1. Life would certainly be easier if there were a
certain amount of debt or amount of time spent
in debt that signaled to us to file bankruptcy.
Unfortunately, there isn't. The decision to file
bankruptcy comes from you.

2. There are requirements for debt when it comes to Chapter 13, but they mostly
concern upper limits To be eligible to file a Missouri or Illinois Chapter 13, your
unsecured debts must be less than $336,900 and your secured debts must be
less than $1,010,650 So, if there is no stead fast rule on when to file, how do
you know when to call a bankruptcy attorney? Ask yourself: "Am I facing a
hardship right now?" If your financial situation is crushing you and your family,
it is a good idea to look at options for relief Does that mean that you have to
file bankruptcy anytime you feel uncomfortable? No

3. Nonetheless, educating yourself on bankruptcy is a great idea Though it
seems simple, the question I asked in the previous paragraph can be hard to
answer While there isn't an amount or period of time that tells you to file
bankruptcy, there are some warning signs that you are getting in over your
head with debt Some of the warning signs include a wage garnishment, threat
of repossession, need for protection from foreclosure, or harassing creditor
calls

4. If your debt has gone this far, chances are that you need a
solution—and quickly Even if you aren't at the end of your financial
rope, you may benefit from being proactive Will my financial situation improve
by itself? Is your debt a temporary problem? If you responded "no," you may
not be far from a foreclosure or repossession You don't have to wait for these
things to happen before you decide to call a bankruptcy attorney

5. In fact, the best way to stop these things from ever occurring is to educate
yourself with free material from great attorneys in the area Don't forget, your
situation won't change if you don't do anything about it If you aren't sure
whether you want to file bankruptcy, you aren't alone

6. Luckily, there is free information from great attorneys that can bring you some
clarity You should feel comfortable and knowledgeable before you even step
foot into an office The power to improve your life is in your hands