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While some consumers may consider filing for bankruptcy without an attorney, respected Los Angeles, California bankruptcy attorney  Shemtoub of the Wilshire Law Group advises strongly against it. Shemtoub has seen too many instances where individuals who try to “do it alone” end up putting themselves in a worse financial situation than they were in before bankruptcy. In other words, they accomplish the exact opposite of their bankruptcy's goal.

The Dangers of Filing for Bankruptcy without an Attorney

Consumers who get in over their heads with debt and find themselves facing bankruptcy may be tempted into filing for bankruptcy without an attorney. After all, with all the money they already owe, and with the option to file without an attorney, why not avoid hefty legal fees and file without an attorney?
Nothing could be a worse idea than filing for bankruptcy without an attorney. US bankruptcy laws are complex; the bankruptcy court main website expressly states that “While individuals can file a bankruptcy case without an attorney... it is extremely difficult to do it successfully” (Source: USCourts.gov). The same website goes on to state:

“It is very important that a bankruptcy case be filed and handled correctly. The rules are very technical, and a misstep may affect a debtor's rights... hiring a competent attorney is strongly recommended.”

As if the federal laws governing bankruptcy weren't complicated enough, there are also all the additional state laws. A bankruptcy lawyer in California, for example, has to stay up-to-date on all the latest bankruptcy statutes specific to the state. It's easy to see how, without an experienced California bankruptcy lawyer, consumers can easily find themselves confused, overwhelmed, and making mistakes that cost them a fortune.

About  Shemtoub and the Wilshire Law Group

 Shemtoub and the other bankruptcy attorneys in the Wilshire Law Group have years of experience guiding consumers and small businesses through the challenging process of bankruptcy. The testimonials posted onto the Wilshire Law Group’s website bears witness to their great success with countless clients in Southern California.
Shemtoub is a bankruptcy attorney in California who stands by his clients throughout the entire process of bankruptcy, even through bankruptcy's aftermath. The same holds true for each of the lawyers in the Wilshire Law Group. From the free consultation at the beginning of the process, to the bankruptcy filing itself, to post-bankruptcy educational seminars designed to help consumers repair their credit and their financial lives, the Wilshire Law Group is a firm that is clearly dedicated to its clients.

The Wilshire Law Group also makes one unique promise to all clients and potential clients that makes them stand apart from the crowd: their guarantee is to return all phone calls within twenty-four hours. The twenty-four hour phone call promise shows that every client, no matter how big or how small, is valued at the Wilshire Law Group.

Respected Southern California bankruptcy attorney, Michael Shemtoub, understands better than anyone how hard the recent recession has been on average Californians. Like other bankruptcy lawyers in the Los Angeles area, Shemtoub has been helping many clients through the challenging process of bankruptcy, guiding them to a much brighter financial future.
Clients Who Normally Wouldn't Visit a Los Angeles Bankruptcy Attorney
Often times, filing for bankruptcy is associated with poor financial management or poor impulse control. The stigma attached to those who experience bankruptcy is that they bought too many things they really didn't need, or took extravagant risks that their income level didn't support. When it comes to small businesses, the assumption is the same: many assume small businesses facing bankruptcy today have proprietors who just weren't cut out for business.
The truth of the matter is quite different. Between out-of-control health care costs and the worst economic free-fall since the Great Depression, the people filing for bankruptcy today are often people who never expected to face the prospect of bankruptcy. Some of Shemtoub's clients are families, where the primary breadwinner has lost his or her job and hasn't been able to find another due to California's high rate of unemployment. Other clients are people with good jobs and good health insurance who nevertheless face insurmountable medical bills due to a sudden trauma or illness.
As for the small business owners, any California bankruptcy lawyer can tell you that many of the small businesses filing for bankruptcy today are businesses that were prosperous before the recession, but due to one major client going out of business, they too now face bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy Represents a Second Chance
Michael Shemtoub is a Los Angeles Bankruptcy lawyer who firmly believes that bankruptcy offers consumers and small business owners a second chance at financial stability and success. Many people facing a bankruptcy put off filing because of the stigmas mentioned above, but this is the worst possible decision when bankruptcy becomes inevitable.
In many cases, clients who take a proactive stance and file for bankruptcy sooner rather than later will be able to save many of their hard-earned assets. These assets might include a house, a car, or family heirlooms; in the case of a business, it might include a business' inventory. Saving these assets is the job of an experienced California bankruptcy attorney like those at the Shemtoub's Wilshire Law Group – but their ability to give debtors a second chance hinges upon the individual client's proactive response to their own financial situation. All too often, debtors hide their heads in the sand, waiting until it is too late to save their assets.

