Completing our Bankruptcy Intake Form provides us with a brief overview of your situation and allows us to better advise you of your options. However, before we can review your financial options, we must provide the following disclosures to you. These disclosures are also available in PDF format here if you would like to print or save a copy. Please review these disclosures and then click the "I agree" button below to proceed to our Intake Form.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BANKRUPTCY AND ALTERNATIVES TO BANKRUPTCY 11 U.S.C. § 527(b) IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BANKRUPTCY ASSISTANCE SERVICES FROM AN ATTORNEY OR BANKRUPTCY PETITION PREPARER If you decide to seek bankruptcy relief, you can represent yourself, you can hire an attorney to represent you, or you can get help in some localities from a bankruptcy petition preparer who is not an attorney. THE LAW REQUIRES AN ATTORNEY OR BANKRUPTCY PETITION PREPARER TO GIVE YOU A WRITTEN CONTRACT SPECIFYING WHAT THE ATTORNEY OR BANKRUPTCY PETITION PREPARER WILL DO FOR YOU AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST. 1. Ask to see the contract before you hire anyone. The following information helps you understand what must be done in a routine bankruptcy case to help you evaluate how much service you need. Although bankruptcy can be complex, many cases are routine. 2. Before filing a bankruptcy case, either you or your attorney should analyze your eligibility for different forms of debt relief available under the Bankruptcy Code and which form of relief is most likely to be beneficial for you. Be sure you understand the relief you can obtain and its limitations. 3. To file a bankruptcy case, documents called a Petition, Schedules and Statement of Financial Affairs, as well as in some cases a Statement of Intention need to be prepared correctly and filed with the bankruptcy court. You will have to pay a filing fee to the bankruptcy court. Once your case starts, you will have to attend the required first meeting of creditors where you may be questioned by a court official called a trustee and by creditors. 4. If you choose to file a chapter 7 case, you may be asked by a creditor to reaffirm a debt. You may want help deciding whether to do so. A creditor is not permitted to coerce you into reaffirming your debts. 5. If you choose to file a chapter 13 case in which you repay your creditors what you can afford over 3 to 5 years, you may also want help with preparing your chapter 13 plan and with the confirmation hearing on your plan which will be before a bankruptcy judge. 6. If you select another type of relief under the Bankruptcy Code other than chapter 7 or chapter 13, you will want to find out what should be done from someone familiar with that type of relief. 7. Your bankruptcy case may also involve litigation. You are generally permitted to represent yourself in litigation in bankruptcy court, but only attorneys, not bankruptcy petition preparers, can give you legal advice. PURPOSES, BENEFITS AND COSTS OF BANKRUPTCY Code § 527(a)(1) & § 342(b)(1) The United States Constitution provides a method whereby individuals, burdened by excessive debt, can obtain a fresh financial start and pursue newly productive lives unimpaired by past financial problems. It is an important alternative for persons mired deep in financial difficulty. The federal bankruptcy laws were enacted to provide debtors with a fresh start and to establish a ranking and equity among all the creditors who are clamoring for the debtor's limited resources. Bankruptcy helps people avoid the kind of permanent discouragement that can prevent them from ever reestablishing themselves as hard-working members of society. Also, creditors are ranked so that the debtor's nonexempt property can be fairly distributed according to established rules guaranteeing identical treatment to all creditors of the same rank. This discussion is intended only as a brief overview of the types of bankruptcy filings and of what a bankruptcy filing can and cannot do. Anyone considering this course of action is encouraged to seek the advice and assistance of an attorney specializing in bankruptcy law. Types of Bankruptcy The Bankruptcy Code is divided into chapters. The chapters which usually apply to consumer debtors are chapter 7, known as a Liquidation, and chapter 13, known as an Adjustment of the Debts of an Individual with Regular Income. An important feature applicable to all types of bankruptcy filings is the automatic stay. The automatic stay means that the mere request for bankruptcy protection automatically "stays" or forces an abrupt halt to repossessions, foreclosures, evictions, garnishments, attachments, utility shut-offs, and debt collection harassment. It offers debtors a breathing spell by giving the debtor and the trustee assigned to the case time to review the situation and develop an appropriate plan. Creditors cannot take any further action against the debtor or the property