How to Use a Top Bankruptcy Attorney to Qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Do you need a top bankruptcy attorney to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy? Is the process expensive and/or worth the effort? In a few moments, you will know the answers to these important questions.

A top bankruptcy attorney can do wonders for your case and insure you qualify for Chapter 7. Even above-average income earners frequently qualify when maximizing expense deductions and debt classifications over a period of months. The key to a quick and complete discharge is lies in planning. For the best results, start early and become familiar with options available. Spend a few quality hours becoming familiar with the means test.

You must know if you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy before talking to an attorney. Then, during a free initial consultation, explain precisely what you want and target questions to qualify the best lawyer for the job.

What a Top Bankruptcy Attorney Can and Cannot Do for You

Top Attorneys Remain in Demand Because of Results

The means test plays a pivotal role in all cases. It determines if you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and the amount of payments if you select a Chapter 13 plan. In both instance, to calculate the test accurately, total income and expenses obtained from your personal financial records are necessary. Computing income and expense accurately takes about two to three hours in an average case.

Most people do not bring their financial records to a free initial consultation. More importantly, these consultations usually last about an hour. The result? Even a top bankruptcy attorney cannot guarantee you qualify. In most cases, the best an attorney can do is providing an educated guess based on your recollection of your financial history.

The most effective way to prepare for an initial consultation is to organize your records and calculate the test yourself. Most people find the official means test form (No. B22 A) is difficult to complete and provides little meaningful guidance. Nevertheless, custom forms designed for debtors make the process much easier and far more profitable.

Do I Qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

A Judge Ultimately Decides If You Qualify to file Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Everyone who considers filing must eventually asks, “Do I qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy?” After all, these cases last about four months do not require payments. Chapter 13 plans require timely monthly payments over a period of three to five years before receiving a discharge.

The answer to this important question depends on the means test result. In simple terms, the test measures the amount of discretionary income available for payment to creditors. More accurately, the test measures a six-month average of total income, less allowed deductions, less allowed expenses, based on strict rules for expense deductions. Because of these subtle distinctions, the test is complex and confuses even talented lawyers the first time.

To determine if you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must use a combination of actual expenses paid, expenses owed, debts owed but not paid, and a few standardized deductions for necessities regardless of actual expenditures. In a few situations, you may qualify for an exception to the the rules. Understanding the test is essential to qualify for Chapter 7 anytime a debtor’s income rises above minimum wage or approaches the median income in their state of residency.

Free Advice from the Best Lawyers

Talking to a lawyer during a free consultation is not the same as retaining a lawyer. You may discuss your case at length with as many lawyers as you want. These meeting provide a rich environment for open discussion, specific questions, and pinning down a lawyer for assurances of future success. During the meeting, you will be much more successful if you have your means test results in hand.

The meeting(s) should provide you with answers to all of your import questions and concerns. You could choose not to retain a top bankruptcy attorney and prefer to file bankruptcy yourself. You could choose to seek out a pro bono bankruptcy attorney and provide informed guidance and monitoring yourself.

The best results for an affordable cost typically result from careful planning. You may retain a less expensive lawyer and actively participate in decisions. When you know what you want and how you will get it, this task is not only easy but is far more rewarding than relying completely on the discretion of a lawyer.

Checklist for a successful free initial consultation:

Organize your financial records.
Calculate total income and expenses over the applicable six-moth period.
Calculate the means using a custom form.*
Review a high-quality list of interview questions.**
Update your questions after each interview.
Interview as many top bankruptcy attorneys a necessary to find a qualified and affordable candidate.

*The best custom forms include detailed examples and easy-to-understand instructions. These features are necessary to influence and manipulate the calculation legally, ethically and beneficially before discussing your case with a lawyer.

**The Bankruptcy Strategies Manual contains an expensive list of interview questions based on over more than 25 years experience.

To begin your lawyer search, see : Strategies to Find a Top Bankruptcy Attorney