Legal Question in Bankruptcy in California

Re: do-it-yourself kits/online filing

For my views on this, see http://www.bklaw.com/attorney.html

Re: do-it-yourself kits/online filing

If the attorney's fee is a problem in comparison to the size of the debt that would be taken care of in a bankruptcy, perhaps bankruptcy isn't the right option.

The reason for hiring an attorney is that he/she/the firm will presumably do a better and more efficient job than you would, and would foresee problems you can't, and offer advice and solutions you'd never think of or discover on your own. The idea is that the advice they give you should be worth as much or more to you than you paid for it.

That said, there are people who take care of their own legal matters and do so effectively--most people do not seem capable of it or do not have the time and patience, but if you do, there are resources to help you, and they may even be in your local library. If not, check the local bookstores for books--Nolo Press is usually the best.

The caution I'd give is that bankruptcy courts, creditors and trustees are not always forgiving of mistakes or omitted information, so tread carefully.