Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

Although I don't recommend it, many people prepare and file the bankruptcy petitions on their own. There are self-help books in the libraries and bookstores. You do so at your own risk, of course.

In addition, if you meet the court's criteria, you might qualify for a filing fee waiver from the bankruptcy court.

You might have defenses to the lawsuit, including statutes of limitation. Typically, they run (expire) four years after your last payment, or when your last payment was due, whichever is later. Thus, you might resist making or accepting an offer to compromise if your statute of limitation already has run. Make sure to at least file an answer with the court within the 30 days after service to protect your rights, though.