Fll Service Bankruptcy Service

[dizzylizzy]

Hello!
Has anyone used a "full service" filing bankruptcy service, such as Bridgeport, Easy
Bankruptcy Service, or USA Bankruptcy, and had a result he/she would like to report?
I'm filing bankruptcy and can't afford a lawyer, and need a cheaper way to proceed.
Thanks! dizzylizzy

[HHM]

No such thing as "full service" bankruptcy service unless you hire an attorney. These services prepare documents based on the info you provide, provide no legal advice or meaningful support.

Bankruptcy is a LEGAL CASE. It is adversarial; there are two sides. There is you requesting BK relief, and then there is the trustee and US Trustee assigned to look after the interest of your creditors. The trustees are like the prosecutors in a criminal case. Would you represent yourself in a criminal matter?

Now, if the case is rather simple and you actually disclose everything, these services can be cost effective. But here is the rub, they can't tell you if your case is more complex and if you might need more help then they can provide.

Unless there is some "immediate" need to file, ANYONE can afford an attorney. There are cheap attorneys out there (granted, they aren't much better than these document prep services, but they are still attorneys) and many offer payment plans to help you get started.

[dizzylizzy]

Full Service Bankruptcy docs

Thanks, this is valuable. My need to file is cut and dry: I've been paying a debt settlement company for 2 years to help me pay my card balances; however Capital One decided to sue me - they haven't been willing to work it out with my company. Now they are suing me for 3X the balance I originally owed them and I have to go to court in Jan/10. Since I live from month to month and it barely covers, I can't let them garnish my wages or I can't pay the rent or or utilities, car insurance, etc.
dizzy lizzy

[2manybills]

dizzy lizzy: Most times I would agree with HHM. It just depends. While I do prepare docs for pro se folks that can't afford an attorney, it is different. I only help folks that have very cut and dry cases, not much in assets and basic credit card debt. Secondly, I have over 30 years legal experience, and I don't just prepare documents, I support the folks I have helped through to the end. Having been through the process and having a dear friend that is one of the best BK lawyers in L.A., I know my limits. The debt settlement companies are the biggest rip ever. Many of the folks on this forum have been very successful filing pro se, so if you don't have a lot of issues, you should be fine. Just make sure you READ every that this is prepared and remember that they cannot charge you more than $200.00 in fees, that's by statute! Hope that helps!

[tcreegan]

Hi dizzylizzy,

A lot of BK preparers have records like a rash across the internet and Better Business Bureau....ones like 2manybills seem to be rare.

Another resource is the NOLO book www.nolo.com Basically a step-by-step guide on filing a BK

Whichever road you chose, wish you the best!

Tom in Colo

[2manybills]

Thanks Tom in Colo. It's not just the BK preparers but some of the "mill" type firms out there also. On the day of our 341, I sat there and watched a female "mill" attorney handle about 8 cases in an hour. Most of her clients were not English speaking and she was not familiar with their cases, or didn't really seem to care. All it did is annoy the TT. Like people aren't nervous enough through this process as it is.

[HHM]

Don't get me wrong, there are many para legals that are much better than BK attorneys. But I think consumers often get the wrong impression that a para legal doc prep is equivalent to having legal representation, it simply isn't (at least if you go with a real law firm )

[2manybills]

I agree. First of all, a paralegal should not be giving legal advice. And if it were me, and I had assets, a lot of debt, over median income, I would want a good attorney to be in court with me. Then again, there are many people on this forum who have filed pro se with a lot of issues, and have done a great job representing themselves through the system. Every individual and every case is different.