Adrian Pritchett

Attorney at Law

Adrian Pritchett
220 College Avenue
Suite 304
Athens, GA 30601
ph: 706-546-7131
fax: 866-872-8118
adrianpritchett@att.net

Bankruptcy Help for the Athens, Georgia area

Bankruptcy Relief

Filing for bankruptcy relief immediately stops the collection of debts to give time for your finances to be sorted out in bankruptcy court.

Most cases are filed to gain a fresh financial start by seeking a discharge of debts (meaning the creditor cannot personally collect in the future). Bankruptcy can also stop home foreclosures and allow time for the homeowner to catch up on payments.

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Local Service, Personal Attention

I am committed providing personal attention from start to finish in your bankruptcy case. Be careful to avoid the lawyers who are so busy filing new cases and driving between their multiple offices that they do not have time to help you get through your case successfully! Remember that big phone book ads do not always equal big service.

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Choosing Bankruptcy Options

All bankruptcy filings come with an automatic stay which is a court order that stops many types of collection activities.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 is called a "liquidation," though many filers keep their can claim their assets as exempt without actually having to sell off any of their property. If you have a case like this, your case could be completed with a discharge of debts in about four months. A real liquidation case may take longer but still provide a discharge. Chapter 7 allows you to keep your future income.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 is called an "adjustment of debts," and this is done through a payment plan lasting three to five years. A successful plan will result in a discharge after the last payment. Chapter 13 may be used by someone trying to keep property or else by someone who does not qualify for Chapter 7.

Other Chapters

Chapter 11 is used by individuals or businesses with more complex finances, and Chapter 12 is available for farmers and fishermen.

Your Decision

I realize that bankruptcy is a difficult decision to made often after other life-changing events have occurred. The recent economy has brought about many changes, but bankruptcy is designed for the honest but unfortunate debtor.

Bankruptcy can be a fresh start, not the end of the road for one's financial affairs. Bankruptcy debtors go on to rebuild their credit ratings and get new loans, something that cannot be done under a crushing debt load.

I do not pressure my clients to file because it is a personal decision to be made. Congress provided the right to file for bankruptcy protection, but it is also one's right to not file. My job is to help you understand your options and make an informed decision.

Process of a Bankruptcy Case

Before Filing

Your first meeting at my office is a consultation to review your options with no commitment. Your second meeting if you decide to proceed is a full consultation where I review your financial affairs in detail and begin planning your case. As we prepare your case, you will complete a credit briefing course (available on the Internet) as required by law. Your third meeting is a signing appointment to review your papers, sign them, and file your case.

After Filing

After you file your bankruptcy case, you should go on to complete the debtor education course required by law (also available on the Internet). You will have to attend a meeting of creditors where the bankruptcy trustee will ask you questions about your case and creditors will also have the opportunity ask questions. In a Chapter 13 case, you will also have a hearing to confirm your payment plan (though routine plans will not require your attendance). In a routine Chapter 7 case with no assets to sell, you will wait to receive your discharge order. Although many cases are routine, some may require extra work or court proceedings.

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