without permission from the bankruptcy court. Chapter 7 In a chapter 7, or liquidation case, the bankruptcy court appoints a trustee to examine the debtor's assets and divide them into exempt and nonexempt property. Exempt property is limited to a certain amount of equity in the debtor's residence, motor vehicle, household goods, life insurance, health aids, specified future earnings such as social security benefits and alimony, and certain other personal property. The trustee may then sell the nonexempt property and distribute the proceeds among the unsecured creditors. Although a liquidation case can rarely help with secured debt (the secured creditor still has the right to repossess the collateral), the debtor will be discharged from the legal obligation to pay unsecured debts such as credit card debts, medical bills and utility arrears. However, certain types of unsecured debt are allowed special treatment and cannot be discharged. These include some student loans, alimony, child support, criminal fines, and some taxes. Chapter 13 In a chapter 13 case, the debtor puts forward a plan, following the rules set forth in the bankruptcy laws, to repay all creditors over a period of time, usually from future income. A chapter 13 case may be advantageous in that the debtor is allowed to get caught up on mortgages or car loans without the threat of foreclosure or repossession and is allowed to keep both exempt and nonexempt property. The debtor's plan is a simple document outlining to the bankruptcy court how the debtor proposes to pay current expenses while paying off all the old debt balances. The debtor's property is protected from seizure from creditors, including mortgage and other lien holders, as long as the proposed payments are made. The plan generally requires monthly payments to the bankruptcy trustee over a period of three to five years. Arrangements can be made to have these payments made automatically through payroll deductions. Chapter 11 (Taken from the official Public Information Series Bankruptcy Judges Division brochure on “Bankruptcy Basics” prepared by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, June 2000) A case filed under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code is frequently referred to as a “reorganization” bankruptcy. Upon the filing of a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 the debtor automatically assumes an additional identity as the “debtor in possession.” The term refers to a debtor that keeps possession and control of its assets while undergoing a reorganization under chapter 11, without the appointment of a case trustee. A debtor will remain a debtor in possession until the debtor’s plan of reorganization is confirmed, the debtor’s case is dismissed or converted to chapter 7, or a chapter 11 trustee is appointed. The appointment or election of a trustee occurs only in a small number of cases. Generally, the debtor, as “debtor in possession,” operates the business and performs many of the functions that a trustee performs in cases under other chapters. 11 U.S.C. § 1107(a). A written disclosure statement and a plan of reorganization must be filed with the court. 11 U.S.C. § 1121. The disclosure statement is a document that must contain information concerning the assets, liabilities, and business affairs of the debtor sufficient to enable a creditor to make an informed judgment about the debtor’s plan of reorganization. 11 U.S.C. § 1125. The information required is governed by judicial discretion and the circumstances of the case. The contents of the plan must include a classification of claims and must specify how each class of claims will be treated under the plan. 11 U.S.C. § 1123. Creditors whose claims are “impaired,” i.e., those whose contractual rights are to be modified or who will be paid less than the full value of their claims under the plan vote on the plan by ballot. 11 U.S.C. § 1126. After the disclosure statement is approved and the ballots are collected and tallied, the bankruptcy court will conduct a confirmation hearing to determine whether to confirm the plan. 11 U.S.C. § 1128. THE CHAPTER 11 DEBTOR –IN-POSSESSION While individuals are not precluded from using chapter 11, it is more typically used to reorganize a business, which may be a corporation, sole proprietorship, or partnership. A corporation exists separate and apart from its owners, the stockholders. The chapter 11 bankruptcy case of a corporation (corporation as debtor) does not put the personal assets of the stockholders at risk other than the value of their investment in the company’s stock. A sole proprietorship (owner as debtor), on the other hand, does not have an identity separate and distinct from its owner(s); accordingly, a bankruptcy case involving a sole proprietorship includes both the business and personal assets of the owners-debtors. Like a corporation, a partnership exists separate and apart from its partners. In a partnership bankruptcy case (partnership as debtor), however, the partners’ personal assets may, in some cases, be used to pay creditors in the bankruptcy case or the partners may, themselves, be forced to file for bankruptcy protection. Section 1107 of the Code places the debtor in possession in the position of a fiduciary, with the rights and powers of a chapter 11 trustee, and requires the performance of all but the investigative functions and duties of a trustee. These duties are set forth in the Bankruptcy Code and Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. 