Bankruptcy Help: Lawyers and Petition Preparers
Getting the right help when you file for bankruptcy is crucial to its success, whether you file on your own, get a lawyer, or use a bankruptcy petition preparer. Below you'll find articles that help you sort out whether you need an attorney or can go it alone, how much an attorney costs, what a bankruptcy petition preparer can do for you, and everything you need to know about finding and hiring a bankruptcy lawyer.
If you hire a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney, here's what that lawyer should do for you.
Get Chapter 7 lawyers' fees explained clearly, including a breakdown of costs so you understand what you're paying for and how it impacts your bankruptcy process.
Chapter 13 attorney fees vary by court and district. Learn more.
A bankruptcy lawyer can help ensure that you don't lose assets that are important to you. Here's what to do if you can't afford a Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney.
Whether you can make payments to your bankruptcy lawyer over time depends on whether you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 and the policy of your bankruptcy court.
Whether you should file for bankruptcy without an attorney ("pro se") depends on the type of bankruptcy and the complexity of your case.
It's difficult to complete Chapter 13 without the help of a bankruptcy lawyer for many reasons, the first of which is that it's challenging to draft a plan the court will approve without expensive legal software.
You can fire and replace your bankruptcy lawyer at any time. Learn when you might want to do so, and how to find a new attorney.
Bankruptcy petition preparers may be helpful, but be aware of their limitations.
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