Legal Question in Bankruptcy in Wisconsin

How can I file bankruptcy if I can't afford an attorney in Wisconsin?


Asked on 12/26/10, 8:02 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

JAY Nixon nixon law offices

If you have anything at all to lose, I would not recommend attempting to file bankruptcy on your own. On the other hand, if you are so poor that you have nothing to lose, you must ask yourself whether you really need to file a bankruptcy, since your creditors can hardly take anything away from you that you don't have. Most consumers file bankruptcy as a means of protecting assets, for example, such as their paychecks from wage garnishment, so, for example, if you are not working, have no income and no assets, you may not receive much benefit from a bankruptcy. On the other hand, if creditor phone calls and harassment is affecting your quality of life or health, it may still be worth filing in order to obtain protection from them. Many WI attorneys accept installment payments from clients who are too poor to pay the entire fee up front, and will allow you to gradually accumulate a sufficiently large amount to pay for the processing and filing of your case. I would therefore recommend that you attempt to find one in your area who will do this. However, also ask whether or not you are likely to receive enough benefit from the bankruptcy to make it worth the trouble and expense. My comments in this public web forum are intended only for public educational purposes and not as legal advice for you. You therefore should retain your own attorney as soon as possible, since time limits can apply to many different types of legal matter which could damage your case if they expire without receiving proper attention in a timely fashion. You are welcome to contact me at my office in Racine for more in depth advice.

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Answered on 1/01/11, 11:10 am


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