If you have decided that the best financial decision for you is to file bankruptcy, you will need to make an appointment for a consultation at a local bankruptcy law firm. You will want to be as prepared as possible for that appointment, so make sure that you are taking a little time to go over the following things that you should take with you:

Proof Of Your Recent Income

You will need to show the bankruptcy courts that you do not have enough income to cover all of your monthly bills as well as basic living expenses. If you have more monthly debt than you have income, it will be easy for the bankruptcy judge to understand why you need help at this time. Make sure that you are taking proof of your income covering the previous few months. This will show that there is a pattern of you having less monthly income than you have in bills. Pay stubs and monthly bank statements can work well for this.

Copy Of Your Most Recent Bills

It is important to make sure that each and every creditor is included in your bankruptcy filing. If you leave out a creditor and it is not discovered in time, you may have to repay that creditor as originally planned because the debt owed to them was not included with the filing. Your lawyer will want to know that names and contact information for everyone that you owe money to, as well as your current balance owed. You can take a copy of each bill or make your own list that will include all of the information your bankruptcy attorney will need.

Your Payment

Many attorneys are ready to get your case started right away, but they are going to need the payment first. If you are not able to pay for your bankruptcy all at once, the attorney may be able to start a payment plan for you, but the official filing will not be able to take place until you have paid in full. Make sure that you confirm the amount that needs to be paid so you can have cash or a money order ready.

Do take a little time to research the different bankruptcy attorneys in your area. While most will charge about the same for a bankruptcy filing, you may find that some may offer payment plans while others don't.