How we do it
The procedure of bankruptcy couldn't
be more straightforward than it is at GANDY LAW OFFICES, P.C.
It's a logical five step process. You will have our undivided
professional attention each step of the way.
- The first step
is an Initial Consultation, "IC" for short, with Attorney
Gandy, in person or over the phone. In
that consultation we will review your financial situation
and give you sound, competent advice on what are your options.
Even if together we decide that a bankruptcy fresh start
isn't the right thing for you, we will point you in the right
direction. If you decide that getting a fresh start through
the bankruptcy process is the right choice for your situation,
then we will quote you a very reasonable standard fee based
on how we understand your situation. One thing is for sure--
you're guaranteed to end up with more insight about your
situation than you had when you started.
- The second step is an information
gathering appointment, sometimes called a Questionnaire Setup,
or "QS" for short. You will meet with one of our lawyers
or legal assistants, again over the phone or in person, who
will go over a Fresh Start Worksheet with you and work with
you to fill out our copy of the worksheet. This Fresh Start
Worksheet asks you for all of the information we will need
to file a Bankruptcy Petition with the Bankruptcy Court.
We can also accomplish this information gathering step by
mailing you the Fresh Start Worksheet and going over it with
you by telephone. You can feel free to call us with any questions
in going through it.
- The third optional step is to gather
any additional information needed for the Fresh Start Worksheet
and to go over it again with us to make sure it is all complete
and correct. We sometimes call this step a Questionnaire
Review, or "QR" for short. Usually, we can combine steps
2 and 3 together, but it is sometimes helpful to have this
second chance to pull all the information together and double
check that it is accurate. Again, we can also accomplish
this step in person or by telephone.
- The fourth step is what we call the
Final Signing, or "FS" for short. The name of the appointment
is fairly explanatory as to what it is all about. The final
signing is held when all of the information has been gathered
from you and your balance owed to Gandy Law Offices is paid
in full. In this step you will review the Bankruptcy Petition
that is to be sent for filing to the United States Bankruptcy
Court. As the petition is prepared in the meeting, we will
also prepare and guide you on the process that will be taking
place from filing the petition to when your case is closed.
By the end of the Final Signing, you should have a good idea
of what's going to happen next, when it is going to happen
and why. This meeting should end with you feeling a whole
lot lighter and less stressed.
- The fifth and
usually final step in the five step process is for you to
attend a meeting of creditors at the federal hearing location
to which you are assigned. (See
the Iowa Map here). After this step, if everything
goes smoothly, all you have to do is wait (around 60 days)
to receive a court order in the mail saying that your dischargeable
debts have been forgiven. The meeting of creditors will happen
about 20-40 days from the date we file your Petition with
the Court. It is a very short hearing usually lasting 5 to
10 minutes. (However, you need to plan on being there for
up to an hour while you wait your turn.) Bankruptcy is a
federal proceeding that cannot be filed in local Iowa District
courts at the county level. That is why you need to go to
your hearing location. We can provide directions for each
location and we will be happy to tell you how to get there.
Usually, your creditors will not bother to send representatives
to this meeting. Usually, you will simply answer a few questions
and go home! Even so, you can count on the fact that Gandy
Law Offices will have one of our associate lawyers there
to represent you at the meeting.
|
|
