Rarely does anyone come into an initial consultation saying, "let me tell you how great things are going in my life". Oftentimes, people are ashamed and worried about their situation.
First, there is no need to be embarrassed. We have seen many different situations but, the main reasons that people get into financial distress are because of an unfortunate event such as the loss of a job, an illness in the family, a divorce, a failed business and/or a bad investment. The reasons are usually pretty common and could happen to anyone. We do sometimes meet with people who are overspending and not living within their means. However, normally we see honest, average, hard-working people that got in over their heads for one reason or another. They have usually tried to come up with a solution on their own, including reaching out to their creditors to try to explain the situation and find a solution, but the creditors will not work with them, resulting in fees, higher interest rates and unmanageable balances.
Bankruptcy is designed for the honest but unfortunate debtor to give them a new opportunity in life and the opportunity for a successful financial future. Debtors are using legal means, i.e. the Bankruptcy Code, to help get a fresh start.
We have four goals for our clients:
1. To get out of the mess;
2. To stay out of the mess;
3. To have good credit again;
4. To have a vision of a successful financial future, which is, to us, where clients have money in the bank, own their own home and they are ready to retire.
As for the worry and anxiety, Philippians 4:6 says, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God". We invite you to offer worry and anxiety up to the Lord.
Finally, do not let the creditors scare you. The creditors cannot put you in jail, and, in SC, they cannot garnish your wages. They can sue you and it is best not to allow judgments to be entered against you, but we can usually deal with lawsuits and judgments in a Bankruptcy.
