Michigan Bankruptcy FAQ: Where Do I Go To File?

If you’re contemplating Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may already have countless factors to think about. The appeal of bankruptcy is because it offers a fresh start, and compared with alternatives, is a very efficient way of getting your money affairs under control.

However, filing properly for bankruptcy can take up a lot of your time and energy. Whether it ’s managing all your written documents, making certain they land in the proper place by specific dates, or attending the required credit counseling course, you may end up spending a surprising amount of time working on this.

Petition Paperwork and Filing Fees

Even after you have your personal documents sorted, it’s not always obvious where to begin. Several official forms will be required, all of which are to be found and downloaded on the web. You’ll also want to come with your filing payment in hand; for Chapter 7, it's $299, and then for Chapter 13, $274. Both of these include the administrative charge and also are susceptible to change. (Based on your existing monetary limitations, this can be paid in installments, but make sure to find out before planning on that to be the case.)

While it is possible to fill out the necessary paperwork without any help, it’s beneficial to get the guidance of a practiced bankruptcy lawyer. Hardly anything else can occur with the bankruptcy proceeding until each and every required document is filled out correctly, and therefore it’s extremely important to succeed on the first attempt.

Where to File Your Petition

Based on your geographical area, your bankruptcy request can be registered at one of the many courtroom and clerks' offices. The city or town in which you file needs to be where yiou have resided or carried out business for at least six months.

Western District

If you live inside the Western District, you can find bankruptcy court buildings in Traverse City, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Marquette, and Grand Rapids.  Federal buildings and Trustee’s offices, where your 341 (or creditor's) meeting would take place, are also located in those areas. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each day, besides weekends and legal holidays.

Eastern District

If you need to file in the Eastern District, bankruptcy court buildings can be found in bay City, Flint and Detroit. 341 meetings for inhabitants of these regions are held in the same office buildings, except for in Bay City where the 341 site is right down the block from the main court building. The clerk's office is open Mon. through Fri., 8 AM to 4 PM, again aside from Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

When to Get Help

Bankruptcy might be the perfect opportunity to reorganize your consumer credit and money situation, and may help you correct the behavior that has contributed to money problems previously. Even though the contents and mass of the papers may appear daunting to you, a bankruptcy lawyer will thoroughly grasp them, and may be an indispensable advantage with regards to preparing and filing your Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Consider your bankruptcy with care before you decide to file - as long as it’s submitted and carried out competently, it’s your first big step on your way to a smarter financial future.