The process · Memphis, TennesseeWhat happens when you file.
Nobody shows up at your door. This is a paperwork process with one short meeting in the middle. Here is the actual sequence, so there are no surprises in it.
What happens, in order
Nobody shows up at your door. This is a paperwork process.
Here is the actual sequence, so there are no surprises in it.
-
You call and we talk it through
Free, private, and no commitment. Bring what you know off the top of your head. You do not need documents to have this conversation.
-
We gather your numbers
Income, debts, what you own, what you owe on it. Jonathan tells you which chapter fits and what it will cost before you sign anything.
-
The petition is filed
This is the moment the automatic stay begins. Creditors are notified by the court. The calls stop here.
-
The meeting of creditors
A short meeting with the trustee, roughly a month later. Jonathan is with you. In most consumer cases no creditor shows up at all.
-
Discharge, or your plan begins
In Chapter 7, the qualifying debt is discharged. In Chapter 13, you make one plan payment each month and the court holds creditors back the whole time.
The moment that matters
Filing is when the pressure stops, not when the case ends.
Under 11 U.S.C. § 362, the automatic stay takes effect the day your petition is filed. Collection calls, wage garnishment, a scheduled foreclosure sale, repossession, bank levies, and collection lawsuits are all ordered to halt. Not months later. That day.
The stay is broad but not absolute. Repeat filings and child support obligations are treated differently, and a lender can ask the court for permission to proceed. Jonathan will tell you which rules apply to your case before you decide anything.
Common questions
Questions people ask before they call.
Do I have to go to court to file bankruptcy?
There is one short meeting with the bankruptcy trustee, usually about a month after filing. It is not a trial and not in front of a judge. Jonathan attends with you, and in most consumer cases no creditor appears.
How soon do creditor calls stop?
The day the petition is filed. The automatic stay is federal law and does not require any creditor to agree to it.
What do I need to bring to the first consultation?
Nothing. Bring what you know off the top of your head. Documents come later, once Jonathan knows which chapter fits.
Related
Other ways out.
The consultation is free. The call is short.
Tell Jonathan what is happening and he will tell you which chapter fits, or whether bankruptcy is the wrong tool for your situation.