r/Bankruptcy

Hello all, my husband and I have been working on filing for a chapter 13, 100% repayment plan bankruptcy for the past few months.

In the last few weeks things have seriously gone downhill and I guess I’m looking for reassurance this is still the best course of action (as if we have any other choice).

I left my job last week due to having a post-partum psychosis episode at work.

I’m being checked in to an inpatient facility for a week to two weeks tomorrow for help.

A storm blew through and uprooted a 70 ft tree needs to be removed for around 2k in our backyard, it’s leaning towards the house and currently being held up by a ratchet strap.

We are around 80k in debt.

I’ve been struggling to deal, and things are getting out of hand. I need to hear a success story that we are going to make it out of this alive, because right now things feel very grim. The walls are closing in.

My attorney is charging me $3800 includes the filing fee of $395. Is this normal? Sounds excessive. Also won’t file until it’s paid off. Reputable firm btw. Did my homework.

Edit: the attorney in this thread answered. Thank you everyone. I thought it was the same process for everyone, didn’t know complex cases take more work.

A published opinion out of Chicago this week (In re Bell, N.D. Ill. Bankruptcy, July 1).

The firm ran a $0-down Chapter 7 model. You pay nothing before filing. Then within 10 days you sign a second agreement for around $2,500, and the paperwork says they can drop you if you refuse. The judge noticed an odd fee disclosure on one docket, started pulling the firm's other cases, and found the same structure over and over. Same recycled agreement, same signature image pasted across different clients' filings. She held a hearing, took briefing from the US Trustee, and ruled the arrangement violated the parts of the Bankruptcy Code that require fee agreements to be clear and honest. The firm has to disclose everything it collected after filing and return it in the three cases before her.

Two things stuck with me from the opinion. Judges can review attorney fees without anyone asking them to. And when that happens, the attorney has to justify the fee. The client doesn't have to prove anything.

A lot of people assume that once a lawyer has your money, it's gone no matter what happened. This opinion says otherwise. It's on the court's website and it's a readable 15 pages.

Threads about a lawyer going quiet, or someone wanting out, come up here pretty often. Nobody ever seems to know if you can actually get any of it back. This is the clearest yes-side answer I've seen published. Has anyone here ever had a judge or trustee actually question what your attorney charged?

I have about $60,000 in credit card debt, and all of my accounts have been charged off. It's been about a year and a half, and so far only one creditor has been aggressive about filing a lawsuit.

What are the chances that I could settle or take care of that one creditor and the others never pursue legal action? I'm trying to avoid bankruptcy if possible.

Has anyone been in a similar situation where some creditors never sued or eventually stopped pursuing the debt? I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences.

Hello everyone!

I recently filed for Chapter 7, and I have my 341 on July 22nd. When I first met with my attorney, I asked him if he foresaw any problems with my case, and the only issue he saw was that I had charged a few expenses on my card, so he recommended waiting 90 days before filing.

My only sources of income are Social Security Disability and VA Disability. I know these sources of income are not counted in the means test. But are they counted as disposable income? I'm just getting a little anxious because I've been reading posts on Reddit and saw that most people have under $125 a month in disposable income. When I was signing the papers for my bankruptcy, I noticed my disposable income was listed as around $1200 a month.

Has anyone else with protected income filed for bankruptcy with disposable income in excess of $1000?

Thanks!

Title says it all. My situation is pretty rough right now but I'm stable with living conditions. I filed for chapter 13 a little under 2 years ago, and have paid back about 35% of what I owe. It's a lot, like $2500 a month. It's a 100% repayment plan. Here's where I'm at...

I'm done. Like emotionally, spiritually, mentally, physically done. I'm in this situation because of compulsive gambling. I know that needs to be the focus to get and stay clean. My lease ended a month ago which I was way overpaying for, and my friend is letting me rent the bottom half of their house for dirt cheap as long as I want ($400 a month, very grateful).

The problem is, I absolutely hate my job. Like...can't do it anymore. I make mid 6 figures, so don't qualify for a chapter 7. I feel like I'm expending so much of my limited time and energy just to get even. My blood pressure is high, my body is telling me a lot needs to change.

I have no assets except a car worth maybe 8k. Literally nothing. My expenses are dirt cheap. Hypothetically if I were to quit my job, what would actually happen? I can't do 2 1/2 more years of this crap, and I want to focus on myself and well being. Chapter 13 is not a "fresh start", it's a structured repayment plan that is great for people with families or have a home they want to keep. What would you do in my situation? Honestly.

