What Do I Need to Bring

Phoenix and Tucson Chapter 7 and 13 Bankruptcy Lawyer

Free Consultation with a Bankruptcy Attorney - During our initial FREE CONSULTATION you will be asked to fill our intake forms that will give a broad stroke of your financial picture.  We will not be preparing the petition on the first meeting so you will not need to know specific information.  You will, however, need to know how much money you earn, both net and gross.  You will also need to know what you own and the approximate amount owed against your assets, for example, how much your house or car is worth and how much you still owe.  The more familiar you are with your financial situation, the more reliable and accurate your initial consultation will be.  At Gukeisen Law Group, P.C. in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, we advocate for you throughout the entire Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy process, including the important first step of gathering all the data.

Retaining a Bankruptcy Lawyer - If your creditors are aggressive in their collection efforts, you may be able to gain relief by telling them that you have retained an attorney and are filing for bankruptcy.  They will, of course, want to know the name and number of your attorney.  In order to retain a bankruptcy attorney, you need to exchange money.  If you decide to retain Dan Gukeisen as your bankruptcy attorney at your initial meeting, you will need to bring $100.  This $100 is deducted from the total amount of the bankruptcy attorney's fees, which normally average $1200-$1500.  In exchange for this retainer, you are able to tell your creditors not to call you anymore and refer them to your bankruptcy attorney.  At this point the creditors are supposed to stop the telephone calls, but the more unscrupulous ones will continue to call. 

Bankruptcy Payment Plans - The total amount of attorney's fees, typically $1200, is a lot of money to come up with all at one time.  However, you can make payments over a period of time until the fees are paid.  In most cases, the bankruptcy cannot be filed until the fees have been paid.  If there are still fees outstanding at the time of filing, they are normally discharged with all of your other debt.  The bankruptcy attorney is placed in a position of being a creditor and cannot, therefore, represent the debtor.  This is an unfortunate bankruptcy fact, but the unique thing about dealing with a local attorney, is that we will usually be able to work a deal to avoid foreclosure or garnishment.  If you are faced with a financial catastrophe, we will find a way to help you.

When Do We FIle the Bankruptcy? - Since the fees will normally have to be paid before filing, the actual date of filing will be determined by your financial ability or other legal factors such as time elements of exclusions and/or presumptions.  In an emergency situation, we can file your petition the same day. 

At the bankruptcy law offices of Gukeisen Law Group, P.C., we accept any form of paymnent such as a debit card, or a credit card from a friend or relative (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and electronic funds transfer).

At our firm, we recognize the stress involved in preparing and filing for Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy. However, there are necessary and very detailed steps that need to be taken. As your advocate, we will help you throughout the entire process to help you move on without the overwhelming stress of debt you cannot manage.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced attorney regarding Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy, please contact us.

To learn more about bankruptcy, please visit our Bankruptcy FAQs.