Do I Need an Attorney to File My Bankruptcy Petition?

If you are an individual (rather than a corporation), you are not required to have an attorney file your petition on your behalf – you can do it yourself (called pro se).  The court required documents are usually available on the bankruptcy court’s website.  However, you may be doing yourself a disservice by “going it alone”.  Filing for bankruptcy includes much more than just filing out forms.  It is a complex area of law and there can be significant consequences if the law is not followed – including dismissal without discharge and allegations of fraudulent behavior.  Although you may be looking to save the attorney fees up front, it could cost you even more in the long run if you file on your own, run into problems, and then have to pay even more to an attorney to help fix the situation.  Even if you don’t choose our firm to represent you, we strongly advise you to seek other competent counsel.  Your chances of a successful discharge increase greatly with representation.