Steps to Take When Filing For Bankruptcy
It can be difficult to come to terms with the fact that you need to file for bankruptcy. Once you have made the decision, however, you will need to be aware of the steps you’ll need to take. Knowing these steps can greatly benefit you and help you stay organized in the process.
Bankruptcy Filing Process
Step 1: Get a Bankruptcy Attorney
Getting a lawyer that specializes in bankruptcy can make the process much easier for you. If you are looking for a bankruptcy attorney in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area, consider consulting Clark and Washington. We offer a free consultation and will also request your tax records, obtain your credit report, attend your court hearings, and file all the necessary paperwork for you.
Step 2: Gather All Your Financial Information
It will be important to have all your financial information together in one place. This will probably take some time, but collecting this information will help things go more smoothly for you. Here is some of the information you’ll need:
- A list of debts that you owe
- Any type of income (except for Social Security) you have received in the last six months or will receive
- All your assets and property
- A list of monthly living expenses
Your bankruptcy attorney can help you gather this information and will let you know of any additional information that may be required.
Step 3: Receive Credit Counseling
Once you have all your financial information collected, you’re going to want to receive credit counseling. This is not optional, and in order to finalize your bankruptcy, you must complete it six months before you formally file for bankruptcy. Mandatory credit counseling must be done with an agency that has been approved by the United States Trustee’s Office. If you don’t get credit counseling, your bankruptcy case will be dismissed in court.
Step 4: Go To Your Creditors’ Meeting
The court will inform you of when your creditors’ meeting will be held. During this meeting (also known as a “341” meeting) you will have to answer questions about your finances. You are required to attend this meeting and if you are married, your spouse will have to attend as well.
Step 5: Take a Debtors’ Education Course
This is another mandatory course you will need to complete after you file for bankruptcy and before you receive your bankruptcy discharge in the mail. Once you have completed this course and you have received your discharge, your case will officially close.
Contact An Experienced Bankruptcy Attorney
For help navigating the bankruptcy process, please contact the experiened attorneys at Clark and Washington. We conviniently eleven offices located throughout the metro-Atlanta area. From Woodstock to Morrow, Gainesville to Conyers, and everywhere in between, Clark and Washington is Atlanta’s most trusted bankruptcy attorneys.