The first step is to pick up the phone and give us a call or send us an email. If we are available to chat we will talk right then. If not, we will schedule an appointment as soon as possible. During the initial consultation we will discuss your financial situation and come up with a strategy.
After the initial consultation, we will email you a To Do List with everything needed to get a case filed. The list is custom tailored to your situation and and will include where to complete the pre-bankruptcy credit counseling course. You can send us documents electronically or you can drop them off at our office. Once we get your documents we will prepare your file for the drafting appointment.
The drafting appointment is held over the phone, in person or over video chat if requested. We go over the documents with you and prepare your case for filing. Prior to filing we send the petition and fee agreement to you for review, approval and electronic signature.
Filing the case is done electronically so you are quickly assigned a case number and official notice. In situations where there is a garnishment or repossession, we send the notice to the creditor immediately after filing. We also send you a copy of your court documents, bankruptcy notice and other legal documents.
When your case is filed, the Automatic Stay automatically goes into effect and forbids creditors from contacting you directly. This means you will stop receiving mail and phone calls and any pending lawsuits, repossession, foreclosures or garnishments are terminated. The Automatic Stay is very powerful and provides debtors immediate relief.
The meeting of creditors is usually held about a month after your case is filed. Creditors are allowed to show up and ask you questions with the Trustee and your counsel present. The meeting is around 5-15 minutes and creditors rarely appear. The Trustee will ask you some questions and then conclude the meeting. We recommend that clients finish their Financial Management Course prior to the hearing.
A discharge is a formal and permanent injunction against the collection of your debts. In a Chapter 7, the Court enters an order of discharge after all requirements are met, but no sooner than the last day to object to the Debtor’s Discharge. This is usually about 60 days after the first date set for the Meeting of Creditors. Most Chapter 7 cases get a discharge in about 90 days. If you filed a Chapter 13, you will receive a discharge shortly after your final payment. A Chapter 13 lasts between 3 – 5 years.
If you have any questions about the Bankruptcy Process or how you can Take Control, please give us a call at 785-727-7700 for a FREE Consultation over the phone or in person or you can email us now.
Chris W. Steffens, Attorney at Law is a Bankruptcy Lawyer serving Topeka, Lawrence, Overland Park & Kansas City KS. I’ve filed hundreds of cases and spent years honing my practice at one of the largest consumer bankruptcy firms in Kansas. I bring with me my exceptional knowledge and experience and I treat every client with the respect and care they deserve.
Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. We are a debt relief agency. We are attorneys who file bankruptcy cases.