11 U.S.C. §§ 1106, 1107; Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2015(a). Such powers and duties include accounting for property, examining and objecting to claims, and filing informational reports as required by the court and the United States trustee, such as monthly operating reports. The debtor in possession also has many of the other powers and duties of a trustee including the right, with the court’s approval, to employ attorneys, accountants, appraisers, auctioneers, or other professional persons to assist the debtor during its bankruptcy case. Other responsibilities include filing tax returns and filing such reports as are necessary or as the court orders after confirmation, such as a final accounting. The United States trustee is responsible for monitoring the compliance of the debtor in possession with the reporting requirements in a small business case. 11 U.S.C. § 1102(a)(3). A small business case proceeds faster than a regular chapter 11 case because the court may conditionally approve a disclosure statement, subject to final approval after notice and a hearing and solicitation of votes for acceptance or rejection of the plan. Thereafter, the disclosure statement hearing may be combined with the confirmation hearing. 11 U.S.C. § 1125(f). In addition, the debtor has a shortened period of time (100 days from the date of the order for relief) within which only the debtor may file a plan. Chapter 12 (Taken from the official Public Information Series Bankruptcy Judges Division brochure on “Bankruptcy Basics” prepared by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, June 2000) Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code was enacted by Congress in 1986, specifically to meet the needs of financially distressed family farmers. The primary purpose of this legislation was to give family farmers facing bankruptcy a chance to reorganize their debts and keep their farms. Background In tailoring chapter 12 to meet the economic realities of family farming, this law has eliminated many of the barriers that family farmers had faced when seeking to reorganize successfully under either chapter 11 or 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. For example, chapter 12 is more streamlined, less complicated, and less expensive than chapter 11, which is better suited to the large corporate reorganization. In addition, few family farmers find chapter 13 to be advantageous, because it was designed for wage earners who have smaller debts than those facing family farmers. In chapter 12, Congress sought to combine the features of the Bankruptcy Code which can provide a framework for successful family farm reorganizations. At the time of the enactment of chapter 12, Congress could not be sure whether chapter 12 relief for the family farmer would be required indefinitely. Accordingly, the law (which first provided that no chapter 12 cases could be filed after September 30, 1993) currently provides that no cases may be filed under chapter 12 after July 1, 2000. As of June 30, 2000, legislation is pending in Congress to extend that deadline. The Bankruptcy Code provides that only a family farmer with “regular annual income” may file a petition for relief under chapter 12. 11 U.S.C. §§ 101(18), 109(f). The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that the debtor’s annual income is sufficiently stable and regular to permit the debtor to make payments under a chapter 12 plan. Allowance is made under chapter 12, however, for situations in which family farmers may have income that is seasonal in nature. Relief under this chapter is voluntary; thus, only the debtor may file a petition under chapter 12. Under the Bankruptcy Code, those eligible to file as “family farmers” fall into two categories: (1) an individual or individual and spouse and (2) a corporation or partnership. Those falling into the first category must meet each of the following four criteria as of the date the petition is filed in order to qualify for relief under chapter 12. 1. More than one-half of the outstanding stock or equity in the corporation or partnership must be owned by one family or by one family and its relatives. 2. The family or the family and its relatives must conduct the farming operation. 3. More than 80% of the value of the corporate or partnership assets must be related to the farming operation. 4. The total indebtedness of the corporation or partnership must not exceed $1.5 million. 