pro se in ohio

[glc4122]

are there any one in ohio filed pro se on the forum? i liked to know if it is a bumpy road doing yourself.

[HHM]

All pro se filings are a bumpy road regardless of what state you are in, because there will always be more that you don't know about BK law than you know, and that can hurt you.

If you file Pro se, pick up some book, Nolo Guide to BK, BK for Dummies, and read them cover to cover before you do anything.

[6ftladycop]

Re: Filing Pro Se

are there any one in ohio filed pro se on the forum? i liked to know if it is a bumpy road doing yourself.

After you do what the other poster instructed, please do this also, request a copy of your credit report from the big 3 credit bureaus. They are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. These credit reports have valuable information on them and will help you when you make your decision to file pro se. Then make sure you locate a copy of your 2005 and 2006 income tax forms. If you work, find 2 months of paycheck stubs. Also, all of this information besides helping you to file pro se will also be requested at one time or the other by someone during your bankruptcy so its always good to have them.

Also, get you a notebook with dividers in them(Mead or 5 Starr Flexible) and locate all credit card statements for the current month you intend to file, if you have loan payment statements, any bills for the current month that you are filing, locate anybody that has sent you a late payment notice about anything. Start making a list of all the creditors now. Once you have current statements and current credit reports and current past due statements, when you have to list all the creditors, their addresses, telephone numbers and your account number that goes with the creditors information, when you have to start filling out schedules included in the BK petition, you will already have the information.

Start putting everything in the notebook by using dividers and placing items in mostly used and least used inside the notebook. This procedure made it easy for me to locate anything I was looking for instead of waiting and having to go through a large stack of bills and paperwork. I was already prepared.

I will not overload you. Lets just stop there for now...... I live in Illinois, but these suggestions are pretty standard procedure.

[glc4122]

pro se filing

thank you again for the help.

[SinkingFast]

Even tho you're planning to file Pro Se,........ Schedule several Consults with BK attnys in your area. Many attnys hand out a list of documents you'll need. That will help you gather together what you need. Also, you can get an idea of what your Court is used to seeing in the way of expenses in various areas.

Some Courts allow tobacco expenses, some don't. Some Trustees allow pet expenses, some don't. You can learn those types of things from attnys.

You never know what you'll be asked for so dig up as much stuff now as you can.

We did the same thing as LadyCop. Except instead of a file folder, I got one of those accordion style "briefcase" type things with a handle on the top.

If you're still current on your CC's, get copies of old Statements. Go back at least 2 years if you can. Once you stop missing payments, your CC's won't wanna give you any help. You'll probably loose any acct online accesses you currently have.

Same with your Bank Statements. A couple of year's worth if you can. If you closed any Bank accts in the last year or 2, dig out old statements from those as well. Be able to explain why you closed the acct(s) and show where the money went.

The Code says last 2 years of Income Taxes. Our attny wanted the last 4. If you can't find them,........ You can get transcripts from the IRS for Federal. State,....... Contact your State Dept of Revenue.

If you haven't already,.......... Start saving receipts. It will help you plan your budget for Schedule J. And if you spend more than what's normally allowed in your Court in a particular area, you'll have documentation.