Preparing for a Bankruptcy Consultation
When people search for how to prepare for a bankruptcy consultation, they usually worry about two things:
“What if I don’t have everything or forgot something?”
“What happens to my stuff in bankruptcy?”
Take a breath.
A first meeting is about
understanding your situation and your options.
It’s not a test. It’s not an audit. It’s not a judgment.
Your attorney needs enough information to determine:
Whether bankruptcy is appropriate
Which chapter may apply (Chapter 7 or Chapter 13)
What your next steps would look like
You don’t need perfection. You need clarity.
The Few Things You Truly Need
There are only a couple of things that are essential at the beginning.
1. Recent Paystubs
Your income matters in a bankruptcy analysis.
You should have recent paystubs available so your attorney can evaluate:
Your current income
Household income
Eligibility for Chapter 7
If you’re self-employed, you should be familiar with your average monthly income.
That’s the starting point.
2. What Your House Is Worth — and What You Owe
If you own a home, you should know:
An estimate of its current value
How much you owe on the mortgage
It does not need to be exact to the dollar. A reasonable estimate works.
This helps your attorney determine whether there is equity and how your home would be treated in bankruptcy.
3. What Your Vehicles Are Worth — and What You Owe
If you have a car loan, you should know:
The vehicle’s approximate value
The remaining loan balance
Again, this does not need to be perfect. A general understanding is enough for an initial consultation.
What You Should Be Familiar With (But Don’t Need to Master)
You don’t need spreadsheets.
You don’t need a full financial autobiography.
You should simply be familiar with:
About how much total debt you have
The types of debt (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, tax debt, etc.)
Whether any lawsuits or garnishments are happening
Your basic monthly expenses
If you don’t know exact numbers, that’s okay. Your attorney can help you organize that later.
The purpose of the first meeting is direction — not documentation.
What Doesn’t Matter in Your Bankruptcy Consultation
This part is important.
How you got into debt is not part of the legal formula.
Whether it was:
Medical issues
Divorce
Job loss
Business problems
Inflation
Or decisions you regret
Bankruptcy law looks at your current financial situation.
Your attorney is not evaluating your character. They are evaluating numbers.
Shame has no role in the analysis.
What to Expect During the Meeting
When you prepare for a bankruptcy consultation in a calm, focused way, the conversation usually looks like this:
Review of income
Discussion of assets (home, cars, bank accounts)
Overview of debts
Explanation of whether bankruptcy is appropriate
Outline of next steps
You should leave the meeting knowing:
Whether bankruptcy makes sense
What chapter would apply
What the timeline looks like
What it would cost
What rebuilding will look like
Clarity reduces fear.
You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out
One of the biggest misconceptions about how to prepare for a bankruptcy consultation is that you need to have everything perfectly organized.
You don’t.
If you have:
Recent paystubs
A general understanding of what your home and vehicles are worth and what you owe
A basic sense of your total debt
You are prepared enough to start.
The rest can be built step by step.
Debt Relief With Dignity Starts With a Conversation
If you’re reading this, you’re already doing something responsible. You’re looking for information.
Preparation isn’t about pressure. It’s about confidence.
When you walk into a bankruptcy consultation understanding a few key numbers, you’re not overwhelmed. You’re informed.
And from there, we move forward quickly — toward a plan, toward relief, and toward rebuilding.
If you’re ready to understand your options, schedule a consultation with me in you are in Ohio and take the first step toward your fresh start. I also have options for you if you do not live in Ohio and cannot work with me to find a trusted attorney in your area. Find an attorney outside of Ohio.
