2007-03-07 07:51:01 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
In Illinois you can file chapter 7 (full bankruptcy) yourself. You just need to buy one of those "do-it-yourself" bankruptcy packs that they sell in office stores, and follow the instructions for filling out the forms.
When you do it yourself, you have to file the copies of paperwork yourself, and bring them to the court yourself. To find out how many copies are needed and what procedure to follow, just go to your city hall and ask, usually they have some kind of printed instructions.
You probably will have to pay filing fees, this must be paid at the time of filing, you can't get around it unless your county has a provision for "waiver of fees" for people who are destitute (poor). You can find out by asking your county or city clerk.
Sometimes, an attorney will do your bankruptcy without charging you his fee upfront, but you still have to pay the filing fees at the time of filing, the attorney does not pay that. All an attorney does for you is fill out and file the paperwork correctly. You can get a friend or relative to help you do this, it doesn't have to be an attorney.
Remember, even when you file bankruptcy, there are certain debts that it will not eliminate, like debts from state or federal taxes, child support, federal student loans, court fines or judgements, and will not save a house from foreclosure nor a car from repossession if you are delinquent in payments. The court can take ALL assets ranging from cars and homes, to furnishings, jewelry or anything else that has value. Assets are then sold to pay off the debt of the filer.
I know this about Illinois, but you have to check with your own state to see what your area's proceedings are. Another thing, you can try to fill out the forms yourself, and then just have an attorney check to make sure it's properly done before filing it. To just check paperwork, attorneys charge much less, maybe under $75.
Good luck.
2007-03-07 08:32:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can do it, but it's hard if you don't know what you are doing. Anyone can file bankcrupcy, but an attorney makes the process much easier and prevents errors. I would deffinatly contact a lawyer for help to make sure that you are doing it correctly. There are lots of little details that you need to know and mistakes can cause major problems.
If you cannot afford an attorney, you can look into legal help, which is low priced legal help from attorneys or those going to school to be attorneys. I paid 1400 for my lawyer, legal aid was about 300, big difference. Most important thing to do is find a good lawyer, whether it is from LegalAid or another attorney, abilities range no matter how long they have been doing it.
So look in your phone book for something like LegalAid.
2007-03-07 15:56:51 · answer #2 · answered by starwings20 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well their different way to file,, an tooo, if you go 13th,, you need money for the attorney,, but their are some good, way you can, go. like chapel 12,th,,, they will work with the one you owe, an help get your bills to where you can pay them,,,then you pay the money to them, an they then, sent it out to the one you owe
2007-03-07 15:57:59 · answer #3 · answered by ghostwalker077 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOu can't; besides an atty, you need money for filing fees.
2007-03-07 15:54:26 · answer #4 · answered by wizjp 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You can't... Welcome to America. Land of the free -- As long as you can pay for it.
2007-03-07 15:55:46 · answer #5 · answered by Open Minded Human 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