Filing for bankruptcy is a big life decision. When you are making it, you need to make sure that you have accurate information. This can be obtained by seeking the assistance of an experienced bankruptcy attorney. There are many things you need to think about when you are choosing one.

First, you have to be comfortable discussing every detail of your finances with the attorney. Only when they have all the information can they give you the appropriate options that you have for handling the problem. Any misstatement or omission on your part can make a significant difference in the choices you have.

You also need to have confidence in the attorney’s ability to protect your interests. An attorney has to be able to accurately designate assets as either exempt or non-exempt.

If you are filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the attorney can help you work out your repayment plan. This repayment plan will take three to five years to complete in this case, so you need something that you can live with for the long term.

Usually, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing is a much shorter process — taking only around six months. This type of bankruptcy doesn’t require you to make repayments, so this isn’t a concern in this type of filing.

The attorney that you choose to handle your bankruptcy filing should understand how all state and other bankruptcy laws apply to your case. This isn’t always easy, but it can prove to be valuable as you make decisions about how you are going to reclaim your financial stability as you move forward.