Yes. Yes, you do. You also specifically need a lawyer who is experienced with bankruptcy filings. Bankruptcy is governed by a complicated web of statutes, rules and regulations, together with case law. Based on the number of calls that I get from people who have not hired me I can tell you that it is apparently not very hard to mess up what would otherwise be a simple case.

I have received many calls from people who have filed bankruptcy themself, usually with the help of a petition preparer, who then discover that they will lose thousands of dollars because of an oversight or simply because their timing was off by a week or so. At that point it is too late to help. A chapter 7 case can’t simply be cancelled and the person must turn over money (which they often no longer have) or face serious legal problems.

“But, come on, we’re buddies, tell me the truth, can’t I just do this without a lawyer?” No, it is simply too risky. Bankruptcy law is a mine field. You might get through it just fine, but you might file the wrong week and lose $3,600 that you don’t have, like someone I recently spoke with who hired an “experienced” non-attorney petition preparer. The knowledge, experience, and service we provide is more than worth the fees. Especially with our discharge guarantee.

Posted in: Frequently Asked Bankruptcy Questions