Making the decision to file for bankruptcy takes a lot of time and thought. Once you have decided however, the real planning begins. There are a lot of considerations including how to proceed with the bankruptcy and what happens after the bankruptcy is discharged.
You can make the decision to file the bankruptcy yourself, hire an attorney, or seek out paralegal services. The most imperative thing to consider is the amount of debt you have to include in the bankruptcy and if you can do the process yourself based on that information. While the process itself is not necessarily difficult, it requires attention to detail and a basic understanding of the process. Most people want to hire an attorney to be certain that it is done correctly as there is only one chance to get it right. I recommend considering both options before coming to a decision.
Choosing how to file your bankruptcy is just as important as your plans for after the bankruptcy is discharged. For example, what will you do to make certain that you will not be in the same financial situation later on? After the bankruptcy how will you obtain credit?
Bankruptcy is not a final solution. To obtain credit after bankruptcy, you will need to do some work on your credit reports. While (under chapter 7) you are not responsible for any debts that were included in the bankruptcy, you will need to be absolutely sure that each creditor is reporting those debts as included in bankruptcy' or they will show as still outstanding. These types of errors undermine your credit considerably and will decrease your chance of obtaining credit after bankruptcy, so it is imperative that you fix them.
There are many resources out there to teach you how to do this, but not all are created equal. Choose a credit repair system that has credit repair professionals that give ongoing support and comprehensive information. It is imperative that you repair your credit immediately following the discharge of your bankruptcy case so the creditors and credit reporting agencies are compelled to make the changes quickly.