Tavere

Free Case Evaluation

510-255-4646
  • Home
  • About Firm
  • Practice Areas
  • Testimonials
  • Attorney
  • Blog
    • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
    • General Bankruptcy
    • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
    • Bankruptcy Law
    • Bankruptcy News
    • Types of Debt in Bankruptcy
      • Bay Area Bankruptcy Attorney
  • Contact Us
Stop Worrying About Your Debt

A Better Tomorrow

Starting Today

Stop Worrying About your Debt.
Call us Now to Take the First Step.

Click Here
Millions in debt discharged for our clients

Real Concern

Real Help

Millions in debt Discharged
For our Clients. Call Today, let us Help!

Click Here

Preparing To File Bankruptcy In The San Francisco Bay Area

wpadmin on January 4, 2013 Posted in General Bankruptcy

Once you have decided you are interested in filing bankruptcy your next step should be to research which attorney you are going to hire to represent you. This is no small matter, as over the past couple of years the number of bankruptcy attorneys has increased significantly. This is both good and bad. The good news is that you have many options to choose from and because there are now so many attorneys in the bankruptcy field, in order to stay competitive many are slashing their prices. The bad news is that if you don’t do your research, you may end up with an attorney who knows very little about bankruptcy and has only just recently jumped into the field in order to take advantage of the high number of people filing bankruptcy cases. A good way to decide who you want to hire is to schedule consultations with a number of bankruptcy attorneys. The consultations should be free and you should be able to ask the attorney many of the questions that you have about your case.

In order to get the most out of these free consultations, you need to prepare for the meeting. There are a number of things you should bring to your consultation in order to get the best advice from the attorney. If you are working, it is important to bring six months worth of pay stubs to the meeting. If you make the same amount every pay stub and don’t receive overtime, then it should be fine for you to bring a single pay stub to the first consultation. The reason you need to bring this information is so the attorney can determine based on your income which chapter of bankruptcy you are eligible for. Generally, you will either be filing a chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy and often your income level is the determining factor.

You will also need to bring in your most recently filed tax return. Bankruptcy Rule 4002(b)(3) specifies that once you file bankruptcy you must supply the trustee assigned to your case with a copy of your most recently filed tax return. If you feel good about the attorney you are consulting with and decide to hire them, it is helpful to have your tax return with you so they can make copies of it during your consultation. It saves you and your attorney time if you have it available at your first meeting.

Finally, it is helpful if you bring a recent credit report or have a general idea of the type and amount of debt you owe. If you are behind on your mortgage, you should try to figure out exactly how far behind you are. If you owe taxes, it is important to know how much. These factors will contribute to how much your chapter 13 plan payment may be if that is the chapter that will be most helpful to you. The more exact you are, the more exact your attorney can be in giving you an idea of how much a monthly payment might be.

If this all seems overwhelming, do not worry too much about it. Sometimes you just need to go to the initial consultation and get a feel for the attorney you are seeing. A good one will make you feel relaxed and confident about your decision to obtain bankruptcy relief. Once you feel comfortable with the bankruptcy attorney, it should be easier to compile all of the documents you will need to file.

The Law Offices of Melanie Tavare is a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code

Recent Posts

  • What Can You Do if You Cannot Keep Up With Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Plan Payments?

    If you filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy but are struggling to keep up with the payments outlined in your debt repayment plan, you may not kn

    category : Bankruptcy Law, Blog

  • What is a Means Test and How Does it Work?

    When considering filing for bankruptcy, one of the most important steps is the means test. This test evaluates your financial situation to

    category : Bankruptcy Law, Blog

  • When Should I Stop Using My Credit Card Before Bankruptcy?

    Filing for bankruptcy is a difficult decision and one that should not be taken lightly. But if you have already made the decision to file,

    category : Bankruptcy Law, Blog

  • Can Filing for Bankruptcy Stop an Eviction?

    Facing eviction can be a stressful and difficult experience. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy to stop an eviction, there are ce

    category : Bankruptcy Law, Blog

search this year

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • Search by Year

  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • img

    Quick Links

    • Bay Area Bankruptcy Attorney
    • About Firm
    • Practice Areas
    • Attorney
    • Communities Served
    • FAQ
    • Disclaimer
    • Contact Us

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google
    • Yelp

    Contact Us

    • Oakland Office

      1300 Clay St. Suite 600
      Oakland, CA 94612

    • Hayward Office

      24301 Southland Dr.
      STE. 310
      Hayward, CA 94545

    • 510 255 4646

    We serve the following localities: Alameda County, Alameda, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Oakland, San Leandro, Union City, Contra Costa County, Antioch, Brentwood, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Richmond, Walnut Creek, San Francisco County, San Francisco, Albany, Ashland, Dublin, Emeryville, Newark, Pleasanton, San Lorenzo, and Alamo.


    The Law Offices of Melanie Tavare is a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code


    Berkeley Bankruptcy Lawyer Melanie Tavare Home | Contact Brentwood, California Foreclosure Defense Attorney Melanie Tavare

    2022 © Copyright law office of Melanie Tavare