Your mentality may be that since you singlehandedly got yourself into a poor financial situation, you want to get out of it yourself and go into your bankruptcy proceedings alone. While this may be very honorable of you, we may not necessarily recommend it for your given circumstance. Well, please continue reading to learn more about filing for bankruptcy pro se and how an experienced Louisville, Kentucky consumer bankruptcy lawyer at Schwartz Bankruptcy Law Center can reaffirm whether this is a good or bad idea to follow.

What does filing for bankruptcy pro se mean?

Essentially, filing for bankruptcy pro se means you are representing yourself in your upcoming bankruptcy case proceedings without the legal assistance of a hired lawyer. With this option, you may seek out a non-attorney petition preparer for assistance with your required bankruptcy forms, but they are unauthorized to give any legal advisement.

It may only be worth it for you to be a pro se litigant if you have some legal background to help get you by. Or, if you believe your bankruptcy case will be simple enough to handle alone. This may be if the little property you own can be protected by bankruptcy exemptions; if none of your debts are eligible for a bankruptcy discharge; and/or if your bankruptcy petition is not prompted by serious collection activities by creditors.

When is filing pro se a bad idea?

Nine times out of 10, or even more frequently, our team will recommend our clients to retain our services rather than jumping into their bankruptcy cases by themselves. This is because, no matter how you slice it, bankruptcy proceedings may be extremely complex, and any small misstep may jeopardize your rights, opportunities, and overall outcome.

That is, before you even file your bankruptcy declaration, your lawyer may advise you on whether it is necessary or if you can alleviate your financial burdens through alternative methods (i.e., debt consolidation, credit counseling, selling assets, etc). From here, they may offer advice on the following:

  • They may recommend whether to file for Chapter 7 consumer bankruptcy or Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy.
  • They may serve as a second set of eyes to confirm that you completed your required bankruptcy forms correctly.
  • They may file your completed bankruptcy forms with the local bankruptcy court on your behalf and timely.
  • They may prepare you for what to expect at each step of the bankruptcy process (i.e., credit counseling, meeting of creditors, debt education, etc).
  • They may inform you on which of your assets qualify for exemptions, which of your debts qualify for a discharge, etc.
  • They may serve as your protector from your outstanding creditors and their legal representatives.

No matter what, you do not need to feel alone in this process. A skilled Louisville, Kentucky consumer bankruptcy lawyer is ready to be in your corner and support you throughout. So please reach out to Schwartz Bankruptcy Law Center whenever you are ready.