Bankruptcy In One Day

About the Clinic

             The Modest Fee Bankruptcy Clinic is sponsored by the Law Offices of David A. Tilem.  It provides bankruptcy representation to those who have uncomplicated financial problems which can be resolved by filing a Chapter 7 case.  For those who qualify and who bring all of the necessary information, cases are filed on the same day.  The Clinic offers the required on-line pre-filing briefing, a 2-agency credit report, professional preparation of Court documents, representation during the case, and ready access to professional and expert advice (at additional cost) if unexpected problems do arise.  All Court documents are reviewed by the on-site Clinic Director, an attorney, before they are filed. 

            Clinic participants are clients of the Law Offices of David A. Tilem, a law firm which specializes in handling bankruptcy cases.  The firm represents both debtors and creditors in Chapter 7 liquidation, Chapter 13 consumer debtor repayment, and Chapter 11 reorganization cases.  The law office maintains a website at www.TilemLaw.com (currently being remodeled) and can be reached during normal hours at 818-507-6000 or 888-BkPro4U.

            The firm's founder, David A. Tilem, is a Bankruptcy Specialist (certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization) and a Business Bankruptcy Specialist (certified by the American Board of Certification).  With more than 25 years of experience, Mr. Tilem has filed hundreds and perhaps thousands of cases including bankruptcy cases for other attorneys, accountants, physicians and business people.  He receives many referrals each year from other bankruptcy attorneys with cases which suddenly get out of hand, or with cases which have issues exceeding their experience levels.

            The Clinic staff consists of dedicated and trained law firm employees hand selected by Mr. Tilem.  These employees provide the same expert services to the law firm's full fee clients during the regular work week.

Clinic Eligibility

            The Clinic provides moderate cost bankruptcy representation for those who have uncomplicated financial problems and who have already decided that it is in their best interests to file a Chapter 7 case.  Each person or couple is screened for eligibility.  Those not eligible for the Clinic are referred to the Law Offices of David A. Tilem where they can receive individual attention from an attorney specifically assigned to their case.   For a list of reasons why someone might not be eligible for the Clinic, please go to the page entitled DO I QUALIFY.

            Some people may need only a brief meeting with an attorney to get answers to specific questions before becoming eligible for the Clinic.  While these meetings cannot be provided as part of the Clinic, they are available through the Law Offices of David A. Tilem on an hourly fee basis.  Please call the law office at 818-507-6000 or 888-BkPro4U to schedule an appointment. 

Clinic Hours

             The Clinic is open on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and then again from 1:15 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.  There are no pre-scheduled appointments for the Clinic, but advance REGISTRATION is required. 

Clinic Registration

            Everyone MUST REGISTER for the Clinic IN ADVANCE.  This allows us to begin the screening process and have the proper number of staff members on hand to help you as quickly and efficiently as possible.  The Clinic Secretary will tell you what information and documents to bring.  This same information is found on the following page: WHAT TO BRING.  The Clinic Secretary will give you basic driving directions.  You can also get detailed directions on the following page: CONTACT US AND DIRECTIONS.  The Clinic Secretary will tell you about our fees and costs.  This same information is also found on the WHAT TO BRING page.  If you do not pre-register, the Clinic staff will likely ask you to return the following Saturday.

            TO REGISTER for the Clinic, please call the Clinic Secretary no later than 3:00 p.m. on the Friday before the Clinic you wish to attend.  The number is:

877-BkIn1Day (877-254-6132)

The Clinic Secretary will ask you for your name and telephone number.  Then she will ask you a series of questions which are designed to help us determine whether you are eligible for the Clinic. 

Checking In At The Clinic

            Please check in as soon as you arrive at the Clinic.  Your name and phone number are all that is needed.  Walk-ins may be helped if there is time and staffing available and at the sole discretion of the Clinic staff  but those who registered will be helped first.

