THE BANKRUPTCY PROCESS IN OREGON

OREGON BANKRUPTCY LAWYER

The bankruptcy filing process in Bend moves through several standard steps for each form of bankruptcy. The most commonly filed form of bankruptcy is Chapter 7. The process for Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing is completed within about 4 months in most cases. At Oregon Fresh Start, our Bend debt relief attorney can help you get the new financial beginning you need if you are in serious debt-related problems. Understanding the process can help you make a decision about whether to move forward. When there are pressing financial problems, it is better to solve them sooner than later, as the situation often just gets worse.

THE STEPS IN THE PROCESS

Credit Counseling

A legal requirement prior to filing bankruptcy in Bend is that you get credit counseling. This is done through a federally approved agency, at a low cost. The counseling is usually done on the internet, but can be done in person or on the phone.

Completion of Petition

We prepare your petition using information you provide. The information must be 100% accurate. As an aid in preparing your petition, we will ask you for 6 months of income information. After signing, you petition is filed with the court and the court notifies your creditors.

Court Appearance

You will have to appear at a meeting called "The First Meeting of Creditors". This takes place about 5 - 6 weeks after you have filed your petition. You will be put under oath and questioned about your petition to determine if it is accurate. This meeting usually takes no longer than 10 minutes. Creditors have the right to attend, but rarely do. Our attorney will represent you at this meeting.

Discharge of Debt

After about 75 days, the bankruptcy process is completed and your debt discharged. In some cases, a creditor may file a motion, in which case a further court appearance is necessary, but for most people this rarely occurs.

Four to five months from the time of your filing, you could be free from a crushing debt load. Our firm is here to assist you throughout every step of the process; we are very familiar with the bankruptcy courts throughout the State of Oregon - we have assisted over 11,000 people with bankruptcy over our 40 years in practice. We know how important it is to you and your family or your business to get back on your feet and have relief from the pressure of debt. Our debt relief attorney can help with our Bend bankruptcy filing services.