My clients are literally stunned. For years they’ve been working overtime to apply every penny they earned to “try” to pay down their debt. But it was impossible. Each payment they made barely put a dent in their debt. The interest, finance charges, and fees kept them in debt forever.
 
Frustrated, many tried a debt settlement program that they saw on TV. But after paying thousands, their debt was higher, credit scores lower, and they were being sued. Turns out the debt settlement programs were just pocketing upfront fees. Little had been settled; the program wouldn’t defend them in court; or refund their fees. The nightmare seemed like it would never end.
 
So they turned to the one solution the banks and debt settlement industry spent millions telling them to avoid: bankruptcy. It was the one thing that gave them relief from their debt and a new chance in life. It was quick & easy, and didn’t cause any of the consequences they once feared.
 
So how did they do it? 4 Simple steps.
 

STEP 1. FIND OUT IF BANKRUPTCY IS RIGHT FOR YOU

You can set up a meeting by calling (773) 283-1600 or email [email protected]. The initial consultation is completely free.
 
At our meeting I’ll spend about 30 minutes with you. I’ll pull your credit report and review your debts, assets, and income. We’ll discuss your concerns and goals, and construct a plan to get you out of debt once and for all. You can even chew my ear off with any question you may have.
 

STEP 2. PREPARE YOUR CASE

You’ll leave our consultation with an initial questionnaire and a list of documents that I need you to gather. Both are fairly quick and easy to complete. In most cases, you’ll provide me with a copy of your paystubs, tax returns, bank statements, and statements from your creditors.
 
Shortly after receiving your documents I’ll complete your petition and we’ll meet to review it. You’ll then take a credit counseling course. The course takes about 60-90 minutes and you can do it on the internet or over the telephone. Don’t worry, there’s no test at the end.
 

STEP 3. AFTER THE CASE IS FILED

Once you give the ok, your petition is filed. Notices are then sent to each person and company with whom you have a debt. The harassment, collection efforts, lawsuits, foreclosure and garnishments, must stop.
 
The court then appoints a trustee to your case and sets a date for us to meet. That meeting is called the “meeting of creditors,” but in the vast majority of cases no creditors ever appear.
 
The meeting takes place in an office like setting, not a courtroom, so you can relax. For most clients, the meeting lasts just a few minutes. The trustee asks you several basic yes/no questions to verify the accuracy of your petition and to clarify any questions they may have. No trick questions are asked. This is not like the courtroom scenes you see on TV.
 
After the meeting is over, you go home and take the second required credit counseling course. It lasts about 60-90 minutes and you can take it at home on the internet or over the telephone.
 

STEP 4. YOU’RE DONE!

For the vast majority of chapter 7 client’s that’s all you have to do. After the meeting, you wait a few weeks for the court to grant you a discharge.
 
From beginning to end, most chapter 7 cases takes about 5 hours of your time spread out over 3 to 4 months. Most clients keep everything they own and pay nothing more to their creditors.
 
If you filed a chapter 13, prior to the meeting with the trustee you would have submitted a partial repayment plan to the court and started making your monthly payments. At the meeting, the trustee will then review your plan and petition to ensure it complies with the law.
 
Once your plan is confirmed by the court, you continue to make your monthly payments until your plan has been completed. Shortly after your last payment, the court grants you a discharge.