12Law Arrow 12Law Arrow  Easy Questions  
12Law Arrow 12Law Arrow Instant Legal Documents
 
 
FINANCIAL & MARITAL

Cohabitation Agreement coming soon!
Separation Agreement coming soon!
No-Fault Divorce coming soon!
Bankruptcy coming soon!
 
 

Do I Need a Lawyer to File for Bankruptcy in Selma, OR

Do I Need a Lawyer to File for Bankruptcy in Selma, OR


The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
 
- Nelson Mandela


Corporations and Partnerships must have an attorney to file a bankruptcy case. Individuals, however, may represent themselves in bankruptcy court.

In many cases, it's a good idea to have a bankruptcy attorney. However, many petitioners file for bankruptcy without a lawyer. Some represent themselves in bankruptcy because they cannot afford the lawyer's fees. Others have simple cases, and don't feel the need to hire a lawyer. Even the simplest Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires extensive paperwork, gathering of financial documentation, research of bankruptcy and exemption laws, and follow up with local rules and procedures.

Bankruptcy rules are very technical, and a misstep may affect a debtor's rights. For example, a debtor whose case is dismissed for failure to file a required document, such as a credit counseling certificate, may lose the right to file another case or lose protections in a later case, including the benefit of the automatic stay. Bankruptcy has long-term financial and legal implications, so it is very important to do it right. An individual filing for bankruptcy must list all property and debts in their bankruptcy schedules. If a debt is not listed, it is possible the debt will not be discharged.

The simpler the bankruptcy, the better your chances are to successfully complete it and receive a discharge on your own. So it's usually more feasible to file without an attorney if you are filing a simple Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

If your household income is low and you own little or no assets, and you don't have any priority debts or creditors alleging fraud against you, then your case may be simple enough for you to handle without an attorney.

Bankruptcies filed under Chapter 13 can be more complex than Chapter 7. If you are underwater on your mortgage payments, and if your second mortgage is worth less than your first mortgage, you may be able to use Chapter 13 bankruptcy to "strip" the second mortgage (discharge it in bankruptcy). If you owe more than your car is worth, through a process known as "loan cram down," you may be able to negotiate a Chapter 13 payment plan based on what the car is actually worth, as opposed to the value of the car loan.

You may choose to file a Chapter 13 to take advantage of these benefits or simply because you make too much money to qualify for a Chapter 7. No matter what your reason is, it generally means that your case may be too difficult to file on your own.

In Chapter 13 bankruptcies, in addition to filing the official bankruptcy forms, you must also design a proposed repayment plan, which can be very difficult to do. Stripping your second mortgage or cramming down a car loan will usually require filing additional motions and paperwork with the court.

So, if you are planning to file a Chapter 13 or a complex Chapter 7, it is a good idea to hire a qualified attorney. Your Chapter 7 will usually be more complex if you own a business, have high income, own significant assets, or have creditors who may claim fraud. If any of the above applies to you, you risk having your case dismissed, your assets being taken and sold, or facing a lawsuit in your bankruptcy to determine that certain debts should not be discharged. In that case, it is advisable to hire an attorney to handle your bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy fraud is a crime and the presiding judge may also deny the discharge of all debts if a debtor does something dishonest in connection with the bankruptcy case, such as transferring assets to friends and family, destroying or hiding property, falsifying records, or lying. Individual bankruptcy cases are randomly audited to determine the accuracy, truthfulness, and completeness of the information that the debtor is required to provide.

Individual debtors are generally required to obtain credit counseling from an approved provider within 180 days before filing a case, and to file a statement of compliance and a certificate of credit counseling furnished by the provider. Failure to do so may result in dismissal of the case.

Homeowners who are having trouble or have fallen behind in making their mortgage payments may have options that would allow them to avoid foreclosure and bankruptcy, starting with renegotiating with the mortgage lender. However, please beware of marketing offers made once your house is in foreclosure - there are a number of fraudulent schemes specifically directed at individuals facing foreclosure.

Only you can decide if hiring a lawyer is right for you. Check out 12Law.com for listings of lawyers in your neighborhood.
 
Personalize & Print a Free OR Last Will Create This Document
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
 
Personalize & Print a Free OR Living Will Create This Document
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Related Legal Services near Selma, OR
Mikkelsen D Craig
107 N Molalla Ave
Molalla, OR 97038
(503) 829-9289
Attorneys,  Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Attorneys,  Corporation & Partnership Law Attorneys,  B
Dooney Michael J
1111 S Holladay Dr
Seaside, OR 97138
(503) 738-8461
Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Ditton Thomas J
210 E Main St
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-8365
Attorneys,  Bankruptcy Services,  Legal Service Plans,  Bankruptcy Law Attorneys
Creasing Thomas J
410 E Hurlburt Ave
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-8301
Attorneys, General Practice Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Spicerkuhn Phillip
410 E Hurlburt Ave
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-8301
General Practice Attorneys, Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Campbell & Popkin, LLC
1580 N Roosevelt Dr
Seaside, OR 97138
(503) 739-8006
Probate Law Attorneys,  Attorneys,  Labor & Employment Law Attorneys,  Elder Law Attorneys,  Wills,
Smith Law Group
913 N 1st St
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-7200
Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Smith Dale L
913 N 1st St
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-7200
Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Lillegard Chris L
236 SW Mill St
Dallas, OR 97338
(503) 623-6676
Attorneys
Berg Doug
236 SW Mill St
Dallas, OR 97338
(503) 623-6676
Attorneys
Vidrio Julio D
236 SW Mill St
Dallas, OR 97338
(503) 623-6676
Attorneys
Moberg Robert C
842 Broadway St
Seaside, OR 97138
(503) 738-6380
Attorneys,  Estate Planning, Probate, & Living Trusts,  Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Attorneys
Mannenbach Stephen F
133 SW Academy St
Dallas, OR 97338
(503) 623-6052
Attorneys, General Practice Attorneys
Bendixsen Reynolds & Wallace
245 E Main St # E
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-5564
Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Brewer Rustin A
245 E Main St # E
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-5501
Attorneys
Doherty Ben Law
570 S Townsend Rd
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-4488
Attorneys
Flukinger Ashley
135 N Roosevelt Dr
Seaside, OR 97138
(503) 738-4272
Administrative & Governmental Law Attorneys, Attorneys, Immigration Law Attorneys
Von Blumenstein Law
154 SW Oak St
Dallas, OR 97338
(503) 433-3639
Attorneys Referral & Information Service, Attorneys, Arbitration Services
Luisi Gary Atty
230 SE 4th St
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-3360
Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Toni Skinner
222 E Main St
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-3030
Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Ballard John L
125 SW 3rd St
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 564-2574
Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Shetterly Irick & Ozias
189 SW Academy St
Dallas, OR 97338
(877) 976-2309
Attorneys, Probate Law Attorneys, Family Law Attorneys
Stephens Daniel
930 W Juniper Ave
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-1545
Attorneys
Hinton D. Alan
115 W Hermiston Ave Suite 100
Hermiston, OR 97838
(855) 335-1305
Attorneys, Social Security & Disability Law Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
12Law.com   |  NASHVILLE, TN USA   |  CONTACT US