New Survey Shows Filing Bankruptcy On Your Own Could Be A Detriment!

1,200 state trial judges from all parts of the United States were recently surveyed

by the ABA Coalition for Justice and the results are making a huge statement to litigants everywhere. The survey was centered on the increased number of people who are choosing to represent themselves in legal matters.

While we all are acutely aware of the effects the economic downturn has had, it is still interesting to see the impact it is having on individuals. In an effort to save money, many people are choosing to represent themselves in foreclosures, domestic relations, consumer issues, and non-foreclosure housing matters, among others. The results? The judges who were surveyed revealed that the people who choose to represent themselves aren't doing a great job and are, thusly, creating more work for an already burdened court system.

62% of the judges surveyed said that self-representation usually means a poor outcome for the litigant.

This survey supports a statement that I make often: Don't jump into filing by yourself. Filing bankruptcy is no easy task. It requires you to handle important documents, negotiate with the trustee, and take care of any obstacles that will inevitably pop up. Am I saying it is impossible to file bankruptcy by yourself? No. I am, however, telling you that it is a huge task to take on and you should evaluate the consequences carefully.

Remember: Filing on your own doesn't always mean you'll save moneyand it certainly doesn't save you any time. By making one easy mistake, you put yourself and your family at risk of not receiving a discharge. That means you could've done all that work and spent all that money only to not receive a discharge.

The best way to get a great outcome for your case is to do the proper research, evaluate your situation, and choose the pathway that will give you the best outcome, not the one that will cost you the least amount of money.

Does that mean that choosing a bankruptcy attorney to file your case is always the best decision? Not necessarily. Most debtors find that the way to have a truly great bankruptcy experience is to choose an attorney with a proven track-record of successful cases. If you end up picking an attorney because of a low price or one that has limited experience, you could be putting yourself in just as dangerous a position as if you'd filed on your own.

If you are struggling with this decision, make sure you fully research all of your options and think about what risks you are willing to take. Look for free information like bankruptcy FAQ, articles, and even free publications from reputable attorneys in your area.

by: Jim Brown

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