Which was harder?

[tramettrust]

I have a lot of friends which makes it easier to look for lawyers in that case, that is why i voted for "retain the attorney's services". But looking for the best lawyers in my case would differs everything. I know i was bankrupt, but to lose even the house or not really depends on the lawyer.

[Spagal]

Making the appointment to discuss my options was the hardest. I liken it to an Alcoholic going to their first AA meeting. Denial is usually the first sign of addiction and having that appointment meant that I had to admit that I had a problem. I quite using the cards before the appt but it was cold turkey and all cash budget. Now I am working the "12 steps of BK...getting my life in order on to file and then going to file and blah blah blah. its a long process but at the end I will be "Financially sober". Not "using" and plastic. I guess you have to try and keep a sense of humor (at least I do) since this is such serious life altering business.

[klandsb]

I think retaining a lawyer was the hardest part. I had gotten to the point where it was sink or swim. I decided to swim !! After going to 3 attorneys and discussing the financial nightmare I had gotten myself into I just wanted to get it started but worried about picking the wrong attorney to represent me... Its really hard w/meeting attorneys for an hour or so and deciding this is the one.... If I had to do it over again I wish I had gone to more but with a judgement pending and working full time at 10am-6:30 pm it was hard to try and fit consults in .... I could eat up all my vacation time by taking days off to meet with attorneys only to find out I didnt like them at all.... But I am on the road to financial freedom and have a sense of accomplishment. Just hoping the next 5 yrs go smoothly....

[sofarsogood2]

Both steps were difficult. First, the feeling of failure and sheer terror when you finally realize you need to make the appointments. Then the fear and worry about picking the best attorney for your case. Our case was not usual and the first 3 attorneys we went to gave us bad advice- I don't think they clearly understood the odd part of our case(they weren't really listening when we explained our situation). 4th attorney almost gave the same advice, but in the middle of the meeting, she paused like a light bulb went on, and came up with a new game plan. We went with #4 and so far, so good.

[flyinbroke]

The hardest parts to me were admitting that "work hard, sell shit, take second job and use a debt snowball" does not work at all when you have about 120K total debt (sorry, Dave Ramsey) and actually stopping payment on CCs. Admitting that things were not working meant taking a fierce look at the inside and admitting that I made stupid decisions (the master's degree I am not using, the ex-spouse who donated 50K in debt and said leaving him was the stupidest thing I had ever done when in reality it was the second stupidest thing.)

Once I got past stopping payment and actually had cash at my disposal, I got over that. I realized that I don't want to work till I am dead and I figure I would still owe money at this rate. I decided to go for the BK when i realized I did not want to listen to the damn phone ring or worry about someone showing up with a judgment.

Now hunting for the attorney, and it strangely does not bother me that much.

[robertg]

Actually meeting with the attorney. The commitment level is evident at that point---

[smithjake03]

Making an appointment with an attorney is not really a bad idea especially when it comes to legal matters they will handle your case personally as opposed to handing the matter off to an inexperienced associate.

[keptdigging]

Making the appointment!
Why? Because half the attorneys I contact don't even respond. And one response doesn't necessarily lead to an appointment. I guess they're rather busy...

[smithjake03]

keptdigging, We have same opinion...

[scrapiron53]

1. Admitting failure (again). This is not my 1st. BK. but it will be my last.
2. Calling the lawyer.
3. Deciding for Chapter 7
4. Filling out the papers.

My income went down by 33%, I moved out of state for another job, I couldn't sell my house. It is due to foreclose on the 22nd. Had it up for rent 9 months with no takers.
Invested way too much in the house, $60K. House went from $417K to $279K. less than I originally paid in 2001, $290k.

I feel like a complete and utter failure.

[Universal]

Deciding who to deal with and making the call. I felt embarrassed since I work for an attorney, not bk atty., and this is not a large city. When I found out what the payback would be, $1240.00/mo., I really hit rock bottom. After that, I was ready to file and get it done so we could start working towards the final payment, which we couldn't do until we'd made the first payment.

[btbeme]

I made appointments with 5 attorneys when I first decided to explore the possibility of filing. The first one gave me all of 5 minutes and basically treated me like I had a disease. Looking back, it was probably because my filing has some small wrinkles in it and he simply did not want to deal with them. When you have people lined up outside your door, why not take the easy cases, you know?

I found one that I was very comfortable speaking with, but did not retain him. He was a very nice guy, had good pre-filing advice, but seemed like he was missing some info (I got different answers for the same questions).

The search for the RIGHT attorney was the hard part. Keeping emotions out of the decision was tough.

[kittycat98]

The hardest part was actually to stop paying all my credit cards. I had never even been late before. However after they jacked up all my rates for no reason and my minimum payments doubled I was struggeling to pay them all and put food on the table. I am still confused about community debt and although stopped all payments to the credit cards in my name did not stop the ones in my husbands name as he was not going to file with me. Now I am wondering if those debts will also be charged off as they were community debts. UGH! So confusing. If so won't that screw his credit up anyway!? its just so stressful going thru this. I can't wait until its all over.

[espo1357]

The hardest part was actually to stop paying all my credit cards. I had never even been late before. However after they jacked up all my rates for no reason and my minimum payments doubled I was struggeling to pay them all and put food on the table. I am still confused about community debt and although stopped all payments to the credit cards in my name did not stop the ones in my husbands name as he was not going to file with me. Now I am wondering if those debts will also be charged off as they were community debts. UGH! So confusing. If so won't that screw his credit up anyway!? its just so stressful going thru this. I can't wait until its all over.

hear ya kitty.
when I filed, I thought it was over. but, in a 13, it never seems to end. hopefully, when I get confirmed next month, I will have some relief.

Nonetheless, that payment never goes away until there is the discharge.

The best advice I can give is to "don't think, and just live (play)", the same advice that Crash Davis gives to that rookie pitcher in Bull Durham. Thinking too much is really not a good thing in life sometimes, because it could take you to the looneybin.

[longhaul]

Making the initial appointment was the hardest. All the shame & feeling of failure having to admit my finances are not what they should be.