5. Not less than 80% of the corporation’s or partnership’s total debts which are fixed in amount must come from the farming operation owned or operated by 6. If the corporation has issued stock, the stock cannot be publicly traded. What Bankruptcy Can and Cannot Do Bankruptcy may make it possible for financially distressed individuals to: 1. Discharge liability for most or all of their debts and get a fresh start. When the debt is discharged, the debtor has no further legal obligation to pay the debt. 2. Stop foreclosure actions on their home and allow them an opportunity to catch up on missed payments. 3. Prevent repossession of a car or other property, or force the creditor to return property even after it has been repossessed. 4. Stop wage garnishment and other debt collection harassment, and give the individual some breathing room. 5. Restore or prevent termination of utility service. 6. Lower the monthly payments on debts, including secured debts such as car loans. 7. Allow debtors an opportunity to challenge the claims of certain creditors who have committed fraud or who are otherwise seeking to collect more than they are legally entitled to. Bankruptcy, however, cannot cure every financial problem. It is usually not possible to: 1. Eliminate certain rights of secured creditors. Although a debtor can force secured creditors to take payments over time in the bankruptcy process, a debtor generally cannot keep the collateral unless the debtor continues to pay the debt. 2. Discharge types of debts singled out by the federal bankruptcy statutes for special treatment, such as child support, alimony, some student loans, certain court ordered payments, criminal fines, and some taxes. 3. Protect all cosigners on their debts. If relative a or friend co-signed a loan which the debtor discharged in bankruptcy, the cosigner may still be obligated to repay the loan. 4. Discharge debts that are incurred after bankruptcy has been filed. Bankruptcy's Effect on Your Credit By federal law, a bankruptcy can remain part of a debtor's credit history for 10 years. Whether or not the debtor will be granted credit in the future is unpredictable. In some cases it may actually be easier to obtain future credit, because new creditors may feel that since the old obligations have been discharged, they will be first in line. The also recognize that the debtor cannot again file bankruptcy for at least the next six years. Debtors have the option after bankruptcy of voluntarily paying some creditors, such as a doctor or hospital, with whom they wish to maintain credit. The payments are voluntary and do not reaffirm the past obligation. About credit counseling agencies 11 U.S.C. § 342(b)(1)(B) The following information is taken verbatim from the web site of the Federal Trade Commission. www.ftc.gov Credit Counseling If you're not disciplined enough to create a workable budget and stick to it, can't work out a repayment plan with your creditors, or can't keep track of mounting bills, consider contacting a credit counseling organization. Many credit counseling organizations are nonprofit and work with you to solve your financial problems. But be aware that, just because an organization says it's "nonprofit," there's no guarantee that its services are free, affordable, or even legitimate. In fact, some credit counseling organizations charge high fees, which may be hidden, or urge consumers to make "voluntary" contributions that can cause more debt. Most credit counselors offer services through local offices, the Internet, or on the telephone. If possible, find an organization that offers in-person counseling. Many universities, military bases, credit unions, housing authorities, and branches of the U.S. Cooperative Extension Service operate nonprofit credit counseling programs. Your financial institution, local consumer protection agency, and friends and family also may be good sources of information and referrals. Reputable credit counseling organizations can advise you on managing your money and debts, help you develop a budget, and offer free educational materials and workshops. Their counselors are certified and trained in the areas of consumer credit, money and debt management, and budgeting. Counselors discuss your entire financial situation with you, and help you develop a personalized plan to solve your money problems. An initial counseling session typically lasts an hour, with an offer of follow-up sessions. Debt Management Plans If your financial problems stem from too much debt or your inability to repay your debts, a credit counseling agency may recommend that you enroll in a debt management plan (DMP). A DMP alone is not credit counseling, and DMPs are not for everyone. You should sign up for one of these plans only after a certified credit counselor has spent time thoroughly reviewing your financial situation, and has offered you customized advice on managing your money. Even if a DMP is appropriate for you, a reputable credit counseling organization still can help