Complex for the Attorney, Simple for the Client
When you retain O’Bryan & O’Bryan, we will handle everything for you. After you retain our office and provide our office with a few personal documents that are required by the court and that only you would have in your possession, we take it from there! We follow a process that is designed to simplify filing bankruptcy, minimizing stress on your part. The process is generally as follows:
- You set up an initial free consultation where your particular unique situation is discussed and both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are explained as they relate to your current financial situation. You are given a checklist of documents you need to provide, so you can begin gathering the documents if you decide that bankruptcy is the best solution for you.
- At the time of the consultation or at a time thereafter at your convenience, you pay a retainer towards the attorney’s fees and costs of filing the type of bankruptcy you have chosen. The retainer secures representation by the attorney on your behalf. Once you pay the retainer fee, you can refer all creditors to O’Bryan & O’Bryan, and we will confirm that we represent you.
- When the retainer is paid and the documents that you need to provide to our office are provided, O’Bryan & O’Bryan begins preparation, proof, and review of the petition, schedules, means test, statement of disposable income, certification, plan and any other related documents that are required by the court to be filed in your case.
- After all documents and schedules are prepared and thoroughly reviewed, you are notified that you may come to the office without an appointment, at your convenience, based on your schedule, to review and sign the documents required by the court in your case.
- Once you sign the documents, the documents are filed with the court. At the time of the filing, the court assigns you a case number, which is proof to creditors that your case has been filed, that you are under the protection of the Federal Bankruptcy Laws, and that your creditors cannot attempt to collect any debts from you without a further order from the court. It is at that time that all collection efforts must cease. Garnishments must be stopped, automobiles cannot be repossessed, and foreclosure proceedings must be halted. The court sends notice to our office, you, and all of your creditors, giving them our contact information, the case number and the one hearing date and time.
- In approximately one month, you and your attorney attend one very short hearing, which is held in the Gene Snyder Courthouse (also known as the Federal Building and “The Old Post Office”) located at 600 W. Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202.
- After the hearing, you only have one job, that is, to complete the post-filing financial management course either online or over the phone. We handle any and all conversations that need to be had with the United States Trustee’s Office, your individual assigned Trustee, and all of your creditors. If there are no objections to a discharge in your case, the court will enter a Discharge of Debtor and send it to our office, you and all of your creditors. This discharge confirms by order of the court that all your dischargeable debts have in fact been discharged.
