Guide to Finding Utah Bankruptcy Lawyer

Today's tough economic times have led to record-setting numbers of U.S. citizens declaring bankruptcy. If you find yourself in need of Utah bankruptcy lawyers to help clear your debt and resolve your obligations to creditors, you should read this guide. It will contain a brief summary about Utah's bankruptcy laws, and the role of a Utah bankruptcy lawyer in guiding your bankruptcy case through the court system. You will also learn what to bring to your first consultation with a UT bankruptcy lawyer to get the most from your time and how to find Utah bankruptcy lawyers to work with you.

How Can a Utah Bankruptcy Lawyer Help Me?

If bill collectors or creditors are asking you for money that you don't have, you may be calling UT bankruptcy lawyers so you can stop living in fear of debt collectors every day. Utah bankruptcy lawyers can help you to clear or restructure your debt so that you can get back to your life. Using a UT bankruptcy lawyer, you can potentially stop foreclosure or lawsuits while losing few or none of your existing assets.

Consulting UT bankruptcy lawyers can put your mind at ease about your financial situation, and a Utah bankruptcy lawyer can put you on a path toward financial stability even if you have overextended yourself financially. Utah bankruptcy lawyers have streamlined the process of filing for bankruptcy in many ways, with some UT bankruptcy lawyers offering online systems to file. Your UT bankruptcy lawyer may also offer a flat, affordable fee structure that covers all your costs of filing bankruptcy.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

There are two laws that Utah bankruptcy lawyers can use to help you file for bankruptcy, and based on your financial situation, your Utah bankruptcy lawyer will advise you about which is right for you.

UT bankruptcy lawyers can use Chapter 7 bankruptcy to discharge most of your debts completely. After your UT bankruptcy lawyer helps you to file for Chapter 7, many of your debts will simply go away—no more credit card or hospital bills.

Utah bankruptcy lawyers commonly use this kind of bankruptcy for people who have faced a catastrophic accident or illness, or who have lost their job and have no way to continue paying bills. One of the very few types of bills that a Utah bankruptcy lawyer usually cannot have discharged are student loans—though if you are permanently disabled, your UT bankruptcy lawyer may be able to have these discharged as well.

Your Utah bankruptcy lawyer will inform you that you can only file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy once every 8 years, and you will also have to give up any personal property that isn't exempted (more about that in a minute). UT bankruptcy lawyers can help you decide whether Chapter 7 is right for you, but if it isn't, Utah bankruptcy lawyers may recommend the restructuring of debt offered by Chapter 13.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

UT bankruptcy lawyers can still have some of your debt discharged under Chapter 13, but this law exists so that your UT bankruptcy lawyer can work out a plan with the court for you to pay a reduced amount of debt on a court-ordered plan.

Utah bankruptcy lawyers are more likely to recommend this kind of bankruptcy if you have a good job and have simply fallen behind on bill payment. This is because you will still be obligated to pay most of your debt (in a consolidated, court-ordered plan) if your Utah bankruptcy lawyer helps you to consolidate your debt in Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

If you are advised by your UT bankruptcy lawyers to file for Chapter 13, you will need to create a payment plan that allows you to pay your debt while meeting your basic needs. Your UT bankruptcy lawyer and a judge will review your plans, and your debts will be consolidated. Under Chapter 13, you and your Utah bankruptcy lawyer do not need to make any determinations about exempt or non-exempt property, since no property will be seized.

Exempt and Non-Exempt Property

Utah bankruptcy lawyers can tell you that bankruptcy laws are designed to get you back on your feet, not to punish you. If you and your UT bankruptcy lawyer file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you will need to list your property, including not only your home and car but also personal property like clothing, furniture, electronics, and jewelry.

UT bankruptcy lawyers can show you the full list of exemptions, but in most cases, you will not need to give up your home, car, or anything else in your home. However, your Utah bankruptcy lawyers must first get your list of property so that they can advise you regarding non-exempt property that you own. Your Utah bankruptcy lawyer will advise you that non-exempt property will be seized during the bankruptcy proceedings and liquidated to pay your creditors.

Finding and Investigating UT Bankruptcy Lawyer

Perhaps the easiest way to find UT bankruptcy lawyers near your location is to use the website of the Utah State Bar. On the state bar's website, you will find a search that allows you to search for Utah bankruptcy lawyers by zip code.

Once you have found some UT bankruptcy lawyers near you, a good way to gather information is to look at the websites for each Utah bankruptcy lawyer. Does the website for your prospective UT bankruptcy lawyer seem like it addresses your concerns about the bankruptcy process? Which of the Utah bankruptcy lawyers you find seems to have the most experience? Once you have a short list, you can schedule initial consultations with one or two UT bankruptcy lawyers to see if they seem like the lawyer you want representing you.

What to Bring to Your First Consultation

You can help your Utah bankruptcy lawyer by being prepared for your first consultation. First of all, remember to write down any questions you have for your UT bankruptcy lawyer ahead of time, so that you don't forget during your appointment.

Bringing a pen and paper can also be helpful, both for writing down notes about anything you might not understand and for writing followup questions to ask your Utah bankruptcy lawyer later. Your UT bankruptcy lawyer will need to see any outstanding bills or collections notices that you may have received, and you will also want to let your Utah bankruptcy lawyer know about any outstanding judgments, liens, mortgages, or other debts so that he or she has an accurate picture of your financial situation.