I was the third lawyer Lisa saw for a Virginia Bankruptcy Consultation
Lisa had a Virginia Bankruptcy consultation with two well known bankruptcy lawyers. Then she came to see me.
Both of those lawyers told her that her income was too high. She could not file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. She would need to file Chapter 13. They reached that conclusion without looking at her paystubs or making her do a budget. Those lawyers offer what I call a “no-preparation consultation.”
Lisa had done research on her own. She knew that high income people can still be eligible for Chapter 7. (I explain how that works, here.)
AJ spent an hour going over Lisa’s situation, reviewing her forms as part of our 29 point paralegal consultation. Then another hour typing Lisa’s information into the computer for us to look at together.
We told Lisa she needed to fill in our 37 page forms. She was glad. Lisa spent an hour preparing the forms. Then Lisa spent another hour going over the forms with AJ, one of my bankruptcy paralegals.
AJ, after that hour with Lisa, took another hour to type Lisa’s information into the computer. So I had it.
Then Lisa and I talked for an hour.
At the end of that hour, here’s what we decided.
1. In spite of what two lawyers told her, Lisa had income eligibility to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
2. There was no way Lisa could afford a Chapter 13 plan.
3. There was a non-bankruptcy solution that would work better for Lisa than either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.
Lisa’s persistence is unusual. She talked to TWO lawyers who both told her the same thing–she still wanted a third opinion.
Lisa’s persistence is unusual. Her problem isn’t. The problem is, a no-preparation consultation will steer people wrong, a lot. I guess one out of three of my clients would get steered wrong by a no-preparation Virginia bankruptcy consultation.
That’s why I work they way I do. I hate to steer people wrong.
Some people get irritated that they can’t “just ask a question.” And people don’t like being sent home to get more information.
What people do like, is that their bankruptcies get approved. And they like their bankruptcy hearings to be easy. You can read what people say in my CustomerLobby reviews.
If you want the best possible bankruptcy advice, call us. Set an appointment. We’ll ask you to do a lot of work to get ready for our Virginia bankruptcy consultation. And we’ll do a lot of work to get ready to meet with you.
Don’t be afraid. Call now.