Some people feel caught between a rock and a hard place. They know they must file for bankruptcy and yet they are shot down at free counseling sessions with legal professionals who tell them they must cough up $1,500 just to file! Using the power of attorney can help you understand the regulations concerning bankruptcy, meet each deadline and obligation and expedite the whole process. If you’re filing for Chapter 13 or bankruptcy for your business, then you’ll certainly need assistance negotiating with creditors, saving your assets and ironing out a reasonable deal. However, in some cases you can find free bankruptcy forms and simply represent yourself if you wish to save money on the lawyer fees.
Many of the needed bankruptcy forms library officials provide free of charge, just as you can obtain annual tax forms. While you’re there, you can snag your free bankruptcy forms and also take out a few books to guide you through the bankruptcy process. One book to try is “We The People’s Guide to Bankruptcy: A Do-It-Yourself Plan for Getting Out of Debt” by Ira and Linda Distenfield, which offers other alternatives to bankruptcy as well. If you’re unsure of the laws surrounding bankruptcy, then try “Personal Bankruptcy Laws For Dummies” by James P. Caher and John M. Caher or “Personal Bankruptcy Simplified” by Daniel Sitarz. For Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you may find a book called “How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy” by Stephen Elias, Albin Renauer and Robin Leonard handy. For Chapter 13 bankruptcy, try “Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Keep Your Property & Repay Debts Over Time” by Robin Leonard J.D. and Stephen Elias or “The Complete Chapter 13 Personal Bankruptcy Guide” by Haman.
Another great resource for free bankruptcy forms is the official government site for court forms at www.uscourts.gov/bkforms/index.html. Here you will receive special instructions on your obligations under bankruptcy proceedings and eligibility requirements. You can read about bankruptcy basics regarding Chapters 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 15. However, the site cautions: “This publication should not substitute for the advice of competent legal counsel.” You may find some of this information to be exhaustive and a little bit confusing. In that case, there are “find a lawyer” links on the site as well.
Free bankruptcy forms can be a great alternative option for people who can’t afford an expensive attorney. According to MSN Money Central, there are five other ways to reduce the costs associated with a bankruptcy legal professional. First, you may consider adding the attorney costs to your bankruptcy filing so your lawyer will be paid through a Chapter 13 settlement. In addition to free consultations, attorneys recommended by Legal Aid Services may work for a reduced fee or even pro bono. Visit www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/directory/programlinks.html for help finding pro bono programs. You may also opt for “Limited Scope Representation,” which may enlist an attorney’s help in drafting the original legal forms but will leave the rest up to you and will cost perhaps $400 instead of $1,500. Lastly, you can try the “pro se” route and represent yourself in a local bankruptcy court.
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