Bankruptcy filings in the (United States~U. S.} are sharply increasing and the desire for competent bankruptcy attorneys is in demand more than ever. National bankruptcy filings in the last year topped 1.4 million, icreasing from 1.7 million in 2008 according to the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. With this stride citizens might see the number of bankruptcy filing top 2 million in 2010 and the number of bankruptcy lawyers and law firms provide bankruptcy increase as well to provide for the people filing personal bankruptcy. The web is filled with bankruptcy attorneys and bankruptcy law firms with marketing slogans like “ $100.00 get’s you started” and “free consultation” or “bankruptcy as low as” etc., but beware of bankruptcy lawyers! When it comes to advertisements that proclaimadvertising “$100.00 get’s you started”, what do you really reckon you get for $100.00? You’re right, NADA! Also, if you are offered a free consultation double check it’s with the bankruptcy attorney that’s actually going to file your bankruptcy. The most common type of bankruptcy is chapter 7, but since the enactment of the “means test” in 2005 filing chapter 7 bankruptcies is more straining today and more homeowners must now file chapter 13. While a chapter 7 allows someone filing bankruptcy to completely eliminate their debt a chapter 13 is a repayment plan, normally lasting 5 years. One problem with bankruptcy is that it’s not an precise science and giant bankruptcy law firms, as in Legal Helpers have been recieving many complaints from consumers attempting to get a discounted price when filing bankruptcy. The complete business pattern of these law firms is to get a $100.00 downpayment so the consumer won’t go else where to hire an attorney. ”It’s ridiculous, what do you think a bankruptcy attorney is really going to do for you for $100.00” says James D. Zhou, bankruptcy lawyer in California and senior partner with the Law Offices of Zhou & Chini. Zhou goes on to say, “bankruptcy is complicated and consumers should consider paying a reasonable fee to a bankruptcy attorney to get a good answer. Repulsive stories about these large bankruptcy law firms are everywhere, these firms should consider being upfront and honest with their clients and tell them $100.00 is just to get them to commit to file bankruptcy with their office. Bankruptcy lawyers should typically accept payment plans but none we know of will file your bankruptcy petition unless you are paid in full”.

While the price for filing a chapter 7 throughout the country may range from $1200.00 to $4,000 dependant on the location someone lives in and the complexity of the bankruptcy, the average price for a chapter 7 in California is about $2500.00 and $4,000 for a chapter 13 bankruptcy. If you try to find the cheapest bankruptcy lawyer on the web you might end up with a bigger problem than the reason you are filing bankruptcy. Usually when someone feels they are going bankrupt is when they start their search for a bankruptcy attorney and price is the first thing they look for. Expect to pay a fair and reasonable price for a bankruptcy attorney and don’t think cheaper is better, or $100.00 get’s you something beyone a vexation. Most honest bankruptcy lawyers will allow you to make installments and then file your bankruptcy when you are fully paid up. Bankruptcy law firms like Zhou & Chini are all over the internet and typically won’t discuss their fees to file bankruptcy until they see the totality of your file. While a simple chapter 7 may not involve reaffirmation of debt or motions to avoid a lien it may only cost you $1500.00 in Riverside County but as much as $2,500 in Orange County or Los Angeles County. When you hire a bankruptcy lawyer or even consider a free bankruptcy consultation you should ask your bankruptcy attorney if he or she will be doing the actual bankruptcy filing or a paralegal. It might be worth a little more to make sure your case is handled in good order so you don’t get your bankruptcy case dismissed and lose out all together. While you can file a simple chapter 7 with a paralegal, you will potentially get better results with a bankruptcy attorney that provides you a personalized service and properly explicate the bankruptcy process. If you’re a California resident and need to file bankruptcy chapter 7 or chapter 13 remember this article, and remember if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. To speak directly with a bankruptcy lawyer or just to get more bankruptcy info click here www.BankruptcyAttorneyinCalifornia.com

The Bankruptcy Attorneys at the Law Offices of Zhou & Chini offer free bankruptcy information in an effort to help consumers who need debt relief or help avoiding foreclosure. If you have additional bankruptcy questions or need information about filing bankruptcy in California please contact our cooperate office at (888) 901.3440 or visit www.BankruptcyAttorneyinCalifornia.com. Our Bankruptcy Attorneys will be happy to offer you a FREE consultation over the phone or at one of our convenient locations. We are California bankruptcy attorneys with full knowledge of Federal and California State Bankruptcy Exemptions. Our Bankruptcy Attorneys can help protect your assets under Federal Bankruptcy Laws and can assist you with all aspects of your case. We are happy to answer questions about filing a chapter 7, chapter 13, chapter 12, chapter 20, or chapter 11 business bankruptcies. We can help with stopping /avoiding foreclosure or wage garnishments, and assist you in avoiding judgments, liens or levies. We can also help with mortgage cram downs, lien stripping, eliminating a 2nd mortgage and discharging debt. Please feel free to complete our free bankruptcy evaluation form or contact one of our office locations today. We are here to help and can quickly determine if you are a qualified candidate for bankruptcy.

