Rights & Responsibilities
The Rights and Responsibilities of Chapter 13 Bankruptcy for Debtors and their Attorneys are a list of guidelines provided by the court to advise debtors of their obligations and the responsibilities of their attorneys.As an experienced Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney, I have been through this process many times. I understand my responsibilities and will help you know yours throughout your bankruptcy. Having filed thousands of bankruptcies, I assist debtors through their
Chapter 7 or
Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and San Diego Counties.
Before Chapter 13 Voluntary Petition Filing
The debtor agrees to provide their attorney with proof of their attorney with a photo ID (usually a California Driver’s License) and proof of their social security number or tax identification number. The first thing the trustee of the case will request is proof of identification, so the debtor needs to provide those documents at the beginning of the process. The debtor must provide complete and accurate financial information, including income, assets, debts, and liabilities. Using your financial information, your attorney can explain your options while you explain your objectives in filing for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. An experienced attorney can explain the entire process and what outcomes to expect for you, compare this with your objectives, and suggest your best course of action. The debtor ultimately must determine what type of bankruptcy to file.
As an attorney helping you file for bankruptcy, I agree to review all your financial statements,
advise you on your options, and whether I suggest you file under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. The
means test will typically decide what type of bankruptcy you will file; however, some debtors have a choice. I will take time for these debtors to explain their situation and how each option will affect them during bankruptcy. I will answer all your questions regarding these choices and the general bankruptcy process. We will provide links and information about obtaining a
credit counseling certificate by completing the required debtor financial management courses. Debtors filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy must have completed their federal and state income
tax returns to date. I will prepare you for your
341A Meeting of Creditors and explain how the trustee will conduct the hearing. My staff will tell you when your meeting is, the date and time, and explain how to enter the meeting. With your help I will be able to file your
petition, plan, statements and schedules in a timely manner.
Fees and Payments During Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
During your Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will make some payments directly to creditors, and others will be made through your Chapter 13 plan. As your bankruptcy attorney, I will advise you on how to make your payments going forward. Some claims, such as mortgage and vehicle loan payments, accrue interest, so how you will pay down these secured debts must be explained to you. Our team will teach you how to use TFS to make electronic payments. Your first payment will be due within 30 days of your petition filing date. Our firm requires a partial payment upfront to file bankruptcy, but you will pay most of the cost through the payment plan. The trustee's fees will all go through the payment plan. As the debtor, you must maintain insurance and be up to date on all motor vehicles during a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The trustee may request proof of insurance, and they will require your Vehicle's Declaration Page, not your Proof of insurance card.
Client Reviews
★★★★★
I highly recommend Christopher Hewitt. Chris was doing pretty good job on my case with full support from processing, scheduling and other questions. We are in desperate situation facing foreclosure and credit card debt at that time, he saved us. He has my highest recommendation with regard to his expertise. Rizal H K
★★★★★
We found the law office of Christopher Hewitt to be a pleasant relationship in our legal situation. The law office was always responsive and always treated my questions as important and answered very quickly. The law office always advised me and I got great advise on our situation. I would highly recommend this law office for your legal dilemma. John H
★★★★★
Ibegan a business relationship with the Law Office of Christopher Hewitt and dealt with Mr. Hewitt directly. I utilized his service in debt management and because of him i am debt free within 6 months!!! I cannot thank him enough for all the hard work he did and how effective he was with all my creditors. I definitely could not have been this successful with eradicating my debt if i had not employed Mr. Hewitt's services. I strongly recommend him and his Law Office to anyone looking for legal help. Thank you so much!!! Debra B.
★★★★★
The Law Office of Chris Hewitt was great at handling my debt settlement. I was able to speak directly with the attorney multiple times and he always knew what was going on with my accounts and gave me clear advise. I did not feel like he made any false promises and was very realistic about what the outcomes would be. At the end of the year I was able to pay off all my credit cards at less than 40% of what I owed at the time I hired him. I would highly recommend Chris Hewitt for any one who has debt issues and does not want to file for bankruptcy. Karen H.
★★★★★
Basically, if I could describe my experience with Chris Hewitt in three words they would be, professional, straight-forward, and helpful. Going into filing chapter 7 bankruptcy, I had no clue where to begin. Chris took me where I was at and guided me along a process that proved to be clearing financially and emotionally. Plus, I am quite certain nobody could have done it for a better price. I would recommend his service to anybody. Thank you. Dylan H.