- Emergency filing at a glance
What it is
A short petition filed first, with the full paperwork within 14 days
Stops
Sheriff's sales, repossession, wage garnishment, bank levies
How long
The moment the petition is filed
Wipes out
Most debt, depending on which chapter you file
What you keep
Most filers keep their home, car and personal belongings through exemptions or a Chapter 13 plan
Cost to start
$338 court filing fee for Chapter 7 or $313 for Chapter 13, plus attorney fees. Call (248) 719-5663 for a same-day quote. *Note that credit counseling must be completed before filing.
When an emergency filing makes sense
Most bankruptcies are prepared over a few weeks. An emergency filing is for when there is not that much time: a sheriff’s sale is scheduled, a car is about to be repossessed, a garnishment is taking money from the next pay cheque, or a bank account has been frozen.
We file a short petition with the list of your creditors first, which starts the automatic stay. The rest of the schedules follow within 14 days.
If your sale or repossession is today or tomorrow, call (248) 719-5663 now. Do not wait for a callback from a form.
What it stops
In most cases, the automatic stay takes effect the moment the petition is filed. It stops:
- A scheduled sheriff's sale
- Repossession of your vehicle
- Wage garnishment
- A bank account levy
- Lawsuits and collection calls
The court notifies your creditors, and we contact the ones who need to act straight away, such as a payroll office or the foreclosing lender’s attorney.
What you need on the day
- Photo ID and your Social Security card
- A list of who you owe, even a rough one
- Your most recent pay stubs
- The sale notice, repossession letter or garnishment order
- A credit counseling certificate (we will point you to an approved course)
The counseling course is required before filing and usually takes an hour or two online.
What happens after filing
Within 14 days we file the remaining schedules: income, expenses, assets and debts. The case then continues as a normal Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, including the 341 meeting of creditors. If that deadline is missed the court can dismiss the case, so we track it for you.
If you have filed before
If you had a bankruptcy case dismissed within the past year, the automatic stay in a new case may last only 30 days unless the court extends it. With two or more dismissals in that year, there may be no automatic stay without a court order. Tell us about any prior case on the first call so we can file the right motions with the petition.
Find out what your case costs
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