Steps In Bankruptcy

If you are filing for bankruptcy in Wisconsin. Here are some helpful tips.

When contemplating bankruptcy, it is helpful to know what is involved. At Lein Law Offices, our goal is to make the bankruptcy process as simple as possible. In an effort to let you know what to expect, we have assembled the following outline of the steps in bankruptcy.

1. Make An Appointment

We are open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are available after normal work hours, and weekends by appointment.

2. Print The Checklist For Materials To Bring To The Appointment

Bankruptcy requires full disclosure of your assets, liabilities and any equity you may have. The more information you give us, the faster we can stop garnishments, foreclosures, collections, etc.
Please print the checklist that shows the materials needed to complete your bankruptcy petition; bring what you can. If a checklist item does not apply to you, you do not need to bring it. A bankruptcy petition lists your assets, liabilities and equity in any assets.

3. Appointment

This appointment is free. When we first meet with you, we will review your financial information and let you know what your options are. If there is an option that fits your needs, we can begin the preparation of your petition.

4. Credit Counseling: Prefiling

Prior to filing you will need to complete credit counseling. Credit counseling will cost anywhere from $10 to $25 and can be done over the Internet, in person or telephone. Here is a list of approved credit counseling agencies.
Once the credit counseling is completed, you will need to send the certificate of completion to us. You can send the certificate of completion to us at:

US Postal Service: Lein Law Offices
P.O. Box 761
Hayward, WI 54843; or,

Fax: 715-634-5051.

5. Review Petition

When your petition is complete, we will send you a copy. We want you to review the petition thoroughly. Please confirm that all debts have been included. The debts that should be included are both debts that you know about and debts that you may think you have. Our goal is to give you a fresh start at living life debt-free.

6. Sign Petition

Once the necessary adjustments have been made, we will make an appointment for you to review and sign the petition with us.

7. Petition Filed

Once signed, we will file the petition with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Once it is filed, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court will send notices to the creditors, and all collection actions, including, but not limited to, garnishments, foreclosures and harassing phone calls will stop.

8. Meeting Of The Creditors/341 Hearing

n addition to all collection actions being stopped once we file your bankruptcy petition, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court will send a notice to you and Lein Law Offices regarding the meeting of creditors. The meeting of creditors is a chance for your creditors to object to being discharged. When you sign the petition, we will discuss with you which creditors, if any, will object to being discharged.
IMPORTANT: Be sure to bring your driver’s license and social security card to your hearing.
Location:

If you live in:	Meeting Will Be Held In:
Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, St. Croix Falls, Sawyer County, Taylor, Trempealeau or Washburn County	U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Federal Courthouse 500 S. Barstow Street Eau Claire, WI 54701 Maps and Directions
Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, or Viola (Town) County	Common Council Chambers City Hall 400 La Crosse Street La Crosse, WI 54601 Maps and Directions
Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Vilas or Wood County	Rothschild Village Hall 211 Grand Avenue Rothschild, WI 54474-1199 Maps and Directions
Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas or Iron County	Government Center Board Meeting Room 204A 1316 North 14th Street Superior, WI 54880 Maps and Directions
Adams, Columbia, Crawford County, Dane, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland or Sauk County	Rock County Job Center Conference Room I 1900 Center Ave. Janesville, WI 53546 Maps and Directions
Rock County	U.S. Trustee’s Office 780 Regent St., Suite 307 Madison, WI 53715 Maps and Directions

9. Credit Counseling: Post Filing

Once you have been to your meeting of the creditors, you will again have to complete credit counseling. The steps are the same as step four above.
APLC = Approved List of Credit Counseling Agencies

10. Debt Discharge

When all of your bankruptcy requirements have been met, the Bankruptcy Court will send you a notice of discharge, letting you know your bankruptcy is complete.

Do You Want To Know More? Call Us

If you have read this far, you likely have more questions about bankruptcy, including what kind, if any is right for you. We invite you to call us at (800) 944-3949, or email us to schedule a free consultation with an attorney to discuss your situation.

We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.

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