About the Wilshire Law Group

At the Wilshire Law Group, Shemtoub and the rest of the staff make two very important promises to clients and potential clients. The first promise is a free consultation, giving clients who might face bankruptcy a chance to discuss their case with a qualified bankruptcy attorney. The second promise is to return all calls from clients within twenty-four hours. Although it may seem like a simple thing, too many legal firms forget that their job is to serve their clients, rather than the other way around. The Wilshire Law Group understands the importance of good customer service. If you're looking for a bankruptcy attorney in Southern California, start by placing a call to the Wilshire Law Group.

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Bankruptcies in Southern California have risen in the past two years at an alarming rate, all thanks to the economic recession that has hit California disproportionately hard. In Riverside, California, for example, bankruptcy filings rose 55% between March 2009 and March 2010, and many California bankruptcy lawyers don't think these rates will slow down any time soon. Meanwhile, Wilshire Law Group is offering a new service, automated bankruptcy catcher, to help its clients find out if bankruptcy is a good solution for their financial problems.
The 2005 changes to bankruptcy laws slowed down the rate of bankruptcy and nearly put some California bankruptcy attorneys into bankruptcy themselves. After seeing the new laws shrink the rate of bankruptcy in California, the spike in bankruptcies over the last two years indicate just how difficult this latest recession has been for average California residents.

 Wilshire Law Group

At the center of the bankruptcy hurricane sweeping through Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California is Los Angeles bankruptcy attorney Michael Shemtoub and his Wilshire Law Group. As a California bankruptcy attorney who has served Southern California for many years, Shemtoub has seen first-hand the devastation the recession has wreaked upon average California families.

Shemtoub and the other lawyers in his practice are deeply dedicated to seeing their clients through a challenging financial time in their lives. The testimonials on their website certainly reflect this, with client after client thanking Shemtoub and Wilshire Law Group for making the difficult decision of bankruptcy much easier.

Wilshire Law Group shows its commitment to clients new and old through two main promises: first, new clients can discuss their case with a skilled Los Angeles bankruptcy lawyer during a free consultation. The free consultation includes helping clients decide if bankruptcy is the right solution for them, along with a free estimate of how bankruptcy might “increase” a potential client's credit score.

The second commitment Wilshire Law Group makes to its clients is a guarantee to return every client call within twenty-four hours. This promise is a major relief for clients who have grown frustrated with another California bankruptcy lawyer who never seems to be available to discuss their case or return phone calls.

The Relationship Doesn't End When the Paperwork is Filed

At the Wilshire Law Group, Michael Shemtoub and the other bankruptcy attorneys are dedicated to keep clients out of debt after bankruptcy. Even after their bankruptcy case is over, clients of the firm are invited to further their financial education by attending workshops devoted to consumer and business bankruptcy law. Some topics in the past have included:

- New developments in bankruptcy laws
- Credit reporting
- Credit scoring
- How to fight mortgage service claims

These helpful educational seminars demonstrate the Wilshire Law Group’s commitment to its clients even after bankruptcy proceedings are over.

Areas Served by the Wilshire Law Group

Shemtoub and the other attorneys in Wilshire Law Group are dedicated to serving the residents of Southern California. Anyone who lives in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Bakersfield, Fresno, Orange County, Riverside, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Rosa, or the San Fernando Valley and is facing Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy owes it to themselves to call Wilshire Law Group today to schedule a free consultation with a California bankruptcy attorney.

While politicians vie for credit as the economy begins to rebound, the Riverside-San Bernardino area continues to struggle economically. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the area is expected to lose yet more jobs in the coming months. In December 2009, it seemed like jobs in Riverside-San Bernardino were starting to rebound, but by March 2010, the area was watching unemployment spike, with 268,000 unemployed.

Even though Riverside has been a fairly prosperous city in the past, with close ties to the Hollywood film industry, many residents today are facing unemployment, shrinking home values, and the very real prospect of bankruptcy. If you're one of these Riverside residents, the best thing to do is contact a Riverside bankruptcy lawyer to discuss your options.

