8 Steps to Filing Bankruptcy in Minneapolis

Understanding the steps to filing bankruptcy in Minneapolis is the first move toward gaining financial relief. Bankruptcy may feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, the process is clear and manageable. Working with an experienced Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney ensures that you follow each step correctly and that your rights are protected throughout the process.

At our firm, we walk you through every stage—from your free phone call to your final discharge—so you know what to expect and how to prepare. The following outline will help you see how Chapter 7 bankruptcy works and what you can anticipate along the way.

Step 1: Your free phone call

Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Minnesota starts with a phone call to set you up with a totally FREE & CONFIDENTIAL debt consultation at one of our four convenient metro locations.

You’ll find us in Minneapolis, St Paul, Blaine and Brooklyn Park.

Our knowledgeable, experienced and understanding staff will treat you with the respect that you deserve.

Remember, there is absolutely no charge or obligation at your free consultation.

You might want to fill out these forms and bring them with you, which will help us and you to better understand your financial situation.

Step 2: Your Free Debt Consultation

We will explain how bankruptcy works and what you can expect out of a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy filing.

You will get a detailed step-by-step breakdown of how filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy works, and your total cost to file it.

This is a confidential and totally Free Bankruptcy Consultation with no obligation to file and no strings attached. In other words, you are not losing anything by coming in and talking to us.

While the conference is free, you may wish to bring just $50.00 with you. $50.00 is the minimum amount of money we require from you to retain or hire our legal services, which goes towards your fees.

After you hire us, you can refer your creditors to us and not talk to them.

Step 3: Gather the papers we need to prepare your bankruptcy & complete Credit Counseling.

Back at home, you’ll need to gather all your bills, documents, and other information necessary to get your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy case filed.

Once you know that filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy is right for you, this part of the process is fun.

Why?

Because this is the last time you will have to deal with your bills.

Once you have the information gathered, we offer an appointment in our office with one of our staff to review the documents and make sure that you have the right paperwork, and to make sure that we have answered all of your questions.

We will also get you set up with Credit Counseling at this time.

Credit Counseling takes about an hour of your time and can be done online or over the phone, even after business hours for your convenience.

Step 4: Your finish-up appointment

Two weeks after we receive your documents and papers, you come in for a finish-up conference in our office.

At the conference, we will review the paperwork with you, explain all the different parts of it so you can sign it.

Step 5: Filing your case with the Court

We file your final signed documents with the Court by electronic filing over the Internet.

When your case is filed with the Court, the Court issues a court order called the “automatic stay” that says nobody can do anything to collect a debt from you.

Remember, after filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, creditors:

• Can’t sue you
• Can’t garnish
• Can’t repossess
• Can’t foreclose

Or anything else.

Your creditors will leave you alone after the case is filed.

They can’t even talk to you, and they certainly can’t harass you.

• If your creditors violate the automatic stay, we can sue them for Contempt of Court

Step 6: The meeting of creditors (341 hearing)

About 30 days after we file your bankruptcy case, we will attend the Meeting of Creditors or the 341 Hearing.

This meeting is the creditor’s opportunity to show up and ask you questions.

• However, in our experience, creditors do not show up

Why?

Because bankruptcy protection is powerful, and because the creditors know there is not much they can do.

In most cases, this meeting would be more appropriately called “Meeting Your Trustee”.

You can think of your Trustee as a sort of “bookkeeper/gatekeeper” for the Court.

Their job is to:

• Review the schedules filed in your case
• Examine to make sure you “told the truth, the whole truth…so help you God”

In most cases, that’s all that happens at this meeting, and it usually lasts less than 5 minutes.

Step 7: Financial Management course

In the month after our 341 meeting, you need to complete a financial management course.

This takes about 2 hours, and our office will provide you with the contact and case information you need.

Most people find it gives them useful information for their future and is interesting.

Step 8: Discharge

About 3 months after filing your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy case, the Court issues your discharge.

The discharge is the court order that says you don’t owe your bills.

It goes further and is a court order that forbids creditors from trying to collect.

What you need to remember

There are some debts that Chapter 7 bankruptcy does not work on.

These include:

• Child support
• Student loans
• Most taxes

The foregoing steps assume that everything in your case proceeds as originally planned and anticipated, which is almost always the case.

Get Help with the Steps to Filing Bankruptcy in Minneapolis

We have over 40 years of experience and a success rate of well over 99% when it comes to filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Minnesota.

What are you waiting for? If you are ready to take control of your financial future, contact us today to speak with an experienced Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney.