DANGER , DANGER BEWARE OF FILING BANKRUPTCY WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY

Recently there has been an increase in the number of Debtors coming into the office asking for help.  The problems are always the same.  They filed bankruptcy without an attorney and the Chapter 7 Trustee is now threatening to take their assets or their case cannot be completed because something wasn’t done correctly.  It is very sad and in most cases completely unnecessary.  In an effort to save money, the Debtors are in fact spending far more in the value of the lost assets.    

Since 2005, a bankruptcy filing without an attorney is very difficult and full of pit falls for the unwary. Among the pits falls are the Means Test required to qualify for bankruptcy, pre-bankruptcy counseling, and analysis of exemptions, preferences, inheritance and tax issues.  And these are just for starters.

Before filing bankruptcy without an attorney, you should consider the following:

1.     Pro Se Debtors are easy prey for creditors and the Chapter 7 Trustee.  The creditors and the Chapter 7 Trustee are there to protect the interests of the creditors and the bankruptcy estate.  They are not there to help you. 

2.     Pro Se Debtors are led to believe that Bankruptcy is just a fill in the blanks process.  In fact, Bankruptcy law is very complicated area of the law. Filling in the blanks without knowing the law is a recipe for disaster.

3.     Pro Se Debtors are not going to be helped by the Chapter 7 trustee.  The bankruptcy trustee will not take responsibility for educating you.    For example, if you fail to claim an exemption or claim the wrong exemption, the trustee is not going to help you.

4.     Pro Se Debtors get into trouble because they do not understand the law as it applies to their assets.  Do you understand Joint Tenancy and Tenants in Common?  Does it affect your case?  Did you recently get divorced?  Is the trustee going to object to your settlement? Do you have past due income taxes which are eligible for discharge in bankruptcy? Are your mutual fund protected as an IRA? Do you have an exemption available to protect next year’s tax refund?  Do you have the right to an inheritance?  Did you transfer money in the last year to a family member?  How much equity do you have in your car or your home?  Is it protected? 

5.     Pro Se Debtors also get into trouble because they do not understand the extent of disclosure and filing requirements. Do you know the credit counseling and financial management requirements?  Do you know what it means when the US Trustee files a 707(b) motion? Do you know how to answer discovery requests?  Do you know what discovery is?

If you need to file bankruptcy, you should seek legal counsel.  The cost of legal counsel will be a faction of the debt you seek to discharge in the bankruptcy.  It is better in most cases for you to wait a month or two and pay for legal counsel and know your case was done right versus being one of the many cases where there are problems.  Don’t be a penny wise, but a pound foolish especially when you don’t know how many pounds it will.  I see people for a FREE 30 minute consultation at my offices located in Walnut Creek and Brentwood.   

WE ARE A DEBT RELIEF AGENCY. WE HELP PEOPLE FILE BANKRUPTCY RELIEF UNDER THE BANKRUPTCY CODE. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT PROVIDED AS LEGAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON IN MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING ASHORT SALE OR FORECLOSURE. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR OBTAINING TAX & LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING AN INDIVIDUAL SITUATION.  GRIMESBKLAW.COM   (925)939-1680

Penny Wise, Pound Foolish - Filing Bankruptcy without a Bankruptcy Attorney

When a person is experiencing financial problems and knows a Bankruptcy must be filed, it is very tempting to consider filing without an attorney.   However, before you start down the road of filing on your own and opening up a GOLD MINE for the bankruptcy trustee and your creditors, consider the following:

1.  If you miss even one exemption for which you are entitled or the timing of bankruptcy filing is not correct, all the savings you made by filing on your own are GONE.  If you do not properly exempt assets, the bankruptcy trustee WILL take your assets and sell them for the benefit of creditors.  The Trustee is not there to help or educate you!  Their job is to maximize the recovery for creditors AFTER paying themselves.  Let me tell you that this is happening every day.  I can’t even begin to tell you the number of times I have seen trustees take money from bank accounts, tax refunds, jewelry and vehicles because the Debtors did not have representation.  

2.  If you omit property either intentionally or inadvertently, the trustee can take the omitted property and sell it for the benefit of creditors or can move for a denial of discharge.

3.  If you miss or don’t include debts, either intentionally or inadvertently, the debt may be deemed nondischargeable or the court may move for dismissal.

4.  If you don’t understand the Means Test, you may not qualify for bankruptcy or may end up filing the wrong type of bankruptcy case.

5.  If you have a business and your bankruptcy case is not filed properly, you may end up losing the business or assets of the business.

6.  If you are on title to bank accounts, personal property or real property with relatives, the trustee or creditors may attempt to take the property even if you claim to have only bare legal title versus an equitable interest in the property.  Do you understand the effect of inheritance after a bankruptcy filing?

7.  If you don’t understand real property law, you may end up filing an unnecessary bankruptcy or alternatively may increase your personal and/or tax liability by completing a short sale or foreclosure prior to the bankruptcy filing.

8.  If you don’t understand tax law and own real property or have significant amounts of debt, don’t even think about filing bankruptcy on your own especially if you have assets such pensions, IRA, 401k or other assets such as annuities.  You don’t want to trade bank and credit card collectors for the IRS or State Franchise Board.  The fact that you currently do not have equity in the property is irrelevant.

In conclusion, filing bankruptcy on your own is almost always a very bad idea and ends up costing more in the long run because of assets lost or other problems with the bankruptcy case.   The above is just a few of the issues which must be addressed prior the bankruptcy filing.  Bankruptcy is very complicated area of the law and is a mine field for the unwary.   Even attorney who are general practitioners will not generally file bankruptcy cases because of the complexities involved in the filings.  If you don’t have the money to file bankruptcy at this time, you should still seek legal counsel and discuss your options.  Most bankruptcy attorneys allow payment of fees over time.  Don’t be a Penny Wise and Pound Foolish.  I see people every day for FREE 30 minute consultations at my offices located in Walnut Creek, Antioch and Brentwood.

WE ARE A DEBT RELIEF AGENCY.  WE HELP PEOPLE FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY.  THIS INFORMATION IS NOT PROVIDED AS LEGAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON IN   MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING A VOLUNTARY DEFAULT, SHORT SALE, FORECLOSURE OR BANKRUPTCY.  THIS INFORMATION IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR OBTAINING TAX & LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING AN INDIVIDUAL SITUATION. 

GRIMESBKLAW.COM(925) 939-1680 © 2011 Joan Grimes