Our firm helps a lot of people in a lot of different ways — resolving custody disagreements, planning for the future with wills and powers of attorney, defending against criminal charges. But another very important service we offer is helping our clients file bankruptcy.
In some circles, “bankruptcy” was once a bad word. People used to assume that someone who filed bankruptcy was bad with money at best, or a lazy deadbeat at worst — he had taken out too many credit cards, refused to get a “real” job, or was an irresponsible bum who just wanted to get out of paying his debts. Well, these days, that’s not usually the case, and we all know what can happen when you assume things about people.
Often, when I speak to a client about filing bankruptcy, it’s a last resort that comes after she’s been hit with an unexpected financial blow — an unforeseen medical event, a car wreck, a lost job, an absent spouse that left her in the lurch with multiple children to support. The vast majority of our firm’s bankruptcy clients have full-time jobs, children to raise, aging parents to support. They’re trying to make the best of hard situations, and sometimes they need help to do so. That’s when bankruptcy can offer viable relief. If you think bankruptcy may be a good option for you, call us to discuss it; there are multiple types of bankruptcies, and we can help you figure out the best fit for your particular situation. For instance, some people want to completely wipe their slate clean by filing a Chapter 7; however, certain financial requirements must be met before a person can qualify for that type of relief. Others have a good amount of equity in their homes or other assets that require them to utilize a Chapter 13 plan to repay certain debts.
If you’re not in a position where you need to file bankruptcy at the moment, at least do your part to make our world a better place and don’t cast unfounded judgment on those who do file — it’s dangerous to assume you know someone’s personal situation and judge her for her financial choices. Like my mama always said, to “assume” makes an “ass” out of “u” and “me.” Don’t be an ass. And call us if you need to find out more — we are full of advice, both on the advantages of bankruptcy and on how to avoid being an ass.