The Bankruptcy Guide: For individuals and families overwhelmed by debt...

Dear Reader: Financial crises can happen to anyone. The world of consumer bankruptcy can be frightening and overwhelming. Do yourself a favor: Stop and take a deep breath. Typically, the worst part of filing bankruptcy is figuring out your options and learning how the process works. It almost always gets better from there. This guide is intended for individuals and families that are contemplating filing for bankruptcy protection. The Bankruptcy Guide is meant to be as reader friendly as possible. To that end, I have done my best to cut out legal jargon and “terms of art” used in the legal field. The result is a straightforward, accessible guide to the bankruptcy process. Bankruptcy is governed by Federal Law, but each state handles certain aspects of the Bankruptcy Code differently. My law practice is in Colorado, so if you live in the Centennial State and need help, call me. If you live outside of Colorado and need an attorney, consider looking at your state’s bar association website for a list of practitioners in your area. The Bankruptcy Guide will help you understand how bankruptcy works, but every case is different. Knowledge is power, and the best piece of knowledge I can pass on is to hire a lawyer for your case. Filing bankruptcy on your own, known as “Pro Se” filing (sorry for the jargon), is risky in almost every case. You should be wary of document preparation services, as well. They are not lawyers and are under no legal or ethical obligation to tell you the truth! Best wishes, Benjamin C. Yablon Attorney at Law