Orem, UT asked in Bankruptcy for New Jersey

Q: do i need a bankruptcy lawyer?

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2 Lawyer Answers
Leonard R. Boyer
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Answered
  • Bankruptcy Lawyer
  • Clifton, NJ
  • Licensed in New Jersey

A: If you want it done right, you need an attorney.

Kevin W. Chern
Kevin W. Chern
Answered

A: There's no requirement that you have an attorney represent you in a bankruptcy case. However, unless you fully understand the Bankruptcy Code, exemptions, when to dispute a debt, how to properly complete the forms, your options for addressing secured property and a host of other substantive and procedural issues, filing bankruptcy on your own can be risky.

A few years ago, a study showed that people who filed bankruptcy on their own were more than 7 times as likely to have their cases dismissed than those who had an attorney representing them. And, even if your case isn't dismissed, there are a number of costly errors an inexperienced person can make in the process of a bankruptcy case.

Unfortunately, it's often too late to fix those mistakes when someone who has filed on his own realizes that he's in trouble and needs an attorney.

*Kevin Chern is Managing Partner of UpRight Law, a national law firm with licensed attorneys providing bankruptcy and consumer legal services in all 50 states. He is an Illinois licensed attorney with 21 years of federal consumer bankruptcy and consumer protection law experience. This response is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. For legal advice, consult an attorney licensed in your state with the appropriate expertise.

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