            You will be handed several forms.  Please read them carefully, ask any questions, and fill out the forms as completely and correctly as possible.  If you still have questions, put some type of mark on the form so that the Clinic staff knows to ask you some follow up questions.  These forms are VERY IMPORTANT to the success of your case.  If your answers are wrong, your bankruptcy case may be dismissed, you may lose all of the possible benefits of the bankruptcy laws, your bankruptcy discharge could be denied by the Court, or in serious cases, you could be investigated by the FBI for bankruptcy fraud and criminally prosecuted by the United States Attorney.  These are VERY SERIOUS legal problems, so please be as complete and accurate as possible.  Even if you avoid these VERY SERIOUS problems, you will still be charged an extra fee if we have to file amendments to your bankruptcy papers with the Court. 

            Turn in your completed forms to the Clinic staff.  The answers will be reviewed to be sure that you qualify for the Clinic.  The Clinic staff will probably have some follow up questions.  Once the forms have been reviewed, the Clinic staff will collect the fees and costs (more information about fees and costs is available on the page entitled WHAT TO BRING) and direct you to a computer station so that you can take the on-line, pre-filing briefing required by law in all cases.  This takes about 60-90 minutes.  You must finish the briefing and we must receive an e-mail with your Completion Certificate before your case can be filed.  We cannot file your case until we receive your Completion Certificate from the company which offers the on-line course.

            While you are taking the pre-filing briefing, the Clinic staff will be getting your credit report and preparing your bankruptcy papers.  We hope to finish the papers while you are taking the course, but it may take longer - particularly if the Clinic is busy. 

            After your bankruptcy papers are prepared, you will be asked to review and sign them.  It is important that you read the papers carefully.  You will be signing several documents which say that you have read the bankruptcy papers, that they are complete and that they are true and correct.  If it turns out later that the papers were not complete or correct, your case could be dismissed, your bankruptcy discharge could be denied and, in extreme cases, you could be investigated by the FBI and charged with perjury by the United States Attorneys Office.  We will charge you if we need to file corrected or amended forms so please review them carefully.  Obviously getting these forms filled out correctly the first time is very important. 

            Once the forms are approved and signed by you, they will be reviewed by the Clinic Director, an attorney with the Law Offices of David A. Tilem.  Even at this late stage, the Clinic Director may still decide that your case has issues which are not appropriate for the Clinic.  This is done for your protection to be sure that you receive all of the benefits which the bankruptcy laws have to offer.  Assuming that there are no problems, the Clinic Director will also sign your bankruptcy papers.  The papers will then be filed with the Court over the internet.  The Clinic Staff will give you a case number, a document which proves that your case has been filed, and important follow up instructions. 

            Please read the follow up instructions carefully and follow them or your case will likely be dismissed.  If you are not able to attend the meeting of creditors, please call the law office BEFORE the date for your meeting and ask to speak with a Clinic staff member.  If you have questions about the follow up instructions, please call the law office and ask to speak with a Clinic staff member.  The phone numbers for the law office are 818-507-6000 or 888-BkPro4U (888-257-7648).

Fees and Refunds

            Fees and costs must be paid in full before your bankruptcy papers will be prepared or your case filed.  Payments are not allowed.  Fees and costs may be paid in only one of three ways: cash, Cashier's Check or Money Order.  Cashier's Checks and Money Orders must be made payable to "The Law Offices of David A. Tilem".  The Clinic staff will not be able to make change so please do not ask.

            It is important to know the following.  Once your fees and costs have been collected THERE WILL BE NO SAME DAY REFUNDS for any reason.  There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule.  Once received, the Clinic staff immediately deposits all funds into a secure vault which cannot be opened on weekends or holidays.  This is done for the protection of our Clinic staff and you, our clients.  If payment was made in cash, any appropriate refund will be available after 1:00 p.m. on the first business day after the Clinic.  If payment was made by Cashier's Check or Money Order, refunds will only be available when the Cashier's Check or Money Order has cleared the issuing bank's account and only by check.  This could be as much as ten (10) business days. 

            If the computer equipment provided for your use for the on-line briefing is damaged, you will be charged.  Before you start using the equipment, please check it carefully and tell the Clinic Staff immediately if there is any problem.  The charge will be deducted from the money you have paid for filing your case.  This means that unless you have brought extra money, you will not have enough left over to pay the fees and costs for having your case filed.  If the keyboard is damaged, you will be charged $50.  If the headphones are damaged, you will be charged $50.  If the monitor is damaged, you will be charged $150. 

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