Adequately preparing for a meeting with your bankruptcy attorney is one of the most important steps in your Chapter 7 process. This will ensure that you give your Chapter 7 lawyer in San Diego all the information necessary to properly handle your case. However, you should also prepare your own questions that will help you determine whether or not this is the bankruptcy professional you want to hire. Here’s how you should thoroughly prepare for the meeting.
Quick clarification: this article is about your initial consultation with a bankruptcy attorney — a private meeting to review your situation and decide how to proceed. It’s different from the 341 meeting of creditors, a separate, brief meeting later in the process where a bankruptcy trustee asks you questions under oath after your case has already been filed.
How Do You Prepare for a Bankruptcy Attorney Meeting?
When preparing for an important initial consultation with your bankruptcy attorney, you should think about the three important aspects – the questions they are going to ask you, the questions you are going to ask them, and the documents you should bring.
Preparing the answers to the most common questions
In order to adequately prepare for your particular case and create a detailed plan, your bankruptcy lawyer will need as much information from you as possible. They will probably ask you why you want to file for bankruptcy and what type of debt you’re in.
Additionally, they will also probably want to know:
- If you are married with children
- How large you and your spouse’s monthly income is
- How much you’ve made in the prior six months
- If you are a business owner
- If you own any assets and how much they’re worth
- If you’re transferred or sold any property recently
- If you owe any back taxes
- If you’re falling behind with your alimony or child support
- What you are looking to achieve through filing for bankruptcy
Assembling the necessary documents to bring
Professional bankruptcy attorneys will usually provide you with a comprehensive list of documents you should bring to your first consultation. However, in case your prospective lawyer did not do so, here’s what you should gather before your meeting:
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- A copy of your social security card and your driver’s license
- Tax returns from the past 2 years
- Pay stubs from the past 6 months (confirm this figure — matches the means test lookback period; verify against current intake practice before publishing)
- Recent bank statements (typically the past several months, across all accounts)
- A list of your creditors and debts, including account numbers and approximate balances, if you have it — even a rough list helps your attorney get started
- Copy of your car loan and your current mortgage statements
- An estimate of your car’s current value
- Copy of the life insurance policy
- Foreclosure-related paperwork in case your home is in foreclosure
- Copy of the marital settlement agreement in case you are divorced or separated
Don’t worry if you don’t have everything on this list before your first meeting — a good attorney will help you track down anything missing. Bringing what you can is far more useful than delaying the meeting until you have it all.
Preparing your own questions for the bankruptcy lawyer
Finally, once you’re done answering your lawyer’s questions and handing over all the necessary paperwork, it’s time to learn more about their practices and see whether they’re a good fit for you. Here’s what you should ask your prospective attorney:
- Is Chapter 7 the best bankruptcy for me?
- Will you accept payments or do I have to pay all the fees upfront?
- Will I get to keep my car and my house?
- Will I get to keep my current bank accounts?
- What’s included in your fees?
- What’s not included in your fees?
- How long does it take for you to prepare and file my bankruptcy claim?
Which San Diego’s reputable Chapter 7 lawyers should I hire for my claim?
When you’re looking to prepare for a meeting with your bankruptcy lawyer, you should first check whether or not you’re eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Then, try to find out more about Chapter 7 itself, and understand what the biggest mistakes you could make before filing are. Only then will you be completely ready to meet your potential attorney and determine whether they are right for you. However, there is another problem – which bankruptcy lawyer from San Diego should you reach out to?
There is a simple solution to this slight predicament – just contact Bankruptcy Law Offices of Mark L. Miller and allow us to handle your bankruptcy case. We have the experience, knowledge, and dedication necessary to handle any case that comes our way. We will create a personalized plan for handling your individual situation to ensure success. Just give us a call and schedule an appointment. You will easily find our offices near Liberty Station NTC Park. Reach out to us today!
FAQs
Do I need to have all my documents ready before my first meeting?
No, bring what you have. A good attorney will help you identify and gather anything you’re missing rather than turning you away for an incomplete file.
Is the initial consultation free?
Policies vary by firm, but many bankruptcy attorneys, including this one, offer a free initial consultation. Confirm this when you schedule.
How long does the first meeting usually take?
Initial consultations typically run somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on the complexity of your situation.
What if I don’t know the answers to some of the questions my attorney asks?
That’s normal, especially around exact figures like asset values or recent transfers. Give your best estimate and flag what you’re unsure about, your attorney can help you track down exact numbers where it matters.
