
BEFORE WE FILE YOUR CASE: We will
draft, check, double check, and present you with the following documents
for review and signature:
Bankruptcy Petition - This is the document that
formally begins your case.
Schedule A - This documents lists the real estate you own, any mortgages
on those properties, to whom the money is owed, the total amount still
owed, the monthly payments, the current value of the property, along
with other technical legal information.
Schedule B - This document list all tangible and
non-tangible personal property you own such as furniture, cars, checking
accounts, savings accounts, retirement accounts, business assets,
copyrights, motorcycles, and all other property.
Schedule C - This important schedule tells the
court what property you believe is yours to keep. While all
bankruptcy documents are important, mistakes on this schedule can be
particularly significant. How this schedule is prepared often separates the
mediocre bankruptcy lawyers from the best ones.
Schedule D - This is a listing of all the creditors to
whom you owe secured debts. Secured debts are debts where property
can be seized if the debt is not paid. Houses, cars, boats, and
motorcycles are commonly purchased with secured loans.
Schedule E - Here is where IRS taxes, child support
payments, property taxes, and other "priority" debts are listed.
Schedule F - This schedule lists unsecured debts such
as credit cards, signature loans, medical bills, and personal loans.
Schedule G - If you have any lease obligations or
unexpired executory contracts, they would be listed here.
Schedule H - Any and all co-debtors, co-signers,
or guarantors of your obligations are listed in this schedule.
Schedule I - This is your income statement where
you disclose your current income. For most people this is limited
to their wages, but some individuals also have investment income,
child-support income, or other sources of revenue.
Schedule J - Your expenses are listed on this
page. However, not every expense you have gets listed here.
Credit-card bills, for example, must be left off as well as many other
types of debts.
Statement of Financial Affairs (SOFA) -
Your SOFA is typically a seven to fifteen page document listing your
income for the past several years, any out-of-the-ordinary financial
transactions you've entered into, any lawsuits you've been involved in,
as well as a wide range of other information concerning your financial
life.
Creditor Mailing Matrix - This is a list of
your creditor's addresses. It also lists any other parties who are
entitled to notice in your case. This must be prepared to exact
technical specifications or the court will reject it's filing.
Means Test (Form 22) - The means test is a
complex mathematical form required by the bankruptcy code. It
serves many purposes and requires the use of the most up-to-date IRS and
Census Bureau data available to yield accurate results.
Miscellaneous - There are a variety of
other miscellaneous documents the court requires to be filed such as
credit-counseling certificates, financial management course
certificates, statement of social security number, and payment advices.
AFTER YOUR CASE IS FILED: We will
work with you on the following aspects of your case:
Creditor Meeting
- We will be representing you at your
creditor meeting. These meetings are usually short and
trouble-free, but most clients experience significant nervousness before
the meeting. This is perfectly natural. You're in a strange
environment being asked personal questions under oath by strangers.
But rest assured we will be there to protect your interests and offer a
comforting smile.
Review Reaffirmation Agreements - Some
creditors will request you enter into a reaffirmation agreement.
This agreement means the debt in question will survive the bankruptcy.
Sometimes it is wise to sign a reaffirmation agreement. Other
times doing so will hurt you significantly. We will review these
agreements and offer our opinion as to what you should do. The
final decision to sign a reaffirmation agreement, or not, will always be
yours.
Review Formal Objections - In a small
percentage of cases, a creditor will file a formal objection to your
bankruptcy. If this happens we will review the objection and give
you guidance regarding your options and how to proceed.
Court Personnel Interaction - If the
trustee, court clerk, or other court personnel have an issue that needs
to be addressed, we speak with them so you don't have to.
Creditor Interaction - Once your case is
filed creditors are no longer allowed to call you. They will begin
calling us instead. We will deal with any creditor concerns
affecting your case.
Continued Client Interaction - If any
post-filing questions arise, you may call us and we'll be happy to
answer whatever questions you have. Many issues that seem
significant and stressful at first glance can often be resolved with a
quick reassuring phone call from your attorney.
Miscellaneous - Every case is unique.
As a result, there are dozens of other small, but important tasks that
need to get performed in every case to make sure things continue going
smoothly. Rest assured your case details will receive as much
attention as they need.
Case Finalization - We
double check every case to make sure the proper orders have been issued
and your case didn't mistakenly "fall through the cracks" of the court
system. No system is perfect, and sometimes this results in the
court clerk's office failing to finalize your case. If this
happens in your case, we'll be on top of it and make sure the issue gets
resolved promptly.
