Take a file folder and insert a statement from every creditor you owe. Add income and asset documents. After you've finished building a compendium of your current financial situation, contact a lawyer for a list of places offering the pre-petition credit counseling required by the court.
1
Make sure you have the following information for each creditor in your file:
• Name and complete mailing address of who you owe
• Your account number (if applicable)
• The name of who owes the debt (husband, wife or both)
• The total amount you owe this creditor
• How much your monthly payments are
• The date you originally went into debt with this creditor (if you can’t remember the exact date, just an approximate year will do) and
• If the debt is for a credit card, record the last date you charged on this credit card (if you charged less than 90 days ago, you need to write down the amount you charged and the reason for the purchase).
2
Then, insert the following documents:
__ Six months of paycheck stubs;
__ If you are unemployed, include copies of documents showing any income you receive(d) from unemployment, worker’s compensation, child support, SSI, social security, retirement, estate, etc.
__ Mortgage and deed if you own or are purchasing a home or other real property (i.e., land, apartment complex, etc.);
__ Copies of your car, boat, motorcycle, mobile home or other titles to motor vehicles;
__ Copies of your tax returns for the last four years; and
__ Copies of any court proceedings filed against you.
3
Take the first of two courses:
You must complete two courses in order to receive a bankruptcy discharge. The first is a credit counseling course that must be completed prior to filing your petition. The second is a financial management course that must be
completed within 45 days following your meeting with the U.S. Trustee. The court has a list of agencies approved in to administer the classes and certify that you have completed each requirement.
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