Will New York Bankruptcy Courts Give Advice?
Many people are unable to afford a lawyer for their bankruptcy case, after all, they are unable to pay their actual bills and debts, much less afford another huge bill. This forces many people to have to represent themselves in their bankruptcy case, but will the New York bankruptcy courts help people who are representing themselves?
Simply put, the answer is no. The only way you can get help from the New York bankruptcy courts is by visiting the Pro Se office. However, the people in the Pro Se office are limited by what advice and help they can offer you as well. If you are looking for someone to give you legal advice then even the Pro Se office will not be able to help you.
The Pro Se office is able to assist people who are representing themselves with some issues however, the issues are quite limited. The primary purpose of the Pro Se office is to assist in answering questions regarding administration issues, as well as proper procedures. They are barred from giving actual legal advice.
Therefore, while the New York bankruptcy courts do provide more useful information than many other courts, the information you are receiving is often not what you need. With so many courts not giving advice to people forced to represent themselves it is often, a harsh and cruel world that people are forced to work with. Learning how to juggle the ropes becomes a major point of struggle that is never easy to handle. You are likely to feel at some point during the bankruptcy process as if you are in over your head. This is completely natural, but remember for procedure information the Pro Se office is there to assist you. Realize that most information you would need pertaining to the specifics of your legal situation can usually be found either online, or in a bankruptcy law book. While neither option is always the most entertaining it does help, provide you with some answers you will need. In order to be the most successful regardless of which chapter bankruptcy you have filed, it is important to establish a good rapport with the staff in the Pro Se office. Realize that they are there to help you; however, they do have rules and guidelines about what they are allowed to say and do, which means that while they can help you, they are not the most helpful. They are honestly not out to harm you or your case, but rather ensure that everyone is treated fairly, and no one is given bad information about their case from a clerk who is not actually educated in the particular chapter in which your case relates to. Always do as much research as possible, and try to only use the Pro Se office if you are truly stuck, or if you need to confirm the information you have already learned pertaining to the New York bankruptcy courts and you will soon be as experienced as the actual lawyers.
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