Chapter 6:

I have divided the process into 8 easy steps. They are as follows:

Step #1: Qualification:
Call my office and make an appointment or click on the free online analysis. We will review your situation and I will determine whether you qualify. I will answer all your questions.There is no charge or obligation for this appointment and analysis. 99% of people who ask for this analysis actually do qualify.

Step # 2: Information Gathering:
I have a very easy form that will gather the basic information. We also now have the capability for you to give us the basic information online. I will also generate a supplemental list of required information based on your specific case. Once you complete the package, mail it to me, or scan and e-mail it to me, or drop it off at my office. You do not need an appointment to drop this off. I always pull a credit report from all three credit reporting agencies to make sure we have all the creditors listed. We do not charge extra for the credit reports.

Step # 3: Review petition:
Within 48 hours after receiving all the necessary information from you, I will have a rough draft of the final petition prepared. I usually e-mail this to my clients, but if you do not have e-mail, do not panic, we can still mail it. You are required to read every page of the petition and verify the accuracy of your information. Please mark any necessary corrections right on the petition and return it to my office so that I may prepare a final draft. After the petition is returned, please schedule your next office appointment.

Step #4: Complete your pre filing counseling:
The counseling can be done online or over the phone. You do not have to travel anywhere to complete this. It is paid for by my law firm, so you do not have any additional costs. It is easy and will take about an hour. You can not fail, and they can not say you do not qualify.

Step #5: Sign petition:
We will review the final draft together. I will answer any new questions that may come up. Once we are both satisfied that the petition is complete and accurate, we can both sign it. Your payment in full is due at this time. Now that I have a completed petition, I will file it with the bankruptcy court electronically.

Step #6: Complete your post filing counseling:
The post filing counseling is almost the same as the pre filing counseling. You must complete it for your case to be approved. It can be done online or over the phone. You will not have to travel anywhere or spend any money. It is paid for by my law firm.

Step #7: Attend creditor's meeting:
This is a meeting at the office of the trustee. It is not at the courthouse. In most cases, you never will need to appear at the courthouse. You will receive notice of this meeting a couple of weeks after filing. You must attend this meeting. You must bring your driver’s license and proof of your social security number. It is mandatory that you attend. If you are married and you filed a joint petition, you and your spouse must attend. Neither spouse can testify for the other. This meeting will last approximately 10 minutes. It usually not be at the time scheduled, because the trustee runs behind. The trustee will ask a few simple questions to verify the information in the petition and to determine if it really is you he is speaking to. This meeting is routine in nature and should not be a matter for great anxiety or concern.

Step #8: Put this all behind you and get on with your life:
Everyone who files bankruptcy can re-build their life. It does not carry the stigma that it used to. In this hard economy, thousands of people in West Michigan have had to file. You are not the only one.