Chapter 7 Timeline: What to Expect

When you speak with our office for an initial consultation, our attorneys will discuss your options and how you can proceed forward.

Once you retain our office for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy the following happens:

1. We set an appointment to discuss your situation and create a document checklist for the documents we will need to prepare your bankruptcy petition.
2. The next appointment is set roughly one to two weeks after the document checklist appointment. This appointment is a one on one with an attorney to go over your documents and ask questions required for the bankruptcy petition. One of the topics discussed would be if you want to reaffirm your secured debts to keep the collateral.
3. One requirement that must be completed before the next and final signing appointment to get your case filed, is the completion of the Credit Counseling Course.
4. The signing appointment is where the attorney goes over your petition with you and confirms your decisions and the information. Once the petition is signed and the Credit Counseling Course is complete, your case will be filed.

Once your case is filed, there are a few things that happen.

A required meeting, called the 341 Meeting of Creditors, gets set roughly 30-45 days from the date of filing. This is a required meeting that usually lasts around 15-20 minutes. You will talk to an attorney in our office prior to the meeting regarding what will be discussed.

Another thing that will happen is, if you had secured debt for which you want to keep the collateral, you will need to sign a reaffirmation agreement.

Lastly, you will need to complete a second required course, the Financial Management Course, so that you can receive your discharge.

Chapter 13 Timeline: What to Expect

When you speak with our office for an Initial Consultation, our attorneys will discuss your options and how you can proceed forward.

Once you retain our office for a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy the following happens:

1. We set an appointment to discuss your situation and create a document checklist for the documents we will need to prepare your bankruptcy petition.
2. The next appointment is set roughly one to two weeks after the document checklist appointment. This appointment is a one on one with an attorney to go over your documents and ask questions required for the bankruptcy petition. One of the topics discussed would be if you want to reaffirm your secured debts to keep the collateral.
3. One requirement that must be completed before the next and final signing appointment to get your case filed, is the completion of the Credit Counseling Course.
4. The signing appointment is where the attorney goes over your petition with you and confirms your decisions and the information. Once the petition is signed and the Credit Counseling Course is complete, your case will be filed. During this appointment, the attorney will discuss with you what your required Trustee payment will be and what it will cover.

Once your case is filed, there are a few things that happen.

A required meeting, called the 341 Meeting of Creditors, gets set roughly 30-45 days from the date of filing. This is a required meeting that usually lasts around 15-20 minutes. You will talk to an attorney in our office prior to the meeting regarding what will be discussed.

After your 341 Meeting of Creditors, the next step is getting your bankruptcy case confirmed. During this time if any changes are needed to be made, the attorney will discuss these with you.

At some point during the duration of your bankruptcy, you will need to complete a second required course, the Financial Management Course, so that you can receive your discharge.