Johnston And Nathanson PLC, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids Law Firm

For more details about bankruptcy, visit Steve's website www.iowabankruptcylaw.net.

Should you file for bankruptcy? The answer, of course, depends on the details of your situation. A lawyer cannot tell you in a website or on the telephone if bankruptcy is the right choice for you. You should make that decision only after a meaningful consultation with an attorney and after you have explored your other options. Some lawyers limit the length of their no-cost consultations to twenty or thirty minutes, but at Johnston & Nathanson we believe that is not enough time for a lawyer to make a professional recommendation to you. We also encourage you to meet with a debt counselor if you think you can pay your debts. We recommend Horizons, A Family Service Alliance. Call Horizons at (800)826-3574 for an appointment in Iowa City or Cedar Rapids.

We recognize that the choice to file for bankruptcy protection is not just a financial decision – it has personal costs as well. At Johnston & Nathanson, we do not recommend bankruptcy when it appears that other options would suit your needs better.

Consumers are bombarded with misleading and incorrect information. Whether the advice comes from debt collectors, debt negotiators, family, or others, you must recognize the advice is biased by that person’s personal point of view or self-interest. Many will tell you lawyers also recommend bankruptcy just to earn a fee.

We encourage you to seek unbiased advice. We think it will support our recommendation to you. We are professionals. We are ethically bound to provide you with advice that works best for you, not us.

The Federal Trade Commission provides information on its website that we think you will find useful. It is also unbiased. Follow these links to read more about:

A broad range of credit-related topics: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/index.html

Options for persons in debt and warnings about debt negotiators: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/kneedeep.htm

Debt counseling:http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fiscal.htm

Information about identity theft: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/

Debt collection practices:http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm

If you think you are interested in filing for bankruptcy relief, then you can get started by calling us in Iowa City at (319)354-1712, Muscatine at (563)263-8801, or Cedar Rapids at (319)366-1000 to set up a no-cost, no-obligation appointment. You may wish to bring the following information to the first meeting, although it is not required:

• Your 2 most recent years of tax returns or W-2s
• A few recent pay stubs for each job, or other proof of your income
• Any billing statements or collection notices
• Any lawsuit papers or anything you don’t understand

At the conclusion of your meeting the attorney you meet with will make a recommendation to you. If that recommendation is to file a bankruptcy, then you will be quoted a fee based on the complexity of your case, and you will be told what other information you will need to provide in order for your case to be prepared.