If you are tired of receiving harassing phone calls and letters from your creditors, you should consider filing for bankruptcy. Filing for bankruptcy may give you the opportunity to be free from mounting debt, and obtain a fresh start. A bankruptcy attorney in Columbus can help you determine if filing for bankruptcy is right for you. In addition, an attorney will be able to explain the bankruptcy process to you, and help you receive a bankruptcy discharge following the completion of your bankruptcy case.
 
Your bankruptcy attorney in Columbus will explain to you that prior to filing for bankruptcy, you must complete a pre-filing credit counseling session. Congress included this requirement so that all individuals considering bankruptcy would also weigh other options outside of filing for bankruptcy. For example, during the session you will learn about creating a reasonable monthly budget and debt consolidation. Generally, the credit counseling session lasts around one hour and you will receive a certificate upon completion after you finish the course. Your bankruptcy attorney in Columbus will file the certificate of completion along with your bankruptcy petition. The pre-filing credit counseling session must be completed within 180 days of the date you file your bankruptcy petition. If you take the course 181 days before you file for bankruptcy, you will need to repeat the course, or you risk having your bankruptcy case dismissed.
 
Next, you and your bankruptcy attorney in Columbus will decide whether you should file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. To be eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Columbus you must earn less than the current median income for the state of Ohio or satisfy the means test. The means test evaluates your monthly disposable income, or the income you have remaining each month after you pay your necessary expenses. Generally, the more disposable income you have the less likely you are to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
 
However, if you do not qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you may still be eligible for Chapter 13 bankruptcy if you have regular and reliable income for at least 6 months prior to filing for bankruptcy. The income can come from any source including spousal support or Social Security. The most important characteristic of the income is that it is regular. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will submit a repayment plan to the bankruptcy court for approval. The repayment plan typically takes 3 to 5 years to complete. During the plan, you will make monthly payments to your Chapter 13 bankruptcy trustee. At the completion of the plan, you will receive a bankruptcy discharge.
 
Filing for bankruptcy is an important decision with lasting consequences. Therefore, if you are considering filing for bankruptcy, contact a bankruptcy attorney in Columbus or visit the United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Ohio’s website http://www.ohsb.uscourts.gov/ for more information about the bankruptcy process. If you are thinking about filing for bankruptcy without the assistance of an attorney, visit http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/Bankruptcy/BankruptcyResources/FilingBankruptcyWithoutAttorney.aspx for additional information about how to file for bankruptcy on your own.