Paralegal Chula Vista

Posts Tagged ‘bankruptcy’

Question by Dolkite: Is it OK that I’m using a paralegal rather than an attorney for my bankruptcy?
I’ve decided to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy…my employment hasn’t been steady in the last year and my debts eclipsed my rent even though I was on a debt mgmt company. All my accounts are closed and I haven’t used a card for anything since July (and that was at best a $ 25 grocery purchase). I’ve been living off of temporary jobs and the occasional two-week unemployment benefit. I’m single, live alone in a small apartment, have no assets (not even a car). I have approximately $ 25K in old credit card debt. I’m not a shopaholic…most of the debt was incurred either to help me stay afloat while unemployed (and not receiving UE benefits).

I know bankruptcy will screw my credit, but I don’t really care…I don’t plan on moving anytime soon or buying anything on credit within the next few years. It would be wonderful to be able to put away some savings after paying my bills ($ 1500 a month would pay all my bills and allow me a modest budget of disposable income) would feel wonderful after scraping by for years and praying I don’t lose a job.

I can’t afford to hire an attorney, so I’m having a paralegal help me out. I know an atty would be better, but since I have nothing to save (no assets), I figure things would be pretty cut and dried.

At the moment, I am subsisting on temporary jobs and unemployment benefits during the weeks I am not working. A permanent job could come along, but I’m guessing not for at least another month.
wash – you can make payments to an attorney? I visited one early on in my decision and they quoted me $ 1700, all upfront. I’ve heard that if you screw up your paperwork, you cant file for bankruptcy for a whole year, so I realize the value of an attorney…however, I also have a pretty simple financial matter: no assets, no kids, no mortgage.

Yahir – I don’t know if you’re a real person or not since I see a lot of these links, but just FYI – I was working with a debt mgmt company for about three years before I lost a job and could no longer pay them.
I’m single, no kids, never married.

This paralegal is not working for an attorney…she has her own business. She also told me she has filed for bankruptcy herself a number of times….I don’t know if this is a warning sign or it proves that she knows the ropes as far as what to expect.

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Answer by washtocal
You know you can make payments to an attorney.

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Question by Jilly: About to file for bankruptcy – need more info?
My husband and I are about to sign our bankruptcy paperwork and the paralegal at the attorney’s office advised us to take 99% of the money in our bank accounts out immediately. My questions are: 1) do we need to keep receipts or do something to show where this cash is being spent since it isn’t in our account; 2) I’m guessing they will need a bank statement showing the account balance – how far back will we need to provide statements for? Thanks!

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Answer by Stealth
Just tell them that you paid off family and friends debt from cash you had borrowed to get by

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Question by lovesgirls: How hard is it to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy by yourself? I completed about half of a paralegal program with?

straight As

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Answer by jandy
Better to get a bankruptcy atty, they’ll have all the proper forms and paperwork and get it to the court. Not worth the hassle.

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Question by animallover0702: Hello, are there any paralegals out there to answer when your in a early bankruptcy.?
Could you buy out your bankruptcy by using your home? I tried to get the payment lowered and the paralegal i spoke to (nc) says no i would not be able to do this.

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Answer by RT
Lawyer or Paralegals cannot speak for you in court concerning bankrupcy. In fact they represent that you have something to hide and are responsible for most turn downs because the paperwork is not right.

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Question by Angel horse: bankruptcy filing in arizona paralegal vs. attorney?
Curious if anyone has an experience that may persuade me one way or another based on positve or negative experiences. A paralegal is like half the cost and lets face it if I am considering bankruptcy I have less money to hire/spend. On one hand I believe a paralegal to be just as competent as an attorney and most do the lion’s share of work in law firms and then the attorneys comb over their work and sign off. But does an attorney offer any more protection than a paralegal, for instance from a trustee and their digging or at charge off or have more guarantees in a bankruptcy. Or is a bunch of hype.

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Question by Desmond M: Should I use a paralegal service or an attorney to file a simple chapter 7 bankruptcy?

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Answer by justanotherjoe
Is it mainly unsecured debt?

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Question by Steve Huffman: Filing bankruptcy (lawyer or paralegal?)?
I am trying to figure out which route to go. I owe over 30 Thousand in debt and at the moment I don’t own any property besides a car I bought for $ 1,000 a year ago (1997 Chevy) I don’t have a job currently due to be laid off and on unemployment. I due have income tax which is about 2000 (The lawyer I talked to is charging 1000 + 300 in court fees) so that would be all my money… How hard is it going the paralegal way? Is it a for sure thing my bankruptcy will go through? Is the lawyer a better choice? need help!?

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Answer by MKD
Get an attorney. When we filed BK we thought that there would be no problems. Ours was not difficult,or so we thought. We had creditors who started to file suit against us after we filed. One credit card company kept sending us to collection agencies-they did this twice. He needed to step in and write a few letters. Things can go wrong and you only have one chance to make it right.

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Question by Tiffany G: has any one used a paralegal before for bankruptcy?
how did it go and would you recommend it or not?

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Answer by Law Diva
A paralegal cannot represent you in court. The only people who can represent you in court would be a licensed attorney, an advanced law student with specific training holding a special certificate to practice in court, and you if you chose to represent yourself pro se. The paralegal would be trained in legal procedure and might be able to assist you in directing you as to what you need to file and could probably do some research but they haven’t been trained in the intricacies of the actual application of the laws. Also paralegals are not supposed to work w/ clients independent of direct from a supervising law firm, agency, or lawyer.

Hope that clears it up for you.

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Question by escritora: In Los Angeles. I need a lawyer or paralegal assistance to help me file for bankruptcy.?
Most are student’s and university loans. And yes, student’s loans can be included in bankruptcy. I offer Spanish-English translations as an exchange. Please do not send me links. Thank you.

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Answer by maliboo_girl
I can’t recommend any bankruptcy attorneys in LA, it’s not my area, but I think you better look into student loans and bankruptcy before paying an attorney.

Discharge due to bankruptcy is only under rare circumstances. Maybe if one was paralyzed in a coma and had 4 minor children to support on their disability check. Seriously. That’s what the judges consider undue hardship. It’s been this way since changes were made in 1998 and 2005. You may be able to consolidate under Chapter 13 if you have enough income and not very much debt. But it won’t eliminate it and you must continue to pay any student loan balance even after you complete your plan.

Usually attorneys want to use translators who are experienced with legal work, but I have heard of instances where they will let a client pay off with translations. (But honestly, I think he just wanted to date the client. ugh)

Here’s some info on student loans / bankruptcy so you will understand your chances of discharging a student loan.

http://bankruptcy.lawyers.com/Student-Loans-In-Bankruptcy.html

Good luck!

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Question by Desmond M: Should I use a paralegal or laywer service to file a relatively simple chapter 7 bankruptcy?
I have reseached the new bankruptcy laws and I know all about the schedule I and schedule J filing requirements. My case is pretty straight forward (only credit card debt) and I make less than the state median. I don’t want to pay an attorney $ 1000 but I want the job done right the first time. What should I do?

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Answer by zyberianwarrior
eggplant (attorney) they know more than you think.

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