• DO call us to file your bankruptcy petition.
• DO take bankruptcy seriously. It is a privilege and the bankruptcy courts take a very dim view of abuse of that right.
• DO be honest. It is against the law to lie in bankruptcy proceedings. You are sacrificing a small portion of your privacy to get a discharge of your debts. If you lie on your petition, or if you conceal assets, you could get in very serious trouble.
• DO be honest and forthcoming with your attorney. Even if it is embarrassing, it is better if your attorney knows. Giving your attorney insufficient information is like hiring a chauffeur and not telling him or her that your brakes don’t work.
• DO give your attorney EVERYTHING in your relevant financial files, again even if it is embarrassing or incriminating. If you have the document, the odds are someone else does too.
• DO inform your bankruptcy attorney about EVERYONE you owe money to. This includes family members and friends.
• DO continue making payments on vehicles that you intend to keep. Creditors secured by a car or truck can usually repossess the vehicle without notice to you anytime you are in default in your payments.
• DO adjust the amount withheld from your pay for taxes to get as close as possible to getting no refund or owing just a little bit. You want to be as close to zero as possible. A tax refund is an asset in Chapter 7, and your tax withholding can affect plan payments in Chapter 13. Caution: Don’t reduce the withholding for tax so much that you will have a big tax bill to pay! If you need help, then talk to your accountant.
• DO close or keep a minimal amount in your checking and saving accounts at any banks where you also have a credit card or line of credit. If you stop paying on your credit card or line of credit, the bank may go into your checking and savings account and pay your credit card/line of credit.