The ritual of preparing for “firsts” is an important one. When you had your first child, you did a lot of prep work and research. You probably picked out a special outfit to wear for your first day at a new job. And the last time you cooked a new recipe for the first time you went shopping for new ingredients, and you definitely needed to pay close attention to detail.
Your first time meeting with a bankruptcy attorney is also a big “first,” even though you may not feel it is an occasion to anticipate and carefully prepare for. However, doing some prep work before you meet with a bankruptcy attorney is a good idea. Below is a list of things to gather or do that we encourage all potential clients to do before meeting with a member of the Padgett & Robertson team in our Mobile office.
The Basics
Filing for bankruptcy involves filling out a lot of paperwork. In order to make the process go more quickly, it is helpful to type up or pull together a list of basic information like:
- The legal names and nicknames of every member of your household.
- Up-to-date contact information that will allow our team to get in touch with you as your case moves forward.
- The birthdates and Social Security numbers of every member of your household.
If you got divorced during the past year, or you are currently paying spousal or child support, we will need to see a copy of your divorce paperwork.
It is also a good idea to start thinking about what your goals are. Other than minimizing debt, what do you want out of the bankruptcy process? Do you want to continue living in your current home? Do you need your car so you can get to work? Figure out what you need in order to move forward, so your attorney can help you find the right path.
Financial Info
Filing for bankruptcy is like hitting the financial reset button, so it should come as no surprise that we are going to need to take a deep dive into your finances. Start to pull together:
- Tax returns for the previous 2 or 3 years
- Pay stubs and other records of your income for the past year
- Bank account info
Asset Inventory
The bankruptcy court will also need to know about non-financial assets you have. If you are able to, gather up:
- A copy of your real estate deeds and any related financing.
- A copy of the most recent real estate tax bill for each piece of real estate in which you have an interest. These bills show the current assessed value of your property.
- A copy of the title to each automobile on which your name appears, and information on any related financing.
Debt Details
It will also be necessary to create a list of all of your creditors. You will need to know their contact information, an estimate of the amount you owe each of them, and the approximate date(s) you incurred each debt. If you know your account numbers, that is helpful.
If a creditor has recently sent you a notice directing where notices should be sent in the event you file a bankruptcy, please provide us with that notice.
Need Help? Just Ask.
We know this list is intimidating, but the Padgett & Robertson team is here for you. We can help you hunt down information that you do not have on hand, and guide you through the bankruptcy process. Contact our office today if you are ready to schedule your first meeting, or have questions about the bankruptcy process.