It can happen fast! You typically need to meet with me and go over the options. A petition and list of creditors has to be prepared and you have to complete a credit counseling class (online or by phone) and a case can be filed immediately. There are a large collection of forms and schedules that would still need to be prepared too though, in a short period of time, if you go into this fast.
If you are not in an emergency, like a pending foreclosure, it is worth taking time to put all the paperwork together first.
You don’t want to make any mistakes by rushing — your documents are under oath. So we spend some time making sure you know how things should go and what risks, if any, you could face.
The typical Chapter 7 takes between 90-100 days from first filing to the end of the case.
The typical Chapter 13 plans are much longer, taken 3 – 5 years to complete.
But the most important thing is that in virtually all cases, you get protection from your creditors as soon as the petition is filed. The automatic stay is the shield that protects you from further collection, foreclosure, repossession, garnishments, etc.