Ch. 7 Pro se - Document Preparers?!?

[cooknkpl]

Any benefit/drawback to using a document preparation service?
Can't afford an attorney & want to be sure all bases are covered.

[FreshLikeADaisy]

Cooknkpl, what you're referring to is a BPP (Bankruptcy Petition Preparer) and to be honest, there are mixed reviews. If you search "BPP" on this forum, or "petition preparer", you'll see what I mean.

A great deal of it, I think, has to do with how well you know your stuff before attempting to file Ch7 pro se; if you rely on the BPP to guide you in any way, you're asking for trouble. Not only because they're not attorneys, but because they have no responsibility in your bk at all: they are simply putting in the numbers that you tell them. Also, you need to know enough to ensure that they are using the right forms: every Notice of Deficiency I saw in my own research before filing pro se was generated by a local BPP using non-official or incorrect forms.

So, as someone who filed pro se successfully myself, I would suggest finding a typewriter (or even handwriting it, if your handwriting is clear and legible) before using a BPP. Others have had better experiences, especially online, so I can't tell you to avoid one if you need one, but be sure that you know exactly what you're putting into what forms before you start, for your own sake. Good luck!!!