How to Apply for Bankruptcy Without a Lawyer? – [Things to Know]

Are you aware that United States bankruptcy laws allow debtors to apply for bankruptcy without hiring a lawyer? Even though you are allowed to file without the help of a lawyer, don’t do it if your bankruptcy problems are complex. This is because, even the easiest bankruptcy case will cause you to bring together wide financial documentation, fill out an extensive variety of federal forms, and be aware of and understand important local and federal laws on bankruptcy schedules.

Steps to Apply for Bankruptcy Without a Lawyer

There have been cases where many people file their bankruptcy without the help of a lawyer. In fact, in some region, about 28% filing of bankruptcy was done by prose plaintiff (i.e., the legal terminology for filing without hiring a lawyer to represent you). Most people stand for themselves because they don’t have enough money to pay a lawyer.

Bankruptcy occurs when a business entity or a person finds it difficult to pay back their debts. Bankruptcy proceedings start when the debtor files a petition leading to evaluation and measurement of all that he owns to repay the debt.

Pre-bankruptcy considerations

In some cases, trouble arises even at the verge of a customer trying to file for bankruptcy; some of these problems are;

• Not needing to file: few customers file for bankruptcy not just because they don’t know what bankruptcy can do for them but also they don’t know what bankruptcy cannot do for them too, and what their substitutes are. For example, the filer would think filing of bankruptcy will assist them to clear off debts that don’t escape in bankruptcy.
• Filling the wrong chapter: so many customers prefer chapter 7 bankruptcies and chapter 13 bankruptcy. Both types have a definite advantage of solving an exact problem. For instance, if you want to keep your home from being sold, you can choose chapter 13 as the best bet, but if you have no assets or little income, you may choose chapter 7 as a way out. But be careful of not filing the wrong chapter because if you do, you might be on the verge of losing your expensive property, not only that, you can also end up not clearing some debts.

How to get help with your bankruptcy?

If you choose to file for bankruptcy by yourself, you will have a lookout for the kind of services obtainable in your region for pro se filers. Few bankruptcy court grapes pro se clinics (link valid for district of Colorado) where a lawyer explains the process and option bankruptcy. While some others can link you with lawful and association that does the same. Most courts have information that can help a customer file bankruptcy ranging from booklets or catalogue which explains cheap or free services of comprehensive information about bankruptcy.

You can also decide to get a book on bankruptcy; it will help you when you should talk to a lawyer and when you shouldn’t talk to a lawyer. It also gives you detailed information about bankruptcy. You might also get lucky to find a lawyer that will advise you without representing you fully. Most bankruptcy lawyers will also want to meet for free for the first time, for primary discussion. This will help you know if bankruptcy is for you or not, help you find out the best chapter for you, or to find out if you have few problems that are going for it is a bad idea.

How to file chapter 7 bankruptcy without a lawyer?

Determine whether you can apply for a simple chapter 7 bankruptcies: from a practical point of view, you can file for chapter 7 bankruptcies not considering the difficulty of your case. So, if you wish to have a successful result, you should be able to know if your bankruptcy case is considered “easy” and thus competent of being filed without lawful representation. Make sure your bankruptcy filing is so easy if:

• You have little or no property
• Your creditors are not going to prolong release for your non-free able debt
• Your state’s average income is above your household income.
• If you have not lately made any payments for property or transfer to any of the favorable creditors

Conclusion

If you follow all the information in this write-up, you can apply for bankruptcy without having to pay for additional lawyer fees.