Seattle &
Western Washington Area Lawyer
Bankruptcy
and Criminal Defense Law
Bankruptcy
and Criminal Defense Law
Make the Right Move ... Call an Experienced Attorney for Help
A Chapter 7 case begins with the debtor filing a petition with the bankruptcy court. In addition to the petition, the debtor must also file with the court:Debtors must also provide the assigned case trustee with a copy of the tax return or transcripts for the most recent tax year as well as tax returns filed during the case (including tax returns for prior years that had not been filed when the case began). Evidence of payment from employers, if any, received 6 months and copies of your most recent bank statements (from all sources: checking, savings, investment) usually need to be provided to the trustee.
In order to complete the Official Bankruptcy Forms that make up the petition, statement of financial affairs and schedules, the debtor must provide the following information to their attorney:
Among the schedules that an individual debtor will file is a schedule of "exempt" property. The Bankruptcy Code allows an individual debtor to protect some property from the claims of creditors because it is exempt under federal bankruptcy law or under the laws of the debtor's home state.
Many states have taken advantage of a provision in the Bankruptcy Code that permits each state to adopt its own exemption law in place of the federal exemptions. In other jurisdictions, the individual debtor has the option of choosing between a federal package of exemptions or the exemptions available under state law. Thus, whether certain property is exempt and may be kept by the debtor is often a question of state law. The debtor should consult an attorney to determine the exemptions available in the state where the debtor lives or has lived.
Filing a petition under Chapter 7 "automatically stays" (stops) most collection actions against the debtor or the debtor's property. But filing the petition does not stay all types of actions and the stay may be effective only for a short time in some situations. The stay arises by operation of law and requires no judicial action. As long as the stay is in effect, creditors generally may not initiate or continue lawsuits, wage garnishments, or even telephone calls demanding payments. The bankruptcy clerk gives notice of the bankruptcy case to all creditors whose names and addresses are provided by the debtor.
About 30 days after the petition is filed, the case trustee will hold a meeting of creditors. During this meeting, the trustee puts the debtor under oath, and both the trustee and creditors may ask questions. The debtor must attend the meeting and answer questions regarding the debtor's financial affairs and property. If a husband and wife have filed a joint petition, they both must attend the creditors' meeting and answer questions. It is important for the debtor to cooperate with the trustee and to provide any financial records or documents that the trustee requests.
Aaron offers a complimentary half-hour phone consultation to discuss your case. For criminal issues, you can call 24 hours a day, and if needed, Aaron will meet you at jail or at the courthouse. In the Seattle, Tacoma and Everett areas of Washington, contact attorney Aaron Nielson regarding your bankruptcy or criminal defense case.
We assist clients living in the western side of Washington. In most cases we can come to you. We have and will continue to serve clients in most cities including Seattle, Bellevue, Lake Washington, Sammamish, Newcastle, Issaquah, Ames Lake, Carnation, Fall City, Snoqualmie, North Bend, Mirrmont, Hobart, Maple Heights, Kangley, Ravensdale, Black Diamond, Lea Hill, Covington, Auburn, Algona, Lakeland South, Edgewood, Tacoma, Fife, Federal Way, Kent, Des Moines, O'Brien, East Hill, Meridian, Normandy Park, SeaTac, Burien, Bryn, White Center, Mercer Island, Clyde Hille, Medina, Yarrow Point, Yarrow Bay, Kirkland, Redmond, Union Hill, Novelty Hill, Inglewood, Woodinville, Duval, Cottage Lake, Kenmore, Bothell, Shoreline, Woodway, Mountlake Terrace, Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Perrinville, Alderwood, Manor, North Creek, Matitby, Cathcart, Monroe, Woods Creek, Sultan, Goldbar, Silver Firs, Snohomish, Three Lakes, Mukilteo, Everett, Lake Stevens, Tulalip, Marysville, Smokey Point, Arlington, Silvana, Warm Beach, Starwood, Skagit City, Mt Vernon, Burlington, Alger, Lyman, Hamilton, Edison, Acme, Geneva, Bellingham, Marietta, Ferndale, Custer, Blaine, Lynden, Everson, Deming, Maple Falls, Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Anacortes, Oak Harbor, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Fort Casey, Keystone, Freeland, Whidbey Island, Clinton, Langley, Camano Island, Port Townsend, Port Hadlock - Irondale, Marrowstone, Port Ludlow, Sequim, Carlsborg, Port Angeles, Blyn, Bell Hill, Forks, La Push, Ocean Shores, Ocean City, Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Elma, Montesano, Raymond, Tokeland, Grayland, Humptulips, Neilton, Brady, Satsop, McCleary, Malon-Porter, Oakville, Rochester, Grand Mound, Centralia, Tumwater, Olympia, Lacey, Shelton, Dupont, Fort Lewis, Rainier, Tenino, Bucoda, Fords Prairie, Lakewood, Parkland, Spanaway, Elk Plain, Graham, Orting, Bonney Lake, Eatonville, Napavine, Winlock, Vader, Toledo, Mossyrock, Morton, Castle Rock, Kelso, Longview, Kalama, Woodland, Ridgefield, Vancouver, Scappose, Felida, Walnut Grove, Five Corners, Ordhards, Camas, Mill Plain, Brush, Meadow Glade, Lewisville, Amboy, Yacolt, Enumclaw, Greenwater, Easton, Cle Elum, Bristol, Thorp, Ellensburg, Kittas, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Sunnyslope, Wenatchee, George, Yakima, Naches, Gleed, Union Gap, Moxee, Wapato, Royal City. This includes counties for King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, San Juan, Island, Kitsap, Clallam, Jefferson, Gray's Harbor, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Mason, Thurston, Lewis, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, Pierce, Chelan, Kittitas, Yakima, Clickitat.
Areas of Practice