To contact a Riverside bankruptcy lawyer for a free consultation call (877) 427-2752.

Be Proactive About Bankruptcy

There's a right way to go through bankruptcy and a wrong way. The wrong way is to wait until the very last minute, when the bank is ready to foreclose on your home and you are far behind on all of your debt obligations, and then hurriedly file for bankruptcy in an attempt to save your remaining assets.

The right way to go through a bankruptcy is to be prepared; contacting a California bankruptcy attorney as soon as you think you might be facing bankruptcy. Riverside bankruptcy lawyer Philip K. has seen people try both the right and the wrong ways, watching some clients lose savings and retirement funds all because they waited too long. Almost all of these losses, Evans states, could have been averted if the filer had been more proactive in filing for bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy is Meant to Protect, Not Punish

As any qualified bankruptcy lawyer in California can explain, bankruptcy is a tool meant to protect consumers and give them a second chance, not to punish them. Too often, people who have very good reasons to file a bankruptcy avoid it because they are embarrassed or afraid the court will unfairly judge and punish them.

When you seek out the help of a California bankruptcy lawyer, their job is to protect you and guide you through the bankruptcy process in such a way that leaves you in a more favorable financial position than when you initially hired them. Far from judging you, a dedicated Riverside bankruptcy lawyer understands that bankruptcy cases in Riverside-San Bernardino have increased by 55% in the last year as a result of the tough economic times. More than anyone else, a bankruptcy attorney in California empathizes with the financial pain being felt by debtors throughout the state.

Riverside bankruptcy lawyer James Z. says that it wouldn't be surprising to see an increase in bankruptcy filings, given “the rate of foreclosures in Southern California.” Many companies and individuals who have been desperately avoiding bankruptcy for the past year or two may yet find themselves forced into bankruptcy.

Take the advice of a Riverside bankruptcy lawyer like Philip E. consult with a California bankruptcy attorney sooner, rather than later, before it's too late.

A Riverside bankruptcy lawyer can tell you if bankruptcy is right for you. Don’t wait until you have lost most of your assets, contact a bankruptcy attorney before it’s too late.

A recent “Los Angeles Times” article reported that more than 50,000 small businesses in California had to seek out the help of a California bankruptcy attorney and file for bankruptcy. Los Angeles itself was especially hard-hit; Equifax told the “Times” that bankruptcy filings for businesses jumped 57% in 2009. 2010 isn't expected to be much better; every Los Angeles bankruptcy lawyer is bracing for a projected 25% rise in bankruptcies (Source: Los Angeles Times, April 12, 2010).

The Downward Spiral of the Californian Economy

The ripple effect of the economic meltdown that started late in 2007 seems like will never end – especially not in California. With so many companies, big and small, closing their doors forever, their now out-of-work employees are tightening their belts. All that belt-tightening means even less spending, and a significant number of home foreclosures.
Less spending and more home foreclosures means less revenue for the government. Less revenue for the government means thousands of state employees, such as public school teachers, losing their jobs. Losing their jobs means less spending; less spending means more bankruptcies. More bankruptcies mean even more belt tightening, foreclosures, and lost tax revenue... and so the vicious cycle continues “ad infinitum”

To contact a Los Angeles bankruptcy lawyer to talk about your financial situation call (877) 427-2752.

Breaking the Cycle through Bankruptcy

In some cases, however, bankruptcy for individuals and small businesses may be the best way to break the cycle. A business that files for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, or an individual filing for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, has a chance to reorganize their business / personal finances under the guidance of the court.

A skilled Los Angeles bankruptcy lawyer can help businesses and / or individuals reorganize their debt in such a fashion that they can actually save their business, or in the case of an individual, save their home and other possessions. With the help of a California bankruptcy lawyer, a successful Chapter 11 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy can finally break the cycle of drowning in debt and allow the company or the individual the breathing room they require to get back on steady financial ground.

A Second Chance Isn't Always Easy

Los Angeles businesses and individuals filing for a reorganization bankruptcy should understand that bankruptcy doesn't work on the “three strikes, you're out” rule. For most people, the second chance is the last chance, and as the “Times” article states, the economy's horrible shape means that there's no “margin for error”.
Los Angeles bankruptcy lawyer, Michael Gottfried, agreed. In the same “Los Angeles Times” article, he states that for most companies, when it comes to Chapter 11, “It's hard to come out of it alive.”

