What would you have done prior to filing if you had to do it again?

[Epic]

Getting ready to bite the bullet and file BK7 in a few months. I do not know anyone who has personally filed (or admits) filing BK before, which is why I am so thankful to have found this site. From those that have done a BK, anything you would have done prior to filing that caused problems / issues during the proceedings that you could have cleared up before hand? (ie disputed TL's, assets, etc)

[tyson24]

I am going to assume you are talking about bankruptcy planning

If I had it to do over again, I would have sold my car to my inlaws instead of just letting them take over the payment. Looking like you have an insider transfer is bankruptcy death.

I would not transfer property to anyone,. I would not pay back anyone (although I don't owe any money to anyone except my debts)

I would have planned better. I would have answered lawsuits for judgments to prolong the process. I would have talked to a reputable BK lawyer before I ever was in the position to HAVE to file.

[RuthCB]

Filed sooner and stopped paying my credit cards sooner. I paid everything right up to the time of filing. DUMB mistake.

[IBroke]

I paid everything right up to the time of filing. DUMB mistake.

Not necessarily - you earned yourself a headstart concerning your future credit-score by doing so.

[Dougie011]

i would have done it sooner then I did. That is really all I would change.

[majorbk]

I would have done it sooner as well. For over a year struggling to always be on time with my cc payments. It was stressing me out.

[drowning123]

I would have done it sooner, too. I settled one silly debt (for about $500), which at the time I didn't even had plans to file. I wouldn't have settled any debts. I guess it helps a little with my credit report.

[discouraged]

I would have done it much sooner also. What was I thinking - paying all those bills while I was/am unemployed? Went tnrough all my savings. Not worth it.

[AngelinaCatHub]

Gawd, this is a bomb to me. We/I were so ignorant in our older age and with the money we had once, we were just beside ourselves.

What I would do then with what I know now, is first, Internet myself as to what this is all about. Our lawyer was terrible in educational ability and we were dumb as anvils.

Then I would have found this place, downloaded the C7 book from Nolo Press and learned Pro Se'. I would have been a d*mn better lawyer than the one I had.

I would know not to sell property that was our family cemetery and had to move remains for reasons not about money, but at the wrong time, then I got to pay IRS taxes I had no idea existed, and the Trustee of all our gain. Still had the expense to move the stones.

OH I would have done so much different, but I did get by. Only because, I was honest, paid the price, and was obviously ill informed.

To those who read and ask. EDUCATE YOURSELF. YOUR LAWYER IS LESS LIKELY TO CARE. 'Hub

[wipetheslate]

What I would do then with what I know now, is first, Internet myself as to what this is all about. Our lawyer was terrible in educational ability and we were dumb as anvils.

Then I would have found this place, downloaded the C7 book from Nolo Press and learned Pro Se'. I would have been a d*mn better lawyer than the one I had.

Well, you weren't dumb, just ignorant. The way we all start out. I'm a pretty smart person and while I am considering hiring a lawyer for my no-asset Chapter 7, I know I can't afford one that is going to give me real, personalized attention. I figure I know more about my case than any lawyer ever could, and that's why I will almost assuredly go pro se.

[brokejoker]

I would have filed sooner, before all the late dings on our previously perfect credit and before the lawsuits.

I would've probably gone pro se too if I had known it was a realistic option. I did 90% of the legwork for the lawyer and I learned the ins and outs of the BK laws for our state anyway. I should've saved us the $1000 and just filed myself.

[Freddy03]

I would have filed as soon as I received my first cc summons instead of trying to fight it and losing.

[kartoons19]

Like everyone else I just wish I filed a year sooner. Being an optimistic person I always believed it would get better, but it didn't. I wish I would have just filed instead of trying to stay afloat and enduring all of that added stress and worry!

There are moments when I wish I would have saved $1700 and filed pro se. I'm sure I could have been successful going that route, but then again having my attorney to answer questions and deal with the calls from the CC companies, was invaluable. Other than not filing sooner, I wouldn't have done anything different as it has been a smooth process. 28 days and counting until discharge!

[ccsjoe]

We would have filed a hell of a lot sooner, kind of the common thread here. But if you're asking for lessons learned, besides the "sooner" constant, make sure you have an alternate checking account not linked to any institution with which you have credit, give yourself time to redirect direct deposits, learn how to use online bill pay and set up OLB payments that you send out, rather than ACHs against your account.

[enginegirl]

I would have filed 2 1/2 years ago when I lost 2/3rds of my salary (from 200K to 65K) instead of robbing from Peter to pay Paul... and socked away cash under the mattress....