Three Things To Do When Filing Bankruptcy
By Andy Miofsky, Illinois Bankruptcy Attorney on Jul 1, 2008 in Bankruptcy Practice and Procedure
Regular readers know my Kansas colleague Jill Michaux penned the 33 Bankruptcy Don’ts, things not to do before filing bankruptcy, and my friend from Oregon, Karen Oakes, followed up with her Paralegal’s Bankruptcy Top 10 list of things not to do to the office help. Well, here are a couple of important things the client should do.
Pay attention. I am not your babysitter. I should not have to remind you what I already told you. Take some responsibility. A local judge often says he has a hard time being more concerned for someone than they are for them self. Help me help you by listening to what I say and by doing what I ask.
Be patient. You waited until you got sued, until your paycheck got garnished, until your car got repoed, until your house went to foreclosure, before you called me. I have been here everyday waiting for your call. Understand that your emergency is not my emergency. Do not expect me to lose sleep trying to go through your bag of unopened bills or drop my other clients now that you decided to clear up your mess. I run my office more efficiently than you run your life. I will call you when your papers are ready. No matter how many times you call, the stuff wont get typed any faster.
Be prepared. When I ask you to bring in certain documents, do it. I am giving you my undivided attention for a 3 hour appointment to get your paperwork in order and prepare your case. If you think you can just bring in stuff whenever you want, you will have wasted your special private appointment time and your file will go to the bottom of the pile where it will sit until I get the information I need. By then your case will be behind several others.
I reserve time each day to return phone calls to help you prepare your case and I give clear instructions by phone and on the web on what you need in order to file bankruptcy. My office can get your case filed in about 3-5 days if you bring in the information I need. I am here to help and with your cooperation, you will soon be on your way to financial freedom.
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