Why is it taking you so long?

As we tell you, we cannot start working on a bankruptcy file until the client has paid all of the retainer AND brought all of the information we actually need to do the bankruptcy. Frequently, this question is asked by people who may have forgotten that they still have not gotten us all of the information we have asked for so that we can actually do the paperwork, or by people who have forgotten to pay all of their fees and costs.

The fact of the matter is that, if a client actually walks in with everything we need and all of the fees and costs, and we do not have an emergency for some other client which would take priority, we can meet with the client and file the bankruptcy case that day. It is just rare when that situation actually occurs. Most clients need time to pay and normally we will give them six months. Most clients need to find the information we need because they have lost it, their ex-wife stole it, they never received it in the mail, or they have no clue what we are talking about and we have to explain to them how they can get it. Please understand that a lot of the information we need can ONLY be obtained by the client because it is personal to him and confidential. The person who has it would not give it to us if we asked.

This is not to say that we sometimes do not cause delay ourselves. No one is perfect. However, most of our time delays are caused because we are working on a file and a question arises that is not readily answerable and we want to make sure that we are handling a matter in the best way and protecting you the most that we can. Sometimes it takes time to answer those questions. Also, in order to avoid bankruptcy fraud and perjury we ALWAYS need to update our information from you before we file a bankruptcy if very much time has gone by between the time we are ready for you to sign and the time you first hired us. It usually takes maybe fifteen minutes. We also may need updated documents from you at that time, so don’t be surprised.