With unemployment hitting a record of 12.6% in March more than 2.3 million Californians remained unemployed, with 362,000 more people jobless than a year ago. Additionally, many city and county employees are faced with pay cuts as well as small businesses seeing drops in revenue up to 60%.  Even so, economists note that further gains statewide are jeopardized by continued high unemployment, particularly in the Inland Empire and the Central Valley. Foreclosure activity remains concentrated in these inland areas, which suffer from above-average unemployment. DataQuick said mortgages were most likely to go into default in Riverside, Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties

While the word bankruptcy may carry a negative stigma with it, it may be a very positive choice for many California residents if you’re a numbers person. Bankruptcy chapter 7 and chapter 13 filing in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Los Angeles counties are increasing steadily as more Californians find the need to file bankruptcy to get out from under their financial troubles. While bankruptcy myths still exist, many still assume when they file bankruptcy chapter 7 or chapter 13 they will lose everything. This is NOT true at all. You may be able to keep ALL your property and eliminate ALL your debt says bankruptcy lawyer James D. Zhou, partner at the bankruptcy law offices of Zhou & Chini. Zhou goes on to say “I have been a bankruptcy lawyer for over 10 years and have never seen such a perfect storm to help consumers eliminate 2^nd mortgages and unsecured debt”.

Listed below are the possible benefits that bankruptcy:

1. Filing chapter 7 bankruptcy allows for the “discharge” of most, if not all of your debts. Meaning that you are no longer legally obligated to pay the debts and your creditors must immediately stop all collection efforts.

2. Both chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcies prevents real property from being repossessed and halts the home foreclosure process. A chapter 13 bankruptcy plan will consolidate all your payments and allow you to reinstate your loan while a chapter 7 may be a better choice if your 1^st mortgage is current.  Additionally, filing bankruptcy may require creditors to return property that was repossessed immediately.

3. Both chapter 7 and chapter 13 stop the collection process and halts harassing creditor collection calls. This means that creditors must stop attempting to collect on the debts after being notified of bankruptcy filing. If they continue you can sue them.

4. Prevents you from your utilities being shut off if you have delinquent utility bills. If your utilities have been turned off, filing for bankruptcy protection requires the utility company to restore services as soon as possible.

5. Stops/Prevents wage garnishments. If you file bankruptcy your employer will not be able to garnish your pay check.

6. If you are in the foreclosure process or have a trustee sale date filing bankruptcy will stop the foreclosure process and gives you time to catch up on mortgage payments if needed. This means you will not necessarily have to lose your home.

7. Filing bankruptcy will give you an opportunity to dispute false claims from creditors who may be trying to collect more than what it owed to them. You and your bankruptcy attorney will have your day in court to dispute erroneous collection fees.

8. Filing chapter 13 will allow you to strip a 2^nd mortgage lien and liability if your property value is under water. Chapter 7 will eliminate your personal liability on a 2^nd mortgage but the lien will remain on the property. Your bankruptcy attorney must file a motion to strip the lien in a chapter 13.

While bankruptcy will allow for the discharge of a number of debts, others remain non-dischargeable according to federal regulation. Non-dischargeable debts include family support, student loans, certain types of taxes, and criminal fines. Liens, mortgages, and other secured debts will also survive bankruptcy procedures seeing as how they are secured by either some sort of collateral or by the federal government.

The need for a highly qualified bankruptcy attorney is ever so present these days. The Law Offices of Zhou & Chini services the entire state of California and has experienced bankruptcy attorneys doing all the consultations and bankruptcy filing, not paralegals. To reach Zhou & Chini call (888) 901-3440 or visit www.BankruptcyAttorneyinCalifornia.com

The Bankruptcy Attorneys at the Law Offices of Zhou & Chini offer free bankruptcy information in an effort to help consumers who need debt relief or help avoiding foreclosure. If you have additional bankruptcy questions or need information about filing bankruptcy in California please contact our cooperate office at (888) 901.3440 or visit www.BankruptcyAttorneyinCalifornia.com. Our Bankruptcy Attorneys will be happy to offer you a FREE consultation over the phone or at one of our convenient locations. We are California bankruptcy attorneys with full knowledge of Federal and California State Bankruptcy Exemptions. Our Bankruptcy Attorneys can help protect your assets under Federal Bankruptcy Laws and can assist you with all aspects of your case. We are happy to answer questions about filing a chapter 7, chapter 13, chapter 12, chapter 20, or chapter 11 business bankruptcies. We can help with stopping /avoiding foreclosure or wage garnishments, and assist you in avoiding judgments, liens or levies. We can also help with mortgage cram downs, lien stripping, eliminating a 2nd mortgage and discharging debt. Please feel free to complete our free bankruptcy evaluation form or contact one of our office locations today. We are here to help and can quickly determine if you are a qualified candidate for bankruptcy.