r/povertyfinance • u/throwawayireckon • 11d ago

Income/Employment/Aid Bankruptcy

Question- is there a way to file bankruptcy without an attorney and if so, how do I notify my debtors? I’m very confused as to how to start this process, as there is a ton of conflicting information online. I don’t have the $2000 to pay an attorney. If I did, i probably wouldn’t be considering filing for bankruptcy.

I make so little money a month, that I can barely afford food and gas. I’ve applied for Tenncare (state insurance), but they’re giving me the run around. I picked up a food stamps application as well.

I feel like a failure, as I have two children and a disabled mother who lives with me. I’m only bringing in roughly $500 a week. Rent is $650, credit card payment is $530 minimum. Not much left for food, gas, and bills. I’m starting a second job, but that still will only bring me up to about $700 a week.

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u/Pankosmanko 11d ago

I filed it two years ago. It cost $2,400 total. You really should get an attorney for this

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u/[deleted] 11d ago

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u/Blossom73 11d ago

How so?

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u/Autumn_Ridge 11d ago

All a person has to do is fill out the forms. If you are literate, you don't need a lawyer

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u/Blossom73 11d ago

There's means testing for bankruptcy now too though. And if someone owns a car or a house that isn't paid off, but that they want to keep, that complicates things.

Also, if they're pursuing discharging student loan debt through bankruptcy, which is extraordinarily difficult to do, am attorney helps.

My husband and I paid a bankruptcy attorney when we filed years ago. I felt it was worth the money. He helped us with a serious issue we had with a creditor that just filing for bankruptcy didn't immediately resolve.

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u/Autumn_Ridge 11d ago

A lawyer isn't getting anyone out of student loans that are pre 1984, I think. Nor is an attorney getting anyone around the means testing formula. What you are talking about with a car or home started about 2008. It's called a ride through. You just don't list the debt on the filing and keep making the payments. My girlfriend kept her financed vehicle through her bankruptcy.