Knowing How To Declare Bankruptcy Best Left To The Experienced
When people are in financial waters way over their head they are constantly looking for a way out of their dilemma. They may want to seek court ordered relief but have no idea about how to declare bankruptcy and wipe out all of their debts. There is more to declaring bankruptcy today than there was just a few years ago with more requirements placed on potential petitions and more due diligence required of the bankruptcy attorneys they represent.
Essentially, how to declare bankruptcy involves first proving that the person lacks the financial resources to pay their bills, even under a court-ordered repayment plan. They will also have to undergo counseling for financial management by an approved instructor before filing the bankruptcy petition. If it is found they have the means with which to meet their living expenses and have sufficient income to pay off the debt over the course of a mandated agreement, they can file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Most persons interested in filing for bankruptcy will hire an attorney with the experience and knowledge about how to declare bankruptcy instead of trying to do so on their own. The sheer number of the forms involved in a bankruptcy proceeding steers many people to attorneys as well as the need for the information to be verified before going to court is all part of how to declare bankruptcy that is better handled by a professional.
Helping With Paperwork Rarely Reduces Cost
Bankruptcy attorney typically charge a set amount for their knowledge of how to declare bankruptcy as well as making sure all the paperwork is properly filled out and filed in the court's requested order. Some individuals may offer to do the paperwork on their own, but most attorneys would rather handle this task on their own since they have to attest to the truthfulness of all of the information the forms contained. It is extremely rare that an attorney would reduce their rates for a petitioner to fill out their own forms.
The new laws that were recently enacted concerning bankruptcy filings also require some of the paperwork to be reviewed by a member of the legal community, despite the fact that most of the forms and instructions on how to declare bankruptcy are readily available. Kits are available from law libraries and some online companies that outline everything that is needed for filing the paperwork, but having an attorney review the petition is the best way to make sure it is not rejected by the court.