you create a budget and teach you money management skills. In a DMP, you deposit money each month with the credit counseling organization, which uses your deposits to pay your unsecured debts, like your credit card bills, student loans, and medical bills, according to a payment schedule the counselor develops with you and your creditors. Your creditors may agree to lower your interest rates or waive certain fees, but check with all your creditors to be sure they offer the concessions that a credit counseling organization describes to you. A successful DMP requires you to make regular, timely payments, and could take 48 months or more to complete. Ask the credit counselor to estimate how long it will take for you to complete the plan. You may have to agree not to apply for — or use — any additional credit while you're participating in the plan. FULL DISCLOSURE & ACCURACY 11 U.S.C. § 527(a)(2) If you file bankruptcy: A. The information that you provide to your attorney, the bankruptcy trustee, and the court in the course of your bankruptcy, both before and after you file your bankruptcy petition, must be complete, accurate and truthful. B. All of your assets (everything you own that has value, such as real estate, personal items, vehicles, money, etc.) and all of your liabilities (all of your debts) are required to be completely and accurately disclosed in the documents filed to start your case, and the replacement value of each asset must be stated in those documents where requested after reasonable inquiry to establish their value. The value should be your best understanding of how much it would cost you to replace the item in the same or similar condition. C. You must provide your attorney with a monthly budget, including your current monthly income, all of your regular expenses, and the amount of your income that is left over after deduction of expenses. In listing your income and expenses, try to avoid guessing or estimating, and do your best to be accurate and truthful. For income, you are required to provide information about all sources of your income, including your employment, any government assistance you may receive, social security, pension or other retirement income, income from side jobs, investment income, and similar sources. D. The information that you provide to your bankruptcy attorney, the bankruptcy trustee, or the bankruptcy judge may be audited and will be available for inspection by the office of the United States Trustee, which is a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice. If you fail to honestly and fully provide information about your property, income, expenses, and other financial circumstances, your case could be dismissed, and you could be subject to criminal sanctions. INSTRUCTIONS REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED TO THE DEBTOR PURSUANT TO 11 U.S.C. § 527(c) Instructions for providing the required information 1. How to place a value on your property 11 U.S.C. § 506(a): Fair Valuation of Collateral. The value of your personal property that is collateral for debt (a debt where the creditor could repossess the item if you stop making payments, such as a car, furniture or computer equipment being purchased on installment) is determined based on the replacement value of such property as of the filing date of the bankruptcy case without deduction for selling or marketing costs. If the item was acquired for personal, family, or household purposes, replacement value is the price a retail merchant would charge for an item of that kind, considering the age and condition of the property at the time its value is determined. So, the value of the car, the furniture, the computer or anything else that you won’t own until it’s paid off, is not what you paid for it, and it is not what you could sell it for at the flea-market. The value is what you would have to pay a retail store selling similar items in a similar age and condition. Most retail stores do not sell used items. However, there are usually stores in the are selling used furniture, musical instruments, cars, and similar products. You might be able to provide a good estimate of the value of one or your items by inquiring at such a store. If you can’t find a store that sells similar items in similar condition, the next best source for an objective appraisal is probably eBay or a similar online market. 2. How to determine current monthly income To arrive at your current monthly income, you do the following: a. Total up all of your income for the last 6 months (and if your spouse is filing bankruptcy, his or her income as well). Include the contributions from any member of the household who is contributing regularly to the household expenses. Income includes: 1. Wages and salaries 2. Money earned from side jobs 3. Investment income 4. Interest income 5. Income for self-employed individuals Income does not include: 1. Benefits received under the Social Security Act; 2. Payments to victims of war crimes or crimes against humanity on account of their status as victims of such crimes; and 3. Payments to victims of international terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of Title 18) or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331 of Title 18) on account of their status as victims of such terrorism. b. Divide this figure by 6 to arrive an an average monthly income. 