After weeks of going back and forth about what you should do about your debt, you’ve finally taken the first step and made an appointment with a bankruptcy attorney. It’s a smart decision, as an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer can provide you with the guidance you need to set yourself on the path to financial recovery. Though you may think bankruptcy is your only option, a bankruptcy attorney will be able to assess your situation and explain the choices you have, and what the outcome of each would be.

To make sure that your appointment is productive, it’s a good idea to bring all of your financial documents with you, including bank and financial account statements and all of your outstanding bills. Your first meeting will likely cover a lot of ground, so it’s a good idea to write down your questions ahead of time so that you don’t forget what they were amidst the flood of information you’re likely to get.

Not sure what to ask? Here are some key questions to ask your bankruptcy attorney.

• Should I file under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy?

Most people assume that when they file for bankruptcy, they will automatically have all of their debts discharged, but not everybody qualifies for the type of bankruptcy that provides that as a remedy. Your attorney will go through the qualifications, as well as explain which of your debts might not be able to be discharged and which assets will be exempted from liquidation if you do file for Chapter 7.

• How much will filing for bankruptcy cost me?

Generally speaking, people who file for bankruptcy have to pay the court’s filing fees, and those are different depending upon whether you qualify to file for Chapter  7 versus filing for Chapter 13. There are also additional administrative fees that accompany a Chapter 13 filing, and whatever fees your bankruptcy attorney will charge. The more complex your case, the higher these fees are likely to be.

• How long will it take for my bankruptcy filing to be completed and my debts discharged?

This answer will depend on many variables, including how busy the attorney is, the speed at which the local court processes filings, how long it will take for you to gather all of your documents, and which type of bankruptcy you qualify for.

As difficult as it may be to move forward with a bankruptcy filing, you will likely find that once you start moving ahead and get the answers to these questions, you’ll start feeling much more confident and in control. To set up a time to talk with one of our bankruptcy attorneys, contact us today.