Planning on filing Ch 7, meeting with the attorney July 21st. She offers a payment plan and we will probably need a month or two before we can officially file. However, I have a family law emergency involving my child that is time sensitive and I need to act on it with a different attorney. I’m in a really tough spot. Retainer is 2k, and that appointment is on July 13th. I was going to put the 2k on a CC but continue to pay the minimum on this card due to this charge being placed, and pay it off next month. I started doing research though and read that this may be a huge red flag and seem like debt preference? I’m doing my best to research and modify my game plan if it is going to jeopardize the bankruptcy process. Trying to gather some funds to maybe not have to charge the entire 2k, but I’m not so sure that makes a difference.

Hey all, I recently got served papers from a collection agency that says they’re suing me for $913.84 for a credit card that both me and my ex used, but was only under my name.

The credit card and debt are from 2020 and I had completely forgotten about it. Fast forward and I have just recently got married (May 22 was the date) and we’ve already had money issues. Right before we got married I had a stay in the hospital, without insurance (it had just lapsed between jobs). That is the majority of my debt, coupled with my cc debt it’s about or around 20,000.

I know that’s on the low end, but I have a low paying job (I work for a non for profit) and my wife doesn’t make much either. I’m thinking of filing for bankruptcy so my new wife and I don’t have this hanging over our heads. I have used ai and the web to look into this, but I’m feeling a bit intimidated and confused.

I guess what I’m asking is how did you go about researching this and finding a good lawyer etc? Anything someone who’s just starting this journey needs to know? Thanks in advance!

Im filing bankruptcy for first time, any good advice I need to be very aware of during process. Haven't turned in anything, just spoke to lawyer to begin process.

I’m planning to file chapter 7 soon and about 6 months ago I sold my car to a family member and I’m concerned it could be a problem.

I received some disability backpay of about $10k that I used to payoff my $8.5k car loan which I then immediately sold to a family member for $9k which is the fair market value. I have records to support all of this. I don’t have a car at all anymore.

Can this be a problem when filing chapter 7? I don’t have enough income to pay that money back if the trustee wants me to and I also don’t want them having to involve my family member.

I’m honestly burned out. My monthly debt payments have gotten so high that cash out is way more than cash in, and I can’t keep up anymore. I’ve decided I’m going to stop paying the credit cards and just keep paying the essentials (rent, utilities, daycare, groceries, car payments, insurance). I’ll use the extra money to save for a bankruptcy lawyer and build a tiny emergency cushion.

We haven’t taken a family vacation in two years. My birthday is next month and I wanted to do something small for my family, maybe a cheap weekend getaway somewhere close. No flights, no fancy hotel, just something simple so we can breathe a little.

Is it stupid to do this while preparing for bankruptcy? Or is a small, reasonable trip okay?

has anyone used national debt relief instead of filing bankruptcy..they say 288/37 months and I'm debt free..they make 25%..but they say I'll pay 10k instead of 41k..but isn't either way going to wreck your credit..how do you build your credit back paying 37 months behind 🤔

Hello,

This is a very vulnerable post for me so please bear with me. A little about me. I’m 32. A single mom. Takes care of her mom and can’t seem to breathe or catch a break…

I’m debating if I should file for bankruptcy… so a little about my current situation. I am trying to get into nursing school starting on October 2026. Which will cost me having to move to a different state. I have no money saved up and my only income is being a driver through Lyft. Which with gas prices and inconsistency isn’t too livable. Please check my debts below

Loans:
Best egg: $3,600 $283 5.9%
Navy Fed $9,396
Three sticks lending $1900 charged off
Level up funding $1950 charged off
Upgrade $4,400 $155 31% charged off
Reprise: $6,404 $274 10th 34.67% charged off

Cc
Apple 31st $500
American Express 21st $1000
Bank of America 4th $2,000
Citi 24th $1900 closed

I’ve been thinking of filing for bankruptcy because it’s hard for me to make these monthly payments… and with the move and nursing school I could breathe and somewhat have a fresh start… instead of having all this over head I can just worry about my car and housing payments. Also after nursing school which is about 2 years I won’t have debt besides my school loans… Anyone been through this? I don’t know what to do… I work almost everyday with no time to spend with my kid and when I get home I’m exhausted. I feel like I’m failing… I’m mentally not okay and I’m so lost and defeated…

I officially filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

I’m 31, and honestly, I didn’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. But I had enough that I started getting sued, and that was my wake-up call. I decided I’d rather deal with bankruptcy now than spend years trying to dig myself out while constantly looking over my shoulder.

I filed on June 30, 2026, and my 341 meeting is scheduled for July 31.

