One of the biggest questions that revolves around filing bankruptcy is whether or not a person needs to hire a bankruptcy lawyer in Washington DC to help them file. This biggest reason why people ask this question is because typically, a person filing bankruptcy is not in a very good place financially. This makes being able to afford a lawyer of any kind a little complicated. Legally, there is nothing stating that you absolutely have to hire a lawyer in order to file bankruptcy. However, most people find that hiring a bankruptcy lawyer makes the process go smoother and quicker. You are also less prone to making mistakes when you have a lawyer helping you.
Regardless of if you decide to hire a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Washington DC or not to help you file, you have to decide what kind of bankruptcy you are filing. Figuring out whether you should be filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is going to save you a lot of time. You need to look at your monthly income and subtract all of your expenses from it. This would include things such as child support, rent, utility bills, and food. Then, you would take the money left over, and see if it is possible for you to pay off your debt with some kind of monthly payment plan. If you find out that paying off your debt is realistic, you are going to be applying for Chapter 13. If you have so much debt that paying it off seems like a joke, you are going to be filing Chapter 7. If you reach out to a law firm such as Andrews Law, they would be able to help you figure out which kind of bankruptcy is best for you.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is most people’s first choice when it comes to filing bankruptcy. Chapter 7 is going to wipe your slate clean with the exception of a handful of debts. You will not have to pay any of those credit card bills or unpaid utility bills. If you file Chapter 13, you are still going to have to pay all of the debt back, and you have to do it within 3 to 5 years. Regardless of which kind of bankruptcy you file, all of the harassing phone calls and letters will stop coming.
