Q: do i need a bankruptcy lawyer?
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- New Jersey
- (973) 798-6131
- View Profile
- Answered
A: If you want it done right, you need an attorney.
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.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
