One of the reasons why debtors are highly encouraged to seek legal representation
when filing bankruptcy is to ensure their case goes through the system
in a proper manner while avoiding common pitfalls. Filing on your own
may seem simple enough when you are able to download documents online,
but many have no idea what they are actually looking at and why it is
important for documentation to be completed honestly.

There are several steps debtors are required to complete in order to file
bankruptcy and obtain a favorable outcome. An experienced bankruptcy attorney can
help you through each step of the process to ensure your case gets the
attention it needs with all due fairness. The filing process requires
a good amount of time to be invested, especially when it comes to completing
necessary paperwork. Many debtors who attempt to file on their own often
underestimate the time and effort required to provide information needed.

While there are numerous mistakes pro se filers have made leading to dismissal
by the court, there are a few that stand out the most. This is where guidance
from a legal expert can make all the difference in helping you understand
the filing process in deeper detail.

  1. Required schedules needed for the filing are missing. Your case can be dismissed if you don’t provide enough information
    the court can use to access your situation.

  2. Failing to provide necessary documentation to the trustee. You are assigned a trustee when you file bankruptcy and within a specific
    timeframe you are required to provide documents related to your finances
    such as bank statements, pay stubs, and other details. Failing to comply
    with the trustee can lead to case dismissal.

  3. Not completing both credit counseling course requirements. You need to provide proof to the court such as completion certificates
    and each course is completed at different times upon filing.