Bankruptcy is not something that you do on the spur of the moment, but rather it should be a well thought out plan that you only implement when you have exhausted all other possibilities. While bankruptcy may provide a way out of your current financial situation, you need to consider and be aware that the ramifications of filing bankruptcy are going to haunt you for the next 7 to 10 years. Many people who file bankruptcy are doing so to make things better "now" but they are not looking years down the road, and when they do and wish they had considered other options, it is then too late.
If you are on the very edge of filing bankruptcy and need a way out, there are multiple other options that may be available to you. If you feel like you're hopelessly buried in debt and you have very few assets, filing for bankruptcy may not be the answer to ending your financial problems. Though it sounds like an easy and attractive solution for one's financial problems, bankruptcy should be the last option any individual should resort to.
Throughout the process of filing for bankruptcy, it is a good idea to have a lawyer represent you through all formal bankruptcy proceedings. Unless you yourself are very familiar with bankruptcy law, especially the variations of the law within your state, it is more than just a good idea to have a bankruptcy lawyer represent you; it is almost a necessity so that you don't accidentally get yourself into worse trouble than you are right now. From start to finish, the process of filing for bankruptcy is much different than it has been in decades past, and a good bankruptcy attorney knows those pitfalls and can navigate around them.
Before taking the big step and filing for bankruptcy, you will need to do some reading, especially so that you can explain to your bankruptcy attorney the reason for considering bankruptcy. You may need to consider filing bankruptcy if your expenses are increasing because of divorce, job loss, or medical bills, while your income is decreasing because of the same reason. There are various good reasons for filing bankruptcy, but there are also many BAD reasons for filing bankruptcy, based on the ease with which one could do that in years past, but most of those loopholes have been closed, and it is not nearly as easy today to file a non-painful bankruptcy case.
If you have decided there is no alternative to filing bankruptcy, you may be asking yourself, "how do I find a good bankruptcy lawyer? If you have exhausted all other resources and still feel bankruptcy is your only viable option you can learn more about filing bankruptcy or buy do it yourself bankruptcy forms. If you're unemployed, on public assistance, have little or no money in a bank account, don't own an automobile, or rent or live with others, filing for bankruptcy may do little to improve your financial situation. The bankruptcy judge is going to want to see a plan of how you plan to change your current situation so that you are not back in the same position in another few years, so be sure that you discuss a financial plan with your bankruptcy lawyer.
About the Author
Jon is a computer engineer who maintains web sites on a variety of topics based on his knowledge and experience. You can read more about bankruptcy and options at his web site at Bankruptcy Advice
