Law Offices of Juan E. Milanes, PLLC - HOME

Law Offices of Juan E. Milanes, PLLC - HOME

Get a Fresh Start with Bankruptcy

I met with a prospective client today that had about $10,000.00 in credit card debt, another $10,000.00 in medical bills, $7,500.00 that was still due on a repossessed automobile, and a couple grand in student loans.  "I've had it" she told me.  "I need a fresh start!  I need to file bankruptcy. Please help."  

She was young.  Very young.  In the past, our clients have been quite elderly (70s and 80s), but not so young.  Most clients seem to be in their 30s and 40s, but rarely in their 20s.  Nonetheless, she needed help and she was looking in the right direction.  She knew what she needed and had succumbed to the idea of filing bankruptcy to start over.  Other than age, she is just like so many others that are out there.  We discussed the differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.  She qualifies for Chapter 7 based on her income alone, and she doesn't own any real estate that she is seeking to keep or reaffirm, so there really was reason to discuss too much about a Chapter 13.

We sat and talked about 45 minutes.  I was not in a rush and neither was she.  She was nervous at first, but then became much more relaxed.  I try very hard not to be pushy with prospective clients.  I don't like those bossy lawyers that push you into doing something you aren't prepared to do.  So, we talked about how filing a Chapter 7 Petition for her would get rid of all her debts, except for the student loans, which are non-dischargeable (like debt owed to the IRS).  We walked through documents and information that we would need to begin the process.  I gave her every chance to ask questions and I did my best to be responsive in an educational way.

She seemed very happy that once she retains this office that she could send all the collection calls she gets to this office.  She also seemed very comfortable with the office after a few minutes.  My office is here to help people, not judge them or help them figure out how to beat the system, and we walked through that too.  She was happy.  I gave her some general bankruptcy information and a workbook to complete if she desires to move forward.

I feel good about this lady.  She has a strong head on her shoulders.  She knows what she needs to do and she is resolved to get it done.  Why is this important?!  Because so many people come to our office to learn about bankruptcy, but they really haven't decided it is what they want.  That's ok because at some point in their life, I believe they will return when they finally make that important decision.  We educate prospective clients in an effort to give something back, but also to obtain future business from them.  She was absolute in her opinion that she had to file.

She didn't have a lot of debt that could be discharged -- less than $30,000.00.  Nonetheless, bankruptcy could wipe out that debt and let her start over again.  Oftentimes, we have clients with $100,000.00 to $1 million in debt, so the amounts to get rid of are all over the field.

In any event, I hope this lady returns.  We can certainly help her and give her the fresh start she so badly told me she needed to obtain.  She left an impression on me.

http://www.MilanesLaw.com/