Editors note: In this compelling guest post, Charleston bankruptcy lawyer Russ DeMott describes what he calls "financial repression" – the tendency of honest, hardworking men and women to delay or forego bankruptcy protection because of the administrative and expense burdens added to the bankruptcy filing process by the 2005 BAPCPA changes to the bankruptcy laws.
More on Has "Financial Repression" Stopped You from Filing Bankruptcy?
Filed under General consumer bankruptcy info, Pre-bankruptcy credit briefing by 
This morning, I received an email from a gentleman named Jim, who writes:
How can I file chapter 7 by myself without paying someone, anyone $ 99.00 $199.00, $299.00 etc… Three different people( with a financial intrest of course) said representation is required.
Here is my response: Jim, you certainly have the right to file a Chapter 7 case by yourself. The forms are available either on-line or at an office supply store. There are also several books about how to do this. I am currently reviewing a book entitled The Complete Chapter 7 Personal Bankruptcy Guide
More on Can I File a Chapter 7 By Myself, Without an Attorney
If you read this blog and other consumer bankruptcy blogs like Scott Riddle's Georgia Bankruptcy blog or the Bankruptcy Law Network blog, you know that preparing for filing a case involves a great deal of effort on your part to collect information and documents. Are there any steps that you as the potential bankruptcy debtor can take to speed up the process and to keep costs down.
More on File Your Bankruptcy by the End of the Month or Start the Process Over
Filed under Means Test issues, Median income test issues, Pre-bankruptcy credit briefing by
The bankruptcy law requires debtors to attend two educational courses. The first requirement calls for a "debt management course" and must be completed prior to filing – your certificate of completion is your "ticket in" to the bankruptcy process.
More on Financial Managment Course Requirement – Filing Deadline
If you have read my blog at all, you know that I have been quite critical of many of the changes brought about by the BAPCPA changes to the bankruptcy law. In general these changes have make the process of filing bankruptcy more complicated and more expensive. Sometimes, I have to decline representation in cases with complications because the potential client cannot afford to pay me for the time it would take to untangle his/her mess.
Consumer Bankruptcy News recently published an article discussing the holding of a Tennessee Chapter 13 case called In re Cole in which the Bankruptcy Judge dismissed a case because the debtor filed his consumer bankruptcy case the same day as he received his credit counseling.
More on Credit Counseling on the Day of Your Bankruptcy Filing May be Invalid
Filed under General consumer bankruptcy info, Pre-bankruptcy credit briefing by
