The job of an Indianapolis bankruptcy attorney goes well beyond simply filing a couple of legal papers for their clients. Individuals who are preparing to file for bankruptcy expect a lot from their Indianapolis bankruptcy attorney. One of the first things that many people expect of their Indianapolis bankruptcy attorney is to help set realistic expectations of what they can expect before, during and after they file for bankruptcy. For all of the first time bankruptcy filers, they may not be familiar with the way whole process works. Explaining how it works can help ease any anxieties that the clients may have. Knowing what to expect in almost any situation can help you to be prepared for it. Some of the things that you will be expected to do will be to pay your attorney and gather all of the required documentation within a timely manner. You will need to supply your attorney with things like a recent copy of your credit report, a few year's worth of tax returns, recent pay stubs and bills including detailed credit card transactions. Requesting and receiving all of this documentation can take time that is why it is imperative to know what is expected of you as soon as possible so that you do not waste valuable time. Additionally, some people may feel that providing such personal information is somewhat invasive. They may need time and help to understand the importance of their financial privacy in comparison to receiving federal assistance to escape from under mounds of debt. In some cities, a list of the names of people who filed for bankruptcy is published in the local newspaper for public reading consumption. Potential filers should be aware that bankruptcy is a matter of public record and they should be prepared to handle that exposure. None of these things are irreconcilable, but they should be handled as quickly as possible so that they do not impede the bankruptcy process.