Bankruptcy Paperwork
The basic steps to file for bankruptcy protection in the United States are very similar under both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy law.
The first step in the process is to meet with a qualified bankruptcy attorney to determine which program best resolves your financial situation. The attorneys at Acclaim Legal Services all specialize in bankruptcy law and have the experience to evaluate your circumstances and advise you on:
- The type of bankruptcy that will help you to accomplish your long-term financial goals
- A general overview of the Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy process
- How Acclaim Legal Services would successfully administer your case
- Your role in the process and necessary documentation
Document preparation
The next step involves preparing all of the documents necessary to file a bankruptcy petition. These are extensive documents required by the court. Acclaim Legal Services has bankruptcy software to aid in the document preparation which provides the most up-to-date information regarding exemptions and IRS budget standards. This information is critical to ensure that you are protecting your assets through filing the correct program and maximizing your budget items and exemptions. Most often, our bankruptcy lawyers will prepare the majority of the paperwork outside of the appointment time to minimize your time commitment in our law firm.
The main difference between the Chapter 7 bankruptcy paperwork and the Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition is the proposed repayment plan that exists when you file a Chapter 13 reorganization. Other common documents that are filed with the court are:
- Voluntary Petition
- Schedules disclosing your debt obligations and assets
- Statement of Financial Affairs
- Creditor matrix listing contact information for all of your creditors
- Means Test
Once you and your attorney have reviewed and signed all of the necessary paperwork, we will electronically file all of the paperwork with the U.S. District Court, Bankruptcy Division. This electronic case filing automatically yields a case number, which establishes court protection from your creditors.
After your bankruptcy case is filed, we must provide additional information and documentation to the court-appointed bankruptcy Trustee. Examples of such documentation are:
- Recent pay stubs or proof of household income
- Bank statements
- Tax returns
- Proof of Insurance for secured debt obligations such as homeowners or vehicle
- Deeds or vehicle titles
Ensuring that all of the correct paperwork is properly filed is essential to the success of your bankruptcy. Incorrect preparation, misfiled or missing paperwork or failure to remit required documents to the Trustee within the required timeline can all be reasons why a bankruptcy case could be dismissed by the court. It is essential to work with trained professionals and is why Acclaim Legal Services only specializes in bankruptcy law. Our expert staff understands the court requirements and provides top customer service to our clients so that the process is simple and most importantly, successful.
We offer free in-office or phone consultations to review your personal circumstances, analyze your situation and advise you on the best course of action. We specialize in bankruptcy law, debt resolution, foreclosure prevention and credit repair. We have offices in
