Getting Ready for Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy involves a significant amount of paperwork, so knowing the requirements can help speed up the process and make it go smoother. The Law Offices of Carla J. Zolman, L.L.C., can help you organize your information and take the right steps to put you on the path to financial freedom. We represent clients throughout St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson County, and surrounding areas of Missouri.
Our bankruptcy attorneys are focused on helping you get debt relief as quickly and painlessly as possible. Combining strong attention to detail and in-depth knowledge of bankruptcy law, our lawyers will help you prepare now to achieve the best possible outcome later.
If you have not completed a credit counseling course with a government-approved agency, we will point you toward one. Under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, this is the first required step in the bankruptcy process.
Contact us to learn more about preparing for bankruptcy in a free initial bankruptcy consultation. Call our office at 314-549-8985 or send an e-mail.
Collecting Financial Records
In order to eliminate or restructure your debts through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will need to identify all your assets, income, debts, expenses and spending. You will be required to list unsecured debts like medical bills and credit card debt, as well as secured debts such as mortgages and car loans.
To help you make sure the list of your creditors is complete, we will run a credit report. If something is listed incorrectly, we will help you get it fixed as soon as possible so as to not delay the approval of your application.
Other information you will need includes your last federal and state tax returns, the last six months worth of pay stubs, bank account numbers and balances, information about stocks and other investments, gross income for the previous two years, and year-to-date income.
If you are thinking about getting a divorce and are considering filing for bankruptcy, we can determine if filing as a couple could save you money and time. Joint bankruptcy is typically less complicated, more cost-effective and it could prevent complex debt division in your divorce.
*We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