Right now, I’m in that scary in-between stage. TransUnion is already reporting the bankruptcy, my Capital One Auto account is closed online (it’s also my car loan), and I can’t make payments the way I normally would. I already made my latest payment, my insurance is active, and I absolutely want to keep my car. That’s honestly my biggest concern.

I’ve also noticed other accounts changing or closing, like my credit-builder account, and every bankruptcy notification that pops up makes my heart drop a little.

I know this is probably a normal part of the process, but it’s intimidating when you’re actually living it. I keep wondering what’s going to happen next, how I’ll make my car payment if I can’t log in, and whether everything is unfolding the way it’s supposed to.

For those of you who have already gone through Chapter 7: • Did you feel this anxious during the period between filing and your 341 meeting? • If your auto lender closed your online account, how did you continue making your car payments? • Were there any surprises during the process that you wish you’d known about beforehand? • At what point did you finally feel like you could breathe again?

I’ve read so many posts from people saying filing bankruptcy was one of the best decisions they ever made. I’m really hoping that, a year from now, I’ll be one of those people too. Right now, though, I’m just scared and trying to trust the process.

We had 341 meeting June 9th. Discharge is expected to be August 10th. It is financed with a local credit union. Will they get a hold of us to surrender it or will they come repo without notice?

i dont have money/cash and insurance but ive been putting off dental care and now i need a root canal for a couple of teeth. Say i get approved for any financing (despite the low credit score) would it still be okay to get the dental work? Even if im financing it and will probably owe 5k? Or will this be a red flag when i file bankruptcy

I've been reading other people's experiences at the 341 hearing and I'm wondering how the trustee gets the bank statements.

My lawyer never asked me for any (that I can recall). Does the court just get them from the bank? Is this something they only need in certain cases?

I have my 341 in Oklahoma in 10 days.

Filed Chapter 7 in OK 6/14. 341 hearing is on 7/14.

I've remembered a handful of smaller debts since filing. My lawyer isn't worried. I've been advised not to pay anybody right now, but I owe the pest control company money and we want to continue using them. I want to keep my therapist so I paid him. That sort of thing.

Am I going to have to show bank statements and explain every payment over a certain amount? What might that threshold be?

USAA offered me a 30k consolidation loan to pay off higher interest credit cards. I took the loan and used every penny to pay off those cards in May 2026. I payed off (Apple, AMEX blue & gold, USAA cc, and 1 more).

A few weeks later a friend of my came to me and asked why I didn’t just file for chapter 7. I never considered it until after the fact. So I went and talked to 2 different bankruptcy lawyers.

The first one told me that I needed to wait atleast 90 days and then come back. That was pretty much it. Didn’t do a means test or anything. Very nonchalant and didn’t seem to care.

The second lawyer was very involved, asked questions, means test, looked at disposable income etc, and was super thorough. She said I pass the means test & the disposable income test.

I told her everything and she said that I don’t have anything to worry about? After reading lots of Reddit post about fraud and the timing I’m very concerned.

For context I took the loan May 25, 2026- first payment is July 2026 (this month). My attorney told me to not pay it??? I haven’t paid it but am considering paying it anyway because I didn’t want to default on it, especially on the first payment. I paid $500 and retained the second lawyer and now I’m having all kinds of doubt. Thoughts?

Consulted with an attorney. Central Florida not sure if that makes a difference. 440k in unsecured debt between us. Attorney said repayment will be 5100 a month which includes 3700 towards the mortgage payment. Basically, the debtors will get pennies on the debt over 4 years. Spouse doesn’t work and has been encouraged by doctors to file for disability. I somehow wish I could do chapter 7 but do not pass the means test. Income is currently 174k gross. Currently, not claiming spouse as a dependent. Was told trustee will more than likely keep tax returns. Approximately 36k in equity in the home. Was already foreclosed by them and was able to do a loan modification to get the mortgage down from 4200 to 3700. Own 2 cars both 10 years old. Scared 😱 of all the what if’s. Emergencies, etc. There is literally no room for anything. I haven’t completed the process entirely yet. I know time is running out as one creditor has already filed in court against the spouse. Another one got a judgement against me that I had no idea about until the consult. They have an affidavit from a process server who claimed they served me in person at a house I sold 4 years ago in a different state. I did challenge the process serving asking to vacate or dismiss. The creditor filed a motion to strike the process of service. I’ve been told I’ll still end up paying (judgement will remain) so best to complete the filing of the bankruptcy now. Trying to get my affairs in order so I’m not robbing Peter to pay Paul. Feeling helpless! I’m fairly certain no creditor will ever consider us in the future. So feeling cooked. Not fun in your 60’s. Is there anything positive to this?