THE FIRST STEP on your journey to a fresh start begins with a free and confidential consultation to learn exactly what your options are. I offer initial consultations at various locations around the state of Connecticut (including Orange, Shelton and Wethersfield) and will strive to find a convenient time and place to meet with you. I have day, evening and weekend appointments available and will even skype or facetime with you!
An initial consultation with a lawyer is a great opportunity for many reasons. When you meet with me for the first time you will be treated with respect, dignity and compassion. I understand the hardship you are facing and will give you my full attention. The meeting will be an opportunity for you to interview me, just as much as it is an opportunity for me to interview you. Always remember, when you hire an attorney, they work for you, and you must feel comfortable with them as you will have to trust your attorney to guide you through each and every step of the Bankruptcy process.
During our consultation I will ask pointed questions that are focused on painting a picture of your financial circumstances. This inquiry will include questions pertaining to your income, assets and debts. Through your answers I will be able to analyze your financial circumstances and offer you options.
Next I will show you various disclosure statements that I am required to give to you by the United States Bankruptcy Court under the Bankruptcy Code1. These documents will explain the Bankruptcy process, the difference between the various chapters of Bankruptcy, what a Discharge is and what credit counseling services are, among other important things. You will be asked to sign these documents, acknowledging that you received them.
Finally, if I determine that you are a likely candidate for Bankruptcy and you are interested in hiring me to file your Bankruptcy Petition, I will conclude my presentation by guiding you through a checklist of documents I will need from you to perform a Means Test. A Means Test is a formal assessment used to determine if you qualify for Bankruptcy. Do not be alarmed, it is not a test like the SATs and does not require you to pencil in any bubbles! On the contrary, you will gather the documents and my staff and I will prepare the test for you as part of our package services.
Throughout the consultation and especially at the end, I will ask you if you have any questions. I will be happy to answer all of your questions and you should not hesitate to ask any question or ask for clarification if something is unclear.
At the conclusion of the initial consultation I will give you a folder with all of my contact information and copies of all the documents you read and signed during the meeting. A follow-up appointment will be made with you for either a telephone conference or an in-person meeting to go over any further questions you may have and to help you with the gathering of your documents.
The next part of this series will go into more depth about the specific documents you will gather so that we will be able to analyze your financial circumstances and prepare your Means Test.
To schedule your initial consultation, please call or text us at 203-713-8877 or visit our website at www.ConsumerLegalServicesLLC.com.
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111 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532