BANKRUPTCY FAQ
LANDOLT &
ASSOCIATES
Call 817-291-3999
Email us
3901 Airport Freeway, Suite 105
Bedford, Texas 76021
Bankruptcy can
help you get back
on your feet and give
you a fresh start


Landolt & Associates
3901 Airport Freeway, Suite 105
Bedford, Texas 76021

817-291-3999
Email Us
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Landolt & Associates
3901 Airport Freeway, Suite 105
Bedford, Texas 76021

817-291-3999
Email Us Now

Employment Opportunities

We are a debt relief agency and we help people file for relief under the
bankruptcy code.
Bankruptcy Home        Online Evaluation        Bankruptcy FAQ        Contact Us        Other Areas of Practice
Landolt & Associates
3901 Airport Freeway, Suite 105
Bedford, Texas 76021

817-291-3999
Email Us Now

Employment Opportunities

We are a debt relief agency and we help people file for relief under the
bankruptcy code.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bankruptcy
The following information includes frequently asked bankruptcy questions. The
answers are general in nature and are not intended to apply to every bankruptcy
and debt situation. Call or
email us to arrange a free consultation and to evaluate
your particular circumstances.

1.  When should I file for bankruptcy?

It's always a good idea to seek bankruptcy advice early, before your health,
marriage, employment, or business is affected.  Timing is often critical in certain
situations, such as if you are worried about your car being repossessed or if you
are facing home foreclosure.  Waiting too long may result in fewer options and
make a successful bankruptcy more difficult to accomplish.  If you are facing any of
the following, it's probably time to
contact us for a free consultation and evaluation:

  • Financial complications of divorce
  • Inability to pay medical bills
  • Reduced income due to the loss of job or overtime hours
  • Attempting to save a failing business
  • Borrowing from credit cards and/or family to meet payments
  • Barely getting by - where one unusual expense can cause severe financial
    strain
  • Borrowing against home equity or 401k to pay bills
  • Borrowing from one credit card to pay another
  • Late car, house and utility payments
  • Threatened foreclosures or repossessions
  • Taking Payday Loans and not being able to make the payments


2.  Will bankruptcy stop a lawsuit against me?

If you are being sued, we strongly urge you to speak with us about filing for
bankruptcy. A bankruptcy filing will stop a lawsuit immediately and prevent your
creditors from placing a lien against your house or garnishing your wages.


3.  Will bankruptcy stop my home from being foreclosed and/or
my car from being repossessed?

Bankruptcy can prevent a foreclosure of your house or a repossession of your car.
An "automatic stay" arises by law the instant a bankruptcy is filed. The automatic
stay stops the foreclosure process and prevents any collection actions, such as
repossessions or garnishments. Bankruptcy may also allow you to consolidate
your mortgage arrears or automobile balance, and make payments on those
debts over time through a repayment plan.


4.  Who will know about my bankruptcy?

Unless you tell them, most people will never know you have filed bankruptcy.  
Parties that receive notice of a bankruptcy are your creditors, the Bankruptcy Court,
the IRS and the Texas Department of Revenue. While bankruptcy is a public
record, very few people would go to the lengths to check if you have filed unless
you tell them.  Many people believe that notices of all bankruptcies are printed in
the newspapers, but this publication is rare.


5.  What information and documents do I need to prepare
before my bankruptcy appointment with an attorney?

If you would like to see the questions you will be asked during your first visit,
please see our
Free Online Evaluation, which contains the same type of
questions.  You can actually complete the evaluation online, and we will have the
information when you come in for your free consultation.  On your first visit, we will
evaluate your financial circumstances, so it would be helpful if you would bring
copies of your paystubs, a list of your most recent bills or the bills themselves, any
foreclosure notices you have received, and knowledge of your monthly living
expenses, such as food, clothing, housing, utilities, taxes, transportation, etc.

During your free consultation with our attorney, we will give you a Client
Questionnaire packet to fill out.  This packet of information is what we will use to
actually prepare your Bankruptcy Petition and Schedules (the official paperwork) to
be filed with the court.  It asks for detailed information about your living expenses
and your bills including account numbers.  It will also include a Client Checklist,
which will tell you what to copy and give to us to help with filing the bankruptcy,
such as copies of your last two years tax returns and check stubs from the last two
months.  If you need any help with these documents, we are always available for
you to call or
email us.  


6.  Do I have to go to court?

While every circumstance is different, most people who are represented by an
attorney when they file bankruptcy never have to step foot into an actual courtroom.  
You will, however, need to attend a first meeting of creditors, in which we will
attend with you.  This meeting is held in a hearing room or cubicle used by the
bankruptcy trustees, not in an actual courtroom. The trustee's representative will
ask you questions regarding your bankruptcy filing. If any of your creditors are
present, they can also ask you questions. However, creditors rarely attend this
meeting.  Your attendance at this hearing is mandatory, and failure to appear can
result in dismissal of your case.


7.  Will bankruptcy get me out of child support or spousal
support payments?

No. Under both old and new bankruptcy laws, child support payments and spousal
support payments are not dischargeable in a Texas bankruptcy proceeding.


8.  What makes Lisa Landolt & Associates different from other
bankruptcy firms?

At Landolt & Associates, we put ourselves in our clients shoes and treat people
the way we want to be treated.  From the time you call us, to when you attend your
initial consultation to your signing appointment, and all future contact with us, you
will be treated with respect and dignity.  While some firms "double-book"
appointments, just like airlines do with airline seats, that results in long wait times
of up to an hour, we always make sure our clients' wait time is minimal.  If you ever
have a problem or concern, you will speak directly with an attorney and not be put
off to a secretary or paralegal.  You won't be treated like "just a number" at our firm.  
We provide evening and weekend appointments for your convenience.  Experience
the difference yourself by calling or
emailing us today!


9.  What if I have questions about bankruptcy that aren't
answered here?

We are always happy to answer your questions!  Please call 817-291-3999 or
email us at
contact@landoltlawoffice.com.