| Using Self-Help Law Books | vii |
| Introduction | xi |
| Section 1 | Bankruptcy and the Legal System | 1 |
| History and General Information | |
| The Legal System | |
| Bankruptcy Law and Procedure | |
| Section 2 | Lawyers | 15 |
| Needing a Lawyer | |
| Selecting a Lawyer | |
| Working with a Lawyer | |
| Firing Your Lawyer | |
| Section 3 | Avoiding Bankruptcy | 23 |
| The Effects of Bankruptcy | |
| Income and Expenses Worksheet | |
| Property Worksheet | |
| Debt Assessment | |
| General Guidelines | |
| Alternatives to Bankruptcy | |
| Section 4 | Preparing for Bankruptcy | 45 |
| Basic Legal Requirements | |
| Arranging Your Finances | |
| Section 5 | Gathering Information | 51 |
| Income | |
| Expenses | |
| Property | |
| Debts | |
| Legal Research | |
| Section 6 | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy | 59 |
| Qualifying for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy | |
| Understanding Legal Forms | |
| Voluntary Petition | |
| Application to Pay Filing Fee in Installments | |
| Application for Waiver of the Chapter 7 Filing Fee | |
| Schedule A | Real Property | |
| Schedule B | Personal Property | |
| Schedule C | Property Claimed as Exempt | |
| Schedule D | Creditors Holding Secured Claims | |
| Schedule E | Creditors Holding Unsecured Priority Claims | |
| Schedule F | Creditors Holding Unsecured Nonpriority Claims | |
| Schedule G | Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases | |
| Schedule H | Codebtors | |
| Schedule I | Current Income of Individual Debtor(s) | |
| Schedule J | Current Expenditures of Individual Debtor(s) | |
| Summary of Schedules | |
| Declaration Concerning Debtor's Schedules | |
| Statement of Financial Affairs | |
| Chapter 7 Individual Debtor's Statement of Intention | |
| Statement of Current Monthly Income and Means Test Calculation | |
| Debtor's Certification of Completion of Instructional Course Concerning Personal Financial Management | |
| Master Address Lists and Mailing Matrix | |
| Filing with the Court Clerk and Notifying Creditors | |
| Creditors' Meeting | |
| Court Hearing and Approval of Plan | |
| Section 7 | Chapter 13 Bankruptcy | 97 |
| Qualifying for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy | |
| Understanding legal Forms | |
| Voluntary Petition | |
| Application to Pay Filing Fee in Installments | |
| Schedule A | Real Property | |
| Schedule B | Personal Property | |
| Schedule C | Property Claimed as Exempt | |
| Schedule D | Creditors Holding Secured Claims | |
| Schedule E | Creditors Holding Unsecured Priority Claims | |
| Schedule F | Creditors Holding Unsecured Nonpriority Claims | |
| Schedule G | Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases | |
| Schedule H | Codebtors | |
| Schedule I | Current Income of Individual Debtor(s) | |
| Schedule J | Current Expenditures of Individual Debtor(s) | |
| Summary of Schedules | |
| Declaration Concerning Debtor's Schedules | |
| Statement of Financial Affairs | |
| Chapter 13 Plan | |
| Statement of Current Monthly Income and Disposable Income Calculation | |
| Debtor's Certification of Completion of Instructional Course Concerning Personal Financial Management | |
| Master Address Lists and Mailing Matrix | |
| Filing with the Court Clerk and Notifying Creditors | |
| Creditors' Meeting | |
| Court Hearing and Approval of Plan | |
| Section 8 | Special Circumstances | 133 |
| Amending Your Paperwork | |
| Changing from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 | |
| Lien Avoidance | |
| Redemption | |
| Reaffirming a Debt | |
| Lawsuits | |
| Pensions and Retirement Plans | |
| Section 9 | After Your Discharge | 139 |
| Handling Your Finances | |
| Obtaining Credit | |
| Glossary | 143 |
| Appendix A | Exemptions (Federal and State) | 147 |
| Appendix B | Checklists and Worksheets | 205 |
| Appendix C | Blank Forms | 213 |
| Index | 293 |
| About the Author | 301 |
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