After our initial meeting
- WKLO files our bankruptcies as soon as they are ready. If you wish to file in any given month, you need to retain counsel (pay your attorney fees), pay your court fees, and finish your required credit counseling.
- When your “rough draft” is prepared, you will have information that specifies what is missing from your file and provides you a chance to look over the information for accuracy. This includes deadlines, definitions, and information about bankruptcy in general. You will be going over your petition at the time of your consultation. This is done in real-time, with the client and the attorney going through the petition to answer all questions and prepare an accurate filing.
- The rough draft must be returned by the deadline, at which time your final petition is prepared if all of the information requested is provided. Failure to provide the information or complete the checklist may result in a delay in your filing. All signature pages and rough drafts must be returned.
- Please complete the Credit Counseling course with sufficient time left for our office to receive the certificate.
- Petitions are prepared when all documents are provided. Failure to answer all questions or provide all requested documentation will result in a delay in the preparation of your petition. You will be called immediately when your petition is ready to be reviewed, amended if necessary, and filed.
- Your creditors must be provided to our office with complete addresses in order to prepare your petition. If you do not provide the complete address, it will result in a delay in the preparation and/or filing of your petition.
- Failure to return your rough draft with all required documents, signatures, information, fees, and/or certificates will cause a delay in your filing and incursion of additional fees. Any changes that are made at the request of the client (typically a failure to disclose property, list a creditor, or inaccurate materials left uncorrected in rough drafts) may result in a change fee of no less than $50.
Fee Payment
- 1. The attorney fees are due in their entirety before your petition is filed.
- 2. The filing fee for the court is due in its entirety, absent a motion to pay your filing fees in installments before your petition is filed.
- 3. As soon as you begin to pay your attorney fee, you may refer creditors to this office. We will confirm that you have retained our office for bankruptcy.
- 4. Payments can be made at any time in the top-right corner, where it says PAY HERE.
After Your Case is Filed
- Immediately after filing, the court will provide a date for your Meeting of Creditors. It is currently a telephonic appearance, not in person.
- You immediately received the filed copy of the petition and documents, a court date if scheduled, and any other documents you need.
- As soon as available, provide the bank and/or retirement account statements for all open accounts on the day your case was filed. This is required no later than one week before your court date as the Trustee in your case must review the documents.
- When you know your case number, we recommend that you complete the Personal Financial Management credit counseling right away so there is no delay in your filing. This is approximately a 2-3 hour course. You must provide a certificate of completion for your case to be discharged.
Meeting of Creditors
- 1. The Meeting of Creditors is a low-pressure situation. The new procedures from the Bankruptcy Court include all virtual Meetings of Creditors and hearings with the Judge. You will know the date of your Meeting of Creditors as soon as it is issued.
- 2. Failure to appear at your Meeting of Creditors will result in a charge for a second appearance by the attorney. Make sure you mark your calendar with the date and time of your meeting.
- 3. The Trustee will ask approximately 10-15 required questions. There may be more questions for you to answer, depending on your situation. These questions are most often about a specific property or to clarify your situation. (Examples: “Have you read the petition? Did you sign the petition? Is the signature your own? Did you list all of your debts and all of your assets? Did you fairly value those assets? Do you owe any person or agency child support? Have you transferred any real property in the last four years? Have you received and read a copy of the United States Trustee’s bankruptcy information sheet?”)
- 4. The Trustee is required to verify your most recent tax return, the date of filing bank statements, your social security number, and your picture identification. Failure to provide all of those documents will result in your case being marked for dismissal.
Common Issues
- 1. If you forgot to list a creditor, you can add them while your case is open. The charge for this is a $32 filing fee for the Court. If you believe you have left off more than one creditor, it is more beneficial for you to bring them all in at the same time, rather than pay multiple fees.
- 2. If your petition is deemed inaccurate after the time of filing and discharge/dismissal, or you need to reopen your case to file your Personal Financial Management Certificate, the filing fee for this is $260.
- 3. If you are in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may not refinance/sell any property or incur new debt without the permission of the Chapter 13 Trustee. Make sure you contact our office if you have any questions about whether you need special permission for any actions.
- 4. If you discover that there were judgment liens on your real property at the time your case was filed but did not report those to the attorney, your case will need to be reopened and a motion to avoid the lien will need to be filed. Each motion to avoid a lien is $150, not inclusive of the fees to reopen a case. It is recommended you ensure there are no judgment liens against your property before your petition is filed.
- Fees are subject to change.
Things you need to know
- * Try to use email or personal drop-off or email as much as possible.
- * Please bring copies, not originals. Please rename all files to indicate your name and the contents.
- * If you have a person you want to pick up your information, they must be explicitly named as a person to pick up documents. We will not release your information to anyone other than an individual authorized by you. Your assistant must present photo identification.
- * You will receive notice directly from the bankruptcy court when your case is discharged, which is approximately 100 days from the time that you filed your case.
Next Steps After Meeting With An Attorney