Filing for Bankruptcy: How Should I Organize and Send My Supporting Documents?
March 5, 2010
In order to fill out your bankruptcy paperwork, you will need to refer to the documents included in this list.
Additionally, you will need to submit copies of these documents to our office. The steps below will make this process much easier.
(1) Copies only, please
VERY IMPORTANT: Please do not send original documents to our office. Please send copies.
(2) Delivery methods
You can email pdf copies (preferred), fax, mail, or drop off your documents in person.
(3) Separate stacks for each bill type
When you submit paper copies, please arrange them by type of bill.
Example: you would group all your power bills together in one stack and paper clip them together. You would group all your gas bills together in a separate stack and paper clip them together.
(4)Â Please use paper clips
Please use clips to hold your stacks of bills together. We will scan them into our computer system, so it makes it easier if the copies are not stapled.
(5)Â Include all months
Please check to be sure all required months are included.
Example: If you file bankruptcy in July, please check to be sure you have included each month’s bill for January – June.
(6) PDF copies are better, faster, and cheaper
It is much easier to email our office pdf copies than it is to fax or mail paper copies. Most billing statements and bank statements are available online in pdf format.
Separate emails: If you send .pdf copies, please send a separate email for each type of bill and please label the subject line.
Example: you would attach you January – June Visa Card billing .pdfs to one email and put “Visa bills” on the subject line.
In a separate email, you would attach your January – June American Express bills and put “American Express bills” on the subject line of that email.
(7)Â Label “mystery” documents
For any paper copy documents you need to submit, please label the document to let us know what it is (if it is not obvious.)
(8) Use a check list
Please print out this list and check off each item after you have submitted the item to our office. That way, you will not overlook any documents you need to submit.
Gathering supporting documents is often the longest part of the bankruptcy filing process. Using the steps above will make it a much faster and less stressful experience.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Timeline: From Consultation to Filing
March 2, 2010
This post explains our office’s procedures when we help a Client file for bankruptcy.
We provide a free consultation and case review as described below.
Our goal is to make the filing process as fast, convenient, and efficient as possible for our Clients. Many steps can be completed online or by phone.
Step 1: Free Phone Consultation
Please call 202-470-2727 for a free bankruptcy phone consultation.
During the phone consultation, we ask some general questions about your situation to determine whether bankruptcy might be able to help you.
If it seems bankruptcy might be able to help, we will ask you to complete some additional information online.
Step 2: Complete Free Questionnaires (Online or Paper Copy)
Once we’ve determined whether bankruptcy can help, we need to take a closer look at your situation to be sure bankruptcy is the best option for you.
To get the information we need, we ask you to fill out detailed questionnaires. We can provide these to you online or as a paper copy. This is included in our free consultation process.
You will not need to complete this information again if you decide to hire our office to help you file bankruptcy. We will transfer the information directly to your bankruptcy paperwork.
Step 3: Office Meeting / Hiring Our Office
If you decide to proceed with filing bankruptcy, we will ask you to come into the office to meet us, sign a Representation Agreement, and pay a deposit.
Step 4: Provide Supporting Documentation / Research Legal Issues
After signing the Representation Agreement, you will provide supporting documents from this list.
This post gives some helpful information about the process of providing supporting documents.
At this stage, we will also research any legal issues presented by your bankruptcy filing.
Step 5: Complete All Tax Returns
If you have unfiled tax returns for previous years, you will need to file them.
You might receive refunds. These refunds need to be exempted when we prepare your bankruptcy paperwork. Otherwise, the Trustee may intercept the refunds and give them to your creditors.
Please plan to complete the previous year’s return even if it’s January – April 15 and the return isn’t yet officially due.
Step 6: Credit Counseling
You must complete a credit counseling course online, by phone, or in person prior to filing your bankruptcy case.
We recommend Hummingbird Credit Counseling and Education, but you can use any Trustee-approved service.
Step 7: Pay Remaining Attorney’s Fees and Court Filing Fees
Your representation agreement will specify your attorney’s fees. These fees will vary depending on how complex your case is.
Prior to your case filing, you will pay the balance of your Attorney’s fees and court filing fees.
VERY IMPORTANT: Your court filing fees are SEPARATE from your attorney’s fees. Court filing fees are $299.00.
Step 8:Â Credit reports
We will pull your credit reports to review it for creditors you may have overlooked when you completed your original questionnaires.
We will ask you to complete this form to authorize us to pull your reports.
Step 9:Â Other Public Records
We review public record information to check for any additional debt issues.
Step 10: We prepare your bankruptcy paperwork.
The attorney reviews all your supporting documentation and prepares and files your bankruptcy paperwork.
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