Even though you might have done everything right over the years, there is no way to predict when your company is going to lay you off or an injury is going to take you away from your job. Things happen that are out of your control. While it might be stressful seeing all of the bills piling up with no way to pay them, there is an answer and it is simpler than you think. All it takes is one phone call to a bankruptcy attorney to get the process underway and eliminate your debt and stress. There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to filing bankruptcy.

Gather all of your bills first.

The first thing you need to do is spend some time going through everything and gathering all of your bills. The last thing you want to do is file for bankruptcy and find out that you forgot about a bunch of old debts. If the debt isn't included with the bankruptcy petition, it isn't going to be discharged with all of your other debts. You need to include anything and everything you can find, even if it is only a $10 bill for some books you ordered last year. While it might not seem like much, it can all add up pretty quickly. Make sure you have your paperwork in order before having your attorney file the case for you.

Don't skip out on the counseling sessions.

Many people don't think they need to take the credit counseling courses, especially if the whole reason for the bankruptcy was something they had no control over. Unfortunately, you will not be granted a discharge without taking part in both of the credit counseling classes. One must be done within 180 days before the filing of your case and the other has to be done 60 days after meeting with the creditors. They aren't all that complicated and only take a couple hours of your time.

Be honest with the trustee.

Individuals will often lie to the trustee handling the case because they don't want them to know their business or they are simply too ashamed to admit what went wrong. Regardless of how you look at it, you need to be honest with them and answer all of their questions to the best of your ability. Don't try to hide information. It will come back on you at some point down the line.

Spend some time discussing your questions and concerns with a bankruptcy attorney, like those at Gruber & Associates, PC, beforehand to make sure you know what to expect.