Reasons Why Your Bankruptcy Evaluation May Not Qualify

Did we tell you that you didn’t qualify after filling out a free, no-obligation bankruptcy evaluation? It’s frustrating to hear this and not understand the exact reasons why you may not qualify. Check the list below to see which answer you gave us during your bankruptcy evaluation is the most likely culprit.

#1: Your Monthly Income’s Too High

How much money is too much when it comes to declaring bankruptcy? For chapter 7, your household income must be less than the median amount for similar-sized families in your state. If you aren’t sure how our bankruptcy evaluation calculates that, you can check it yourself. Just visit the U.S. Courts website and fill out the means test Form B 122A-1, just over the median income for your state after filling out this form. Then see if you can pass the means test for chapter 13 instead. You can fill out a near-identical one, Form 122A-2, to see if your disposable income can qualify for chapter 13.

#2: Your Bankruptcy Evaluation Shows It’s Too Soon Since Your Last Debt Discharge

Federal law limits how often people can declare chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy to discharge their debts. You must wait at least six years after discharging your debts through chapter 13 before you can file bankruptcy again. For chapter 7, you must wait at least eight years after you last filed before you may declare bankruptcy again. If your bankruptcy evaluation shows you filed within the last six years, then you cannot declare bankruptcy again just yet.

#3: You Stated On Your Bankruptcy Evaluation That You Already Have a Lawyer

Unfortunately, if you already have a bankruptcy attorney, LegalASAP cannot provide you with a free case review at this time. That’s because when you secure a bankruptcy attorney’s services, you usually must sign a fee agreement and retainer. These documents serve as legal contracts between you and your current attorney.

While you can fire your current lawyer and hire a new one, LegalASAP cannot do that on your behalf. Since you already have attorney representation, our lawyers cannot give you a free, no-obligation bankruptcy evaluation. We understand some people come to LegalASAP hoping to get a second opinion or learn more about their cases. However, the attorneys in our network can only offer a free bankruptcy evaluation to those without current legal representation.

#4: LegalASAP Cannot Match You With Nearby Bankruptcy Lawyers Right Now

Maybe it’s because no law firms specializing in bankruptcy exist in your area. Or perhaps all nearby attorneys in the LegalASAP network are unavailable to complete your bankruptcy evaluation right now. Whatever the case may be, we understand you still need bankruptcy help – even if we can’t provide it.

1. Visit the U.S. Courts website to learn all your different bankruptcy options. It’s possible to file bankruptcy without a lawyer, but the federal government doesn’t recommend it. However, there are many other resources, agencies, and links there that may prove helpful in your case.
2. Contact your city or state’s pro bono legal service organizations for help. Some non-profits also provide bankruptcy evaluation services. However, be sure to vet your options carefully! Many debt relief services and scammers use similar language. We recommend checking out the Federal Trade Commission’s debt relief scams page before you begin your search.

Ready to see if you may qualify? Complete your free online bankruptcy case evaluation now!