Ask a Lawyer: Bankruptcy

It happens to everyone. You need legal help, but you have no idea what you're getting into or where to begin. The thought of hiring a personal attorney-and shelling out outrageous amounts of money in hourly legal fees-makes you cringe. Isn't there a better way? The Ask a Lawyer series arms you with practical, usable advice about common legal situations, answering your questions and familiarizing you with legal procedure before you ever set foot in a lawyer's office. Each book walks you through simple explanations of the law, legal definitions, tips, and sample scenarios, describing what will happen and what your options are. In some cases, these books can keep you from spending money on a lawyer you really never needed. Whether you ultimately decide to handle the matter by yourself or use an attorney's assistance for the completion of your plans, these books can easily save you thousands of dollars in the process. You're in serious debt. It doesn't matter how you got there, but you're in way over your head and can't pay back your creditors. This book takes you through the steps you need to follow when you're having financial problems, including cleaning up your credit report, knowing when to file for bankruptcy and what to expect when you do, differences between a Chapter 7 and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, keeping your property, and reestablishing credit.