Filing bankruptcy is normally no harder than doing taxes. Overall, as many as 25% of all bankruptcy filers are considered to be “do it yourself” bankruptcy filers.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is typically very easy if you have only unsecured dischargeable debts and exempt property. This is an ideal situation for a do it yourself bankruptcy. As a bankruptcy case gets more complicated, it gets harder for do it yourself bankruptcy filers. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is normally more complex and requires at least some assistance from a bankruptcy lawyer. Some situations where you will want to at least consult an attorney before trying to file bankruptcy for yourself are:
- Your average income has been higher than your state’s median income over the past 6 months
- Your landlord wants to evict you because you are behind on rent
- You have secured debts such as a house or automobile that you would like to keep
- You want to get rid of or at least get some relief from student loans
- Income tax debt accounts for a portion of the debts you want to get rid of
- The trustee is trying to get your case dismissed or force you into chapter 13
- A creditor files a lawsuit claiming that the debt with them was obtained fraudulently
- You have recently sold property for less than it is worth
- Your debts are high enough that the help of a bankruptcy attorney would easily pay for itself in the amount of debt that you are relieved of
- You recently purchased more than $550 in goods on credit
- You have a court judgement against you that you would like to remove as part of your bankruptcy case
- Creditors continue to attempt collection actions such as foreclosing on your house
