subject: How Did I Get Here? [print this page] How Did I Get Here? How Did I Get Here?
Any Lafayette bankruptcy attorney will tell you that business year-to-date has increased and is showing no sign of slowing. While this is good for the small business owner Lafayette bankruptcy attorney, it is troubling news for the rest of the community. Ask any Lafayette bankruptcy attorney and you will be told that they are pleased that they are doing well in business, but that the human toll of people coming to their offices in financial distress is disturbing. Remember, those attorneys are sometimes seeing neighbors, friends and even relatives. Most who retain an attorney have no idea of what to do or how to help themselves. This is to be be expected. Until recently, these were solid, bill paying citizens. They paid their mortgage, their credit card bills and car payments all on time. But a set back or two in these rough economic times did them in. It could have been a job loss, an unexpected medical bill or even the credit cards upping their minimum payments and interest. Many who do end up sitting with an attorney know that they did not get there overnight. If you suffer a job loss you know that your finances are in trouble. Most people do not have six month's or one year's worth of savings that they can fall back on. They are living paycheck to paycheck. So the best advice is to always be vigilant about your finances. Monitor it like your personal health. Go for a check up every so often. You can do this with a financial planner or with yourself using any good financial planning software. If things look like they are heading south too fast, take some steps. Get on a budget or get a second job. Or sell some toys. Before you reach a desperate state, however, look for an attorney. Like looking for any other professional, you need to take steps to make sure it is a good fit. A good attorney will be a good advocate for you, but only you can be your own best advocate. Only you know where you want to be in two, three or five years. Even though you are reorganizing your finances it is not the end of the world. In fact, it can be an important first step in the rest of your life. Once you have retained an attorney you may be advised to file a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy. Chapter 7 will have you selling your assets and repaying your creditors. Chapter 13 will have you setting up a schedule to repay those you owe and keeping some assets. Or your advice may be to avoid the courts and set up a private repayment schedule with creditors. Take the steps necessary to save your financial health. You will not regret it.
