I never thought I would consider bankruptcy. First of all, I never thought I could qualify for it, as I had not had a major life event like a job loss or medical emergency. I was just a single mom, long divorced, who'd raised my kids 'til they were almost through college and I was facing a large credit debt. I'd been scraping by for as long as I could remember. After making my youngest son's last tuition payment, I started looking ahead for how to finally pay down the debt when someone pointed out that I was going to be paying for at least the next 7 years *if* I didn't have some kind of emergency.
I was 52. I had barely anything saved for retirement. That was when I first considered the possibility of bankruptcy. When I realized I'd basically be working to pay down my debt and not much of anything else, I started to research in earnest. Did a lot of reading online at NOLO and ordered their How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, which was really informative. My income looked like it might fall within the guidelines to qualify to file, but it became clear that the process would be too complicated to attempt on my own.
So I started talking to lawyers. Checked out some of the ones advertised on a local radio station who, I discovered when I checked Better Business Bureau, had dozens of negative claims against them. Got quotes anywhere from $475 to $3000 plus the court filing fee. Talked to distracted attorneys, fast-talking lawyers, and YouTube mini-celebrities who charged the most and got cagey when I asked how long it would be to file the petition once they had the paperwork.
Then I called the Grafton Firm. Will picked up the phone himself, answered my initial questions, and set up an appointment. We met casually in his office where he talked me through everything, laid out what he'd need from me, when he'd do his part, how much he charged, and what I could expect through the process. He took care of everything as needed, answered my emails, and met twice with me in person, in addition to appearing at my hearing. His steady demeanor helped keep me calm through what could have been a nerve-wracking ordeal.
My Chapter 7 has now been granted, giving me a reprieve from a significant amount of accumulated debt. I've been able to start contributing to my retirement and building a small savings. I haven't experienced any negative consequences from the bankruptcy other than my credit score dropping, but in a year it should be back in the decent zone.
I'm grateful to Will and the Grafton Firm for their respectful, competent handling of my case. I would strongly encourage someone in a similar situation to pick up the phone and see if you might quality. Definitely worth a phone call! read more