Many clients of The Law Offices of Paul Y. Lee have expressed concern about filing for bankruptcy. They fear that filing will be too expensive, that it would prevent them from gaining jobs, or that they are unsure of the short- and long-term effects. In fact, “If I file for personal bankruptcy, who will find out?” is a question we are commonly asked during our free consultations. Find out by reading on and contact us at 951-755-1000 for your own consultation.
Why Is This a Problem?
The truth is that declaring bankruptcy is a very personal decision. The majority of our clients wish that the filing process will be quiet because there can be stigma attached to it. Who will know about a bankruptcy filing is one of the main worries people have when they look for additional information about the procedure, as we discover time and time again.
Your Debtors Will Be Informed
The only parties informed, regardless of whether you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, are your creditors. Actually, the bankruptcy court notifies them that you have filed by sending them legal forms. They will receive this letter for one crucial reason: If you file for bankruptcy, you immediately receive an automatic stay on all debt collection efforts, which means that they can no longer attempt to collect from you. That means no more phone calls, letters, or anything else.
In fact, doing so may increase the likelihood that your financial condition will remain confidential. Unfortunately, a lot of debt collectors won’t think twice to phone you at work, to speak with coworkers, family members, or even your supervisor about your condition. After filing for bankruptcy, you can quickly put an end to all of this aggressive and sometimes intrusive activity.
Your Bankruptcy Will Be Public Record
You should be aware that your bankruptcy filing will become a matter of public record. However, it would take a lot of work on the part of the person to discover that you filed for bankruptcy. The Federal Court System maintains a website where bankruptcy records can be accessed. Users are required to submit an application for a valid ID and password in order to access the bankruptcy records database. They must then pay costs to look for bankruptcy filings once they have those.
To view court documents in person, a person might visit the bankruptcy courthouse. Once more, this is a very time-consuming process that frequently entails expenses. Anyone who learned you had filed secretly would have to have previously suspected it and would only be confirming it.
Your Insolvency Won’t Be Published
Your bankruptcy will be public record, but it won’t be published in the newspaper, which is the main point. Keep in mind that in the US, thousands of people file for bankruptcy every day. Do not let privacy worries prevent you from contacting The Law Offices of Paul Y. Lee for help if you are struggling with money issues that you are unable to resolve. Call us now at 951-755-1000 for a consultation.