Yet many savvy small business owners and individuals well-prepared by their Los Angeles bankruptcy lawyer do emerge from bankruptcy “alive”. When they stick to the repayment and reorganization plan designed with the help of the court and their bankruptcy attorney in California, companies can rebound. What's the difference between a company that survives and a company that eventually goes under? There are many factors, but a strong bankruptcy lawyer in California is one of the best indicators.

Getting a chance at organizing your debts and getting your business or financials in order through bankruptcy is not easy. However, an experienced Los Angeles bankruptcy lawyer can greatly increase your chances.

Fresno County bankruptcy court processed more than 4,000 bankruptcies from September 2008 to September 2009, and no one expects the bankruptcy filings to slow any time soon. Ask any bankruptcy lawyer in California about bankruptcies during the current reception, and the story is the same: in nearby Tulare, Madera, and Kings Counties, for example, there were a total of nearly 3,000 bankruptcy filings during the same time period.
Fresno Bankruptcy Lawyer Warns against Debt Consolidation

There's no doubt that declaring bankruptcy is an unpleasant process for the majority of people. Besides the tangible losses in financial resources and credit scores, there's also the intangible losses that strike a person's confidence, reputation, and overall emotional health.

Given the consequences of bankruptcy, it's no wonder that those facing difficulty are reluctant to seek out a California bankruptcy attorney. Instead, they may turn to debt consolidation plans – some of which are proven scams.

To find out if bankruptcy is right for you, call a Fresno bankruptcy lawyer today at (877) 427-2752 to get a free consultation with a bankruptcy expert.

Fresno bankruptcy lawyer Peter Fear told “The Business Journal” that “probably 98% of debt consolidation places out there are rip-offs” (Source: The Business Journal, April 12, 2010). Fear went on to tell the “Journal” that because debt is controlled by creditors, even legitimate debt consolidation companies aren't always able to work out a favorable deal for their clients.

A California bankruptcy lawyer can explain to his or her clients that credit card companies and other large lenders will frequently sell off debts to collection agency at below market prices. The collection agency, then, only profits by collecting the debt in full. Given this model, what incentive would a collection agency have to work with a debt consolidation company?

As Fresno bankruptcy lawyer Peter Fear warns, creditors usually don't all agree, and if any given creditor sues, the whole agreement “goes down the drain”.

Bankruptcy May be the Best Bet

As hard as bankruptcy may seem, Fear's comments highlight the fact that hiring a Fresno bankruptcy lawyer and filing for a Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy may actually be the best solution for many people facing dire financial straits. With the help of a qualified bankruptcy attorney in California, some clients can get many of their debts completely discharged, while others can have their debts drastically reduced.

Fresno residents in financial trouble should remember that bankruptcy laws are in place to protect consumers, not to punish them. Although bankruptcy has many unpleasant consequences, the consequences of delaying an inevitable bankruptcy are generally far worse. For example, as soon as someone files for bankruptcy, all collections and foreclosures are temporarily halted. While the case is still in court, debtors have a chance to catch up on their bills, which may even lead to keeping their home, vehicle, or other possessions.

Advantages to bankruptcy may outweigh the disadvantages. If you are having financial difficulty, a California bankruptcy attorney is your best option for keeping your assets and getting out of your troubles.

Although CB Richard Ellis, a Los Angeles-based real estate services company, states that they are “very much committed to Orange County”, they have let go over 70 people already in Orange County since 2010 began. The layoffs are the first in a wave that will last through 2011 (Source: The Orange County Register, April 1, 2010). It's a scene that by now should be familiar to Orange County residents: getting laid off these days seems more normal than keeping a job. Even in Orange County's public schools, 1,500 teaching positions were eliminated last year, with another 2,219 on their way this year. If these teaching jobs, which used to be the most stable jobs around, are being cut, who is safe from the ugly reach of the recession?

Rampant with foreclosures and layoffs, California has been disproportionately hit by the recession that began a couple of years ago. Although Orange County's unemployment rate is currently the lowest in the state at 6.9%, a large number of residents still find themselves calling on the services of an Orange County bankruptcy lawyer.