3. How to figure your necessary living expenses Go through the same exercise for your expenses. Total up all expenses for the last 6 months, then divide by 6 to obtain a monthly average. Expenses include all of your reasonably necessary costs of living, such as rent or mortgage, utilities, food, transportation, etc. Do not include in your expenses payments for credit cards, repayments of personal loans, delinquent medical bills, taxes, store charge accounts, business debts, or other non-regular expenses not included as necessary living expenses. Use the worksheet below as a guide. Rent or home mortgage payment (include lot rented for mobile home) Are real estate taxes included? Yes ________ No ________ Is property insurance included? Yes ________ No ________ Utilities: Electricity and heating fuel Water and sewer Telephone Other Home maintenance (repairs and upkeep) Food Clothing Laundry and dry cleaning Medical and dental expenses Transportation (not including car payments) Recreation, clubs and entertainment, newspapers, magazines, etc. Charitable contributions Insurance (not deducted from wages or included in home mortgage payments) Homeowner’s or renter’s Life Health Auto Other Taxes (not deducted from wages or included in home mortgage payments) (Specify) Installment payments: (In chapter 12 and 13 cases, do not list payments to be included in the plan) Auto Other Other Alimony, maintenance, and support paid to others Payments for support of additional dependents not living at your home Regular expenses from operation of business, profession, or farm (attach detailed statement) Other TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES $ ______________ Divide the total by 6, which gives you your average monthly living expenses. 4. How to calculate your disposable income, if any. If your average monthly income exceeds your reasonably necessary living expenses, subtract expenses from income; the surplus is your disposable income. 5. How to list your creditors (your debts) For each person or entity (such as credit card, store, medical bill, IRS, mortgage, and etc.) for which you owe money, provide the following information: 1. Name and address of the creditor 2. The account number (if any) 3. The amount currently owed 4. The amount of the regular monthly payment (if any) 5. When was the debt created (if a credit card, give a range) 6. Was the debt - - financing of a purchase (such as a home, car, furniture, etc.), or - a loan or debt for which you put up an item as collateral 7. If either part of question 6 is yes, describe the item purchased 8. What was the original retail price of the item? 9. What is it’s current value? 10. Are you current with the monthly payments? 11. If the answer to 10 is no, has the claim been turned over to a collection agency or lawyer? 12. If 11 is yes, provide the name and address of the collection agency or lawyer. 13. Has the creditor sued you or obtained a judgment against you? 14. If 13 is yes, provide the name of the plaintiff, the case number, the court and court location, and the amount of the judgment. 6. How to determine which of your assets are exempt Exempt assets are assets that the bankruptcy trustee is not allowed to take away from you to pay debts. Most kinds of property owend by typical people who file bankruptcy are exempt, meaning you don’t lose them if you file bankruptcy. But whether an item is exempt or not depends not only on what category of property it is, but also the value of your equity in the property (how much of the item do you own, over and above any balance owed on it). The permissible exemptions usually have dollar limits to the amount of equity you can claim as exempt. In order to identify which of your assets are exempt, you must know the exemptions allowed in your particular state, or whether your state uses the federal exemptions. FRAUD & CONCEALMENT PROHIBITED 11 U.S.C. § 342(b)(2)(A) and (B) Debtor’s Duties in Bankruptcy If you decide to file bankruptcy, it is important that you understand the following: 1. Some or all of the information you provide in connection with your bankruptcy will be filed with the bankruptcy court on forms or documents that you will be required to sign and declare as true under penalty of perjury. 2. A person who knowingly and fraudulently conceals assets or makes a false oath or statement under penalty of perjury in connection with a bankruptcy case shall be subject to fine, imprisonment, or both. 11 U.S.C. § 342(b)(2)(A) 3. All information you provide in connection with your bankruptcy case is subject to examination by the Attorney General. 11 U.S.C. § 342(b)(2)(B)