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.
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:
- A copy of your social security card and your driver’s license
- Tax returns from the past 2 years
- Pay stubs from the past 7 months
- 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
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!