Best Bankruptcy Lawyers in Tempe, AZ

Not from us. You lawyers are required to keep all information about your case confidential, except if a disclosure is legally required. The court and your creditors will receive notice about your Chapter 7 bankruptcy, as required by law. In addition, your bankruptcy is a matter of public record, just like the vast majority of court cases.

No, we recommend that you have 90 days of non-use on your credit accounts prior to filing for bankruptcy. Generally, we do not recommend that you make expenditures or pay-offs on your credit cards prior to filing for bankruptcy. It is important that the court does not think you are committing fraud or somehow attempting to harm your creditors.

Although you can file in Arizona after living here for approximately 90 days, we recommend that you wait until you have lived here for two years. This is because, if you are under those two years, you may have to use the laws from your prior state of residency in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The answer is, generally, no. If you stop paying bills, creditors might sue you, utilities might shut off service, and a bank may foreclose on your home. If you receive a judgment against you or a wage garnishment, that can complicate the bankruptcy situation. For example, Arizona recently passed a law that allows judgments to become automatic liens on your real property. Plus, you may be allowed to retain some property, like your vehicle. If you stopped paying on the property, the creditor is unlikely to allow you to retain it post-bankruptcy. All of this should be discussed with your bankruptcy attorney before you simply decide to stop paying any of your bills.