When Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Filing Becomes Unaffordable

Posted by changandcarlin on July 18th, 2013

The common reason why debtors try to file for protection on their own is that they are too broke to afford a legal representation. Unfortunately, statistics prove that the debtors, who are unfamiliar with the complexity of the process, or lack understanding in what the bankruptcy court expects of them, are more likely to have their case dismissed with discharge of debt not being granted.

Here are a few if the common pitfalls of filing without an attorney:

• Not needing to file for bankruptcy in the first place.

• Filing under the wrong chapter.

• Not understanding the difference between credit counselling and financial management.

• Choosing incorrect property exemptions.

• Failure to file required documents. To avoid these mistakes, it is always good to have an experienced Chapter 7 lawyer Chicago by your side.

However, if you are suffering from heavy financial crises and find yourself at the end of the rope then there are some options you may consider:

• Obtain assistance from a free clinic or legal aid society in your area: Some bankruptcy courts have free clinics to help debtors file for bankruptcy relief on their own. Contact your bankruptcy court to find out about the services it offers. Even if your local court does not have a free clinic, it may provide you with a list of free services or programs available in your area.

• Find a pro bono attorney: Pro bono is a work that lawyers offer voluntarily. While not quite the same as charity work, many lawyers are able to exercise their compassion and need to help others by using their skills in a way that benefits the less fortunate. Check your local bar association to get information about attorneys who provide services free or “Pro Bono.” There may legal services in your area that provide assistance for those with limited income.

• File for Chapter 13 bankruptcy to pay attorney fees through your repayment plan: Filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows debtors to pay all or a portion of their attorney fees through their repayment plan. If you can’t afford to pay all attorney fees up front for Chapter 7 bankruptcy Chicago, you may be able to stretch them out by filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. But, an important point to be noted here is that if you don’t have enough income to afford your Chapter 13 plan, you will not qualify.

• Ask the potential attorney about a payment plan: Sometimes there may be a task or two related to your filing that you can take care of, thus, reducing fees charged by the attorney.

The attorneys at Chang and Carlin, LLP understand how stressful it is to be under financial pressures. Therefore, Chang and Carlin, LLP charges reasonable attorney fees and offers flexible payment options, and guarantees complete peace of mind, ensuring that an experienced lawyer is always there to support in bankruptcy related issues in a cost-effective manner.

The expert attorneys at law offices of Chang and Carlin, LLP offer confidential, personal, efficient and affordable legal experience and consultancy in matters related to bankruptcy and foreclosure.

For more information on Bankruptcy law or to schedule a FREE initial bankruptcy consultation with an experienced Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer Chicago, call Chang and Carlin, LLP today!

Disclaimer: The content provided by Chang and Carlin, LLP is not legal advice and is purely for informational purposes. The information contained herein is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are interested in obtaining information about Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, Foreclosure services, or Real Estate legal services, call our law firm at 1-866-790-8601 for a Free Legal Evaluation. Chang and Carlin, LLP serves clients in Chicago, Schaumburg, Joliet, and Warrenville.