If you’re considering bankruptcy to get rid of your debts, you need to know where to start and collect knowledge to make sure that bankruptcy is the right decision for you. After that, you need to know how to file bankruptcy in Milwaukee. Where do you even start?

Are you sure you need to file for bankruptcy? Sometimes there are other options that might fit your situation better than filing for bankruptcy.

The average person who files for bankruptcy usually has a lot of building debt, and then an unforeseen circumstance; such as losing a job, divorce, or injury serves as the catalyst for falling behind with paying debts. Bankruptcy is designed for people in this situation, who want a clean start to leave behind collectors and debt, and protect their properties. Not all debt can be wipes away, and depending on the kind of debt you have and your income will determine which type of bankruptcy will work best for you.

If you’re considering filing for bankruptcy just to protect your assets, Exemption Laws of Wisconsin already protect you from unsecured creditors such as credit card companies.

You need to figure out which type of bankruptcy you qualify for. If your income and expenses are less than the average household of the same size in Wisconsin, then you qualify for Chapter 7. Filing Chapter 7 means all of your debts would be erased in exchange for any property.

If you want to save your property or make more than the median income, Chapter 13 would be right for you. With Chapter 13, you would pay back a portion of your debts over a period of time and keep your property.

Before filing, you’ll want to select a bankruptcy attorney to help you through the process. You’ll be relying on this person to help you through a sometimes complicated and difficult time, so make sure you have preliminary meetings with potential attorneys to make sure you’re comfortable with them. You’ll also want to check to make sure your attorney is certified in bankruptcy law and they are a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

If you have lived in Wisconsin for the past 6 months, you can file at Wisconsin Eastern District Bankruptcy Court, which covers all of Milwaukee County.

Make sure you bring all of your required forms with you when filing. This includes a list of claims, creditors, your income and expenses, a list of your properties, and your monthly living expenses.

From here, you will be appointed a court trustee who will help you through your claim and your next steps into a fresh financial start.