You can file a bankruptcy case without an attorney. But you’d be giving up a lot. Here are just a few of the things a lawyer can do to help you with your bankruptcy case:
- Once you hire a lawyer, creditors must stop calling you – otherwise, they are violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Your lawyer will help to identify consumer protection claims and other rights to which you might be entitled
- Your lawyer will be sure that you list all your assets and liabilities
- Your lawyer will make sure that you haven’t done something which would prevent you from getting a discharge
- Your lawyer can help you plan to maximize your exemptions
- Your lawyer can explain the different bankruptcy chapters and make sure you select the best one for you.
- Your lawyer can prevent you from making mistakes which could cost you thousands of dollars or loss of assets you rely upon for living.
- Your lawyer can help you redeem personal property, like a car, from secured debts at a fraction of the original debt
- Your lawyer can answer sticky questions from the bankruptcy trustee or the US Trustee’s office.
- Your lawyer will make sure that you don’t lose your discharge for failure to take a financial management course.
Your lawyer’s services will cost you a fraction of the debts you will discharge through your bankruptcy. You’ll find your attorney’s fee to be money well spent.
David Leibowitz holds a B. A. in Economics from Northwestern University and received his J.D., cum laude, from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law where he also served as Note Editor of the law review. Admitted to the Illinois and Wisconsin bars, he is the managing member of Lakelaw, an interstate law firm with offices in Chicago, Skokie and Waukegan in Illinois and Kenosha, Wisconsin.
He is nationally recognized for his work in identifying and pursuing mortgage related claims in the context of bankruptcy. David is a member of both the Illinois and Wisconsin bars and has practiced in bankruptcy courts throughout the country. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute where he is the Co-Chair of the Commercial Fraud Committee. He is ta frequent contributor to the ABI Journal and speaker at ABI events. He is an author and editor in chief of the American Bankruptcy Institute Fraud Manual published in 2010. He is also a member and Director of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, a member and frequent speaker for the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and numerous state and local bar associations. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Certification in both Consumer Bankruptcy Law and Business Bankruptcy Law.
David is also the publisher of Lakeblawg, www.lakelaw.com/lakeblawg, a blog dedicated to consumer and small business bankruptcy and mortgage foreclosure defense.
Comments on this entry are closed.