Filing for Bankruptcy

Explained by a Westchester County Bankruptcy Attorney

Filing for bankruptcy in Westchester County can be a complicated and delicate process. It is important for your petition and all relevant information to be filed properly to ensure approval. Misrepresented or omitted financial information may result in the denial of your petition and ineligibility to file again for an extended period of time. In extreme cases this may even result in criminal bankruptcy fraud charges.

What Is Required to File for Bankruptcy?

Each bankruptcy situation is unique, and will differ depending on the amount an individual owes his or her creditors. When filing for bankruptcy in Westchester County, the first step to take is to complete credit counseling, which enables you to file your petition for bankruptcy with the U.S. bankruptcy court. After the small filing fee has been paid and you bankruptcy petition has officially been filed, all of your creditors will be immediately notified. At this point, your creditors must cease all efforts of collection against you and an automatic stay on foreclosure and debt collection lawsuits will be enacted.

Your petition will need to include complete and accurate information about the following:

• Your assets
• Debt
• Income
• Nature
• Extent of Property
• Extent of Assets

If you are filing a Chapter 13 petition, you will also need to file a proposed repayment schedule to pay off a portion or all of your debt (based upon your disposable income).

Within 15 days of filing your petition, be sure to file all of your information with the court, including all your assets, income, debt, expenses, and a repayment plan if applicable. After this is complete, a statement of intent will be filed to notify the court if you would like to keep certain assets such as your car or any other debts. Within 45 days, you will meet with your creditors to testify the accuracy of your bankruptcy petition. The final step is to discharge all of your eligible debt.

Why Work with the Bronson Law Offices, P.C.?

Working with you to file your bankruptcy petition is one of the first parts of the legal counsel that we at the Bronson Law Offices, P.C. will provide. We will also help you make the right decision about filing your petition in the first place and can assist you in determining eligibility for Chapter 7 or deciding whether Chapter 13 may be the better option for you.

In addition to ensuring that you can properly file for bankruptcy in Westchester County, your lawyer will also actively work to protect your interests and legal rights through the entire process. Our main concern will be to help you experience the full force of all the benefits that this form of debt relief may offer.

The Benefits of Filing for Bankruptcy

With all of the information on filing for bankruptcy in front of you, you may ask yourself why you would need the assistance of a legal counsel. A Westchester County bankruptcy attorney at the Bronson Law Offices, P.C. will be able to assist your every move during the bankruptcy process, including determining which type of bankruptcy you will be eligible to file for (Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy) or if bankruptcy is even the right option for you.

Many people seek bankruptcy protection because they are overwhelmed with debt and are dealing with harassment by creditors, are facing foreclosure or are trying to survive under the burden of wage garnishment or repossession. Filing for bankruptcy will place an "automatic stay" on all debt collection efforts and legal action against you. A debtor will finally be able to breathe easier in knowing that these matters are no longer a concern.

Dealing with bankruptcy and debt relief on a regular basis, we understand that this will be a difficult time for you and your family. We will keep your bankruptcy case completely confidential and work with you one on one to personalize every aspect of your case to ensure the best possible outcome.