IN PLAIN LANGUAGE
Understand bankruptcy before deciding
Compare bankruptcy with other options. Filing is a decision to discuss, not assume.
Bring the papersBring notices, statements and dates.
Tell us what mattersExplain your concerns and what you want to understand.
Illustration—not an actual client, staff member, or case.
Compare your optionsAsk about choices and practical next steps.
Read the full guide and details
A conversation about alternatives and trade-offs
The useful question is not simply whether bankruptcy can address debt. It is whether a particular approach fits your circumstances, your property, your income and your goals. The office can discuss those issues with you.
- Chapter 7
Learn about eligibility, property exemptions, nonexempt assets and the limits of a discharge.
- Chapter 13
Learn about proposed repayment plans, ongoing payment obligations and the importance of a realistic budget.
Questions worth asking
- Which debts are involved, and which may not be discharged?
- How could property, secured loans and any co-signers be affected?
- What would filing require, and what alternatives should be compared?
- Are there court dates, foreclosure notices or other time-sensitive issues?
Do not assume that bankruptcy eliminates every debt, protects every asset or stops every proceeding. Outcomes and protections vary by chapter and circumstances.