Tennessee Firm Advises on Petitions for Emergency Bankruptcy

Experienced Knoxville attorney assists with skeleton bankruptcy filings

Bankruptcy is a complex process that requires extensive financial disclosures, and assembling the necessary information and documents can take some time. However, if you are in desperate need of immediate relief, you might consider filing an emergency bankruptcy petition that offers protection while you are still organizing your financial records. At William E. Maddox, Jr. LLC, Attorney at Law in Knoxville, I offer comprehensive support to East Tennessee residents in debt relief matters, including the drafting of “skeleton” bankruptcy petitions.

What you should know if you need bankruptcy protection immediately

You might choose to submit an emergency bankruptcy petition if you are facing imminent foreclosure, repossession of your car or wage garnishment. Whether you’re looking for relief under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, there are potential drawbacks to accelerating the bankruptcy process in this way. My firm delivers comprehensive counsel to clients concerning emergency petitions, including assistance with:

• Fees — As part of an emergency or standard bankruptcy petition, you must pay a fee to the United States Bankruptcy Court or apply for a fee waiver. Currently, the Eastern District of Tennessee charges $338 to initiate a Chapter 7 proceeding and $313 if you’re looking for a Chapter 13 debt repayment plan.
• Forms required — Even with a skeleton filing, certain information must be submitted to the court. You have to provide your Social Security number, a list of creditors and a statement setting forth which bankruptcy chapter you are filing under. In most cases, you also must present a certificate indicating that you have completed a credit counseling course. This can be done online.
• Notice to creditors — If you believe that you are only days away from losing your home or car, you should not wait for the court to notify potential creditors that you’ve filed for bankruptcy. Once your petition is accepted, my firm can send out notices so that collection efforts stop at once.
• Preparation of supporting documents — Just because you are seeking bankruptcy protection on an emergency basis does not excuse you from the responsibility of delivering a full set of documents to the court. Within 14 days, you must file the remaining schedules, forms and supporting information or your case will be dismissed. However, even if this occurs, you can re-file once you have the requisite materials.

As emergency bankruptcy is frequently a solution for people who want to stave off home foreclosure, it is often associated with Chapter 13 filings. However, no matter what specific type of relief you seek, my firm is ready to give you the prompt, effective legal support you need to protect your assets and make a fresh financial start.

Contact a thorough Tennessee lawyer for a free consultation about emergency bankruptcy

William E. Maddox, Jr. LLC, Attorney at Law in Knoxville represents East Tennessee clients in emergency bankruptcy matters as well as standard proceedings. You can set up a free consultation about your situation by calling 865-293-4953 or contacting me online.