To talk to an Orange County bankruptcy lawyer call (877) 427-2752. Our lawyers will update you about the latest bankruptcy laws and show you the best way to save your assets during bankruptcy.

California Bankruptcy Attorney: People Who Would Never File for Bankruptcy

How bad is it? Just ask any bankruptcy lawyer in California. Silicon Valley lawyer Michael Malter told the San Jose Business Journal on January 29, 2010 that he's “seeing people every day who in a normal world would never ever meet with a [California bankruptcy lawyer].”
In Orange County, the story is the same that's playing out throughout California. Prolonged unemployment, sometimes combined with an unexpected bump in the road drives people to seek the help of an Orange County bankruptcy lawyer. Seeking out an experienced Orange County bankruptcy lawyer is probably the best decision you can make if this describes your situation. As a bankruptcy attorney in California Michael Malter stated, the current global economic climate is no “normal world”.

The Process of Bankruptcy

The first thing your Orange County bankruptcy lawyer should do is check to see if bankruptcy really is the best option for overcoming your personal financial woes. Federal law dictates that anyone seeking bankruptcy must first go through the credit counseling process, and this process sometimes removes the need to file for bankruptcy. If your attorney does feel that the best way out of your complicated financial situation is bankruptcy, however, then he or she will walk you through the rest of the bankruptcy process. What seems insurmountable situation today may seem like nothing more than an unpleasant memory in a few more months.

If you are in a situation that are considering bankruptcy as a way out, consult with a bankruptcy attorney in California first. Your lawyer will determine if you are a good candidate for filing bankruptcy and will then guide you to the right direction.

Who's looking for a Bakersfield bankruptcy lawyer? More people than you might think. Consider the plight of these recently bankrupt Bakersfield companies:

- Foothills Resources, Inc. -- a Bakersfield oil and gas exploration company had a reorganization bankruptcy approved in January 2010
- General Growth Properties, owners of Bakersfield's Valley Plaza Mall, are struggling to emerge from bankruptcy, but its future remains uncertain
- Reedley Hospital – a taxpayer-supported hospital that declared bankruptcy last year
- Across the city, Blockbuster and Hollywood Video stores are going belly-up, in part due to Netflix, in part due to the economy

A competent California bankruptcy attorney might be able to save your home or your vehicle, if you contact them in time. Just call (877) 427-2752.

The search for a Bakersfield bankruptcy lawyer isn't unique to Bakersfield. Across the state of California, virtually every California bankruptcy lawyer has their hands full with small businesses and average Californians who have been forced into bankruptcy by the recession.
Perhaps fortunately for a California bankruptcy attorney and unfortunately for everyone else, the rate of bankruptcies doesn't seem to be slowing down as the recession starts to slow down. If anything, more people will call up a Bakersfield bankruptcy lawyer in 2010 than in 2009 or 2008. Federal statistics show that the per-month rate of bankruptcy filings hit an all-time high in the first quarter of 2010. If that's the case across the country, you can expect the pain of bankruptcy is hitting California even harder.

You're Not Alone

If you find yourself facing the prospect of bankruptcy, you're not alone. Californians who used to be solidly middle- or working-class are declaring bankruptcy in droves, and it's no different in Bakersfield. Rather than struggle in silence and shame, take the first step of contacting a Bakersfield bankruptcy lawyer to find out what options are available to you. You might be surprised to find out, for example, that a skilled bankruptcy attorney in California might be able to help you keep your home, or your boat, your vehicle, or other personal property that most people assume will have to be liquidated during a bankruptcy.
The first thing your Bakersfield bankruptcy lawyer will do is to help you decide if bankruptcy is really the right option for you, or if your financial woes can be resolved in some less dramatic ways. If they cannot, your lawyer will help you decide which type of bankruptcy best suits your case, and which type of bankruptcy you're eligible for. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, most of your debts are completely discharged, but you do have to meet certain requirements to qualify for this type of bankruptcy. Although the bankruptcy laws changed in 2005, an experienced bankruptcy lawyer in California can still help you to squeak through the eligibility process. In a Chapter 13, or “reorganization” bankruptcy, your debts aren't discharged, but your property is less likely to be liquidated to pay off your creditors.

In facing bankruptcy, don't despair. With a compassionate, qualified Bakersfield bankruptcy lawyer, you don't have to face the process alone, and you'll find out bankruptcy isn't as overwhelming as you thought.