What should I bring when I meet with my bankruptcy lawyer in Connecticut?

folderSo you’ve made an appointment to meet with your bankruptcy lawyer to discuss your financial situation.  And you find yourself wondering, “Do I need to bring anything?  And if so, what should I bring to my meeting with my bankruptcy lawyer?”

Well, here’s a list of a few basic and typical things that you should bring that will make the process go more smoothly:

  1. Pay stubs for the previous 7 months.  If you don’t have any of your pay stubbs, just ask your employer for copies from that period.  And if you’re self-employed, make sure you have some documentation that demonstrates your gross income for the 7 month period prior to your meeting.
  2. Income tax returns for the past 2 years.  Also, make sure to let your lawyer know whether you’ve filed yet this year.
  3. Bank statements from any savings accounts, checking accounts, brokerage accounts, credit union accounts or other similar accounts.
  4. Recorded deed for the mortgage on your primary residence as well as any other real property you possess.  FYI, getting copies of these may involve going to your County Clerk’s Office and may involve paying a fee.  Though of late, some counties allow residents to obtain copies by downloading them from their website.
  5. Foreclosure notices.  Any and all foreclosure notices you’ve received.
  6. Lease or timeshare information or documents.
  7. Creditor statements and correspondence. e.g., Any letters you’ve received from collection agencies.
  8. 401(k), IRA and/or profit sharing statements from your employer.  If you don’t have them in your possession, ask your employer or financial advisor for copies of the documents.
  9. Copy of your credit report. You can obtain a free copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com.
  10. Separation agreement or divorce decree (if applicable).
  11. Automobile title, purchase agreement or any other documents relating to ownership of your car.
  12. Inheritance information. If you’re due to receive any inheritance, or you’ve received any inheritance income, make sure to tell your lawyer.  (Reminder:  When you file for bankruptcy, you must disclose all of your assets.)
I recommend organizing all of the documents you bring into a folder which you can leave with your attorney who will make copies.  The more information you can provide, and the more thorough and prepared you are, the better your bankruptcy attorney will be able to help you.  The key to success in a bankruptcy case is preparation!

If you are considering filing for bankruptcy in Connecticut and are seeking more information about bankruptcy in Connecticut, please contact me for a free initial consultation.

Contact Attorney Melchionne

Eugene S. Melchionne, Esq.
27 First Ave.
Waterbury, CT 06710
(203) 757-3437

About Eugene Melchionne Attorney at Law

Eugene S. Melchionne, Esq. - Mr. Melchionne is a graduate of The University of Connecticut (B.A. 1977) and Drake University School of Law (J.D. 1980) where he received the American Jurisprudence Award for academic excellence.Since 1980, Mr. Melchionne has focused his practice in the areas of consumer bankruptcy, workouts and foreclosure defense in distressed real estate markets, real estate transactions, condominium law, commercial litigation, business organizations and probate. Prior to opening his office in 1990, Mr. Melchionne was associated with Grady & Riley in Waterbury, Connecticut and DiPietro, Kantrovitz & Brownstein, P.C. in New Haven, Connecticut. From 1990-1998, Mr. Melchionne was of counsel to Bender & Anderson handling that firm's complex litigation and trials. In addition to his practice, Mr. Melchionne was an adjunct professor at the American Institute of Banking and Teikyo Post University teaching bankruptcy, real estate, commercial and consumer law. Mr. Melchionne also advised the Corporation Counsel's office for the City of Waterbury on bankruptcy and foreclosure matters and mentored junior attorneys in that office. In 2005, Mr. Melchionne was appointed State Chair for the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA). He acts as a liasion between the national organization and Connecticut attorneys who are members of the Association. He has fostered education of attorneys in the bankruptcy field and increased access of the public to bankruptcy relief in light of the law passed in 2005. In 2007, Mr. Melchionne was elected as Vice President of the Bankruptcy Law Network, an internet resource for consumer information on bankruptcy and now serves as its President. Bankruptcy Law Network has three sister sites, Credit Law Network, Debt Law Netowrk and Mortgage Law Network. Areas Of Practice: Consumer Bankruptcy Workouts & Foreclosure and Repossession Defense Real Estate Closings Honors: Super Lawyer Connecticut - 2007, 2008 Member of the Month - April 2006, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys American Institute of Banking Community Service - Ken Kovel Award, 2001 Teacher of the Year, American Institute of Banking, 1998 Pro Bono Representation of Indigent Clients, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Connecticut, 1996 - 2002 American Jurisprudence Award 1978   Classes/Seminars Taught: Speaker - NACBA 2009 Convention, Chicago, IL Speaker - NACTT 2009 Convention, Boston MA Speaker - NACBA 2008 Workshop, Hilton Head, SC Speaker - NACBA 2008 Convention, Los Angeles, CA Speaker - NACBA 2007 Workshop, Las Vegas, NV Speaker - NACBA 2007 Convention, Philadelphia, PA Adjunct Professor - Bankruptcy, Real Estate, Consumer, and Commercial Law, American Institute of Banking and Teikyo Post University Past/Present Affiliations: National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys American Bankruptcy Institute American Institute of Banking, Northwest Region Council City of Waterbury Corporation Counsel - Advisor, 1996 - 2000 Waterbury Bar Association - Chair, Committee on Bankruptcy -1998 Waterbury Credit Bureau, Inc. - Vice President, 1983 - 1985 American, Connecticut, and Waterbury Bar Associations Admitted: Connecticut, 1982 U.S. Federal Court, 1982 Education: Drake University Law School, Des Moines, IA, J.D. - 1980 University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, B.A. - 1977 Past Positions: Bender & Anderson, Of Counsel, Hamden, Conn. DiPietro, Kantrovitz & Brownstein, P.C., New Haven, Conn. Grady & Riley, Waterbury, Conn.
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