Houston Bankruptcy
Filing bankruptcy in Houston is a frightening prospect, no matter who you are. It can also be embarrassing for people of integrity to admit they are unable to repay their debts. However, bankruptcy is a perfectly legal and respectable way for people in financial distress—all too often through no fault of their own—to get back on their feet.
If you want to file bankruptcy in Houston, contact Swindell & Associates, P.C. today.
The process of a Houston bankruptcy filing
First and foremost, retain trustworthy legal counsel to help with your Houston bankruptcy litigation and determine the type of bankruptcy that makes the most sense for you.
In the next step, you and your attorney file a bankruptcy petition, and then the bankruptcy court notifies all creditors listed on your petition. If you owe any secured creditors (a mortgage company, automobile dealer, and so on) you must notify them of your bankruptcy filing yourself immediately after filing your petition. The Bankruptcy Court then schedules your Meeting of Creditors, where your bankruptcy trustee reviews your petition and asks you specific questions. The answers you give may need to be supported with documentation.
In most bankruptcy cases, your creditors do not appear at this hearing. Normally, they communicate with the trustee directly, but you should be prepared to answer their questions should they attend.
If the trustee accepts your petition, this meeting normally lasts only a few minutes. However, make sure you reveal every detail of your financial situation, including all debts and assets, or you could be liable for bankruptcy fraud.
Stop Houston wage garnishment
Wage garnishment occurs when courts order your employer to withhold part of your earnings in order to repay a debt. Legally, employers cannot fire you because your wages are being garnished, unless they are garnished for multiple debts. Laws also protect you by restricting the amount of earnings that may be garnished in one pay period.
The best way to stop wage garnishment is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. If you face wage garnishment, contact an experienced Houston bankruptcy attorney from a firm like Swindell & Associates, P.C., today.
