HITCHCOCK & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
Disclaimer: Attorney Advertisement
Thomas R. Hitchcock is admitted to practice only in the State of Illinois.
Main Office:  120 S. State Street, Suite 803, Chicago, IL 60603
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed, or results which may be obtained for you, by Hitchcock & Associates, P.C. is superior to the quality of legal services performed, or results which may be obtained for you, by other lawyers or law firms.  The hiring of a lawyer should not be based solely upon the lawyer’s advertisements.

THIS WESBITE IS NOT AN OFFER TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES
Hitchcock & Associates, P.C. (“Hitchcock”), is a debt relief agency which helps people file for bankruptcy under the United States bankruptcy code.  Nothing in this website is to be construed as an offer for legal services by Hitchcock. Hitchcock offers you legal services only after you have signed an engagement letter from Hitchcock.

DISCLOSURES REQUIRED UNDER 11 U.S.C. §§ 527 AND 342
NOTICE #1: Notice Mandated by 11 U.S.C. §§342(b)(1) and 527(a)(1)

PURPOSE, BENEFITS AND COSTS OF BANKRUPTCY
Bankruptcy is a federal court proceeding that provides relief to people having financial difficulty. When you file a bankruptcy, an "automatic stay" is automatically put in place.  In general, the automatic stay stops most lawsuits, repossessions, foreclosures, garnishments, utility shut-offs, and debt collection harassment.
The cost of filing a bankruptcy consists of a filing fee and, if you hire a lawyer to represent you, your lawyer’s fees and costs.

SERVICES AVAILABLE FROM CREDIT COUNSELING AGENCIES
§109(h) of the Bankruptcy Code requires, with some exceptions, that before you file a bankruptcy, you must receive a briefing informing you of your available options for credit counseling and assistance with an analysis of your budget.  You must receive your briefing no more than 180 days before you file bankruptcy. Your briefing may be provided individually or in a group.  Your briefing must be provided by a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency approved by the United States Trustee or bankruptcy administrator, and may be conducted by telephone or over the Internet. You may request a list of the approved budget and credit counseling agencies in your jurisdiction from the clerk of the bankruptcy court in your jurisdiction.

BANKRUPTCY CRIMES
If you knowingly and fraudulently conceal or make a false oath or statement under penalty of perjury, either orally or in writing, you may be subject to a fine, imprisonment, or both. All information supplied by you is subject to examination by the Attorney General acting through the Office of the United States Trustee, the Office of the United States Attorney, and the Department of Justice.

PROMPT FILINGS REQUIRED
11 U.S.C. §521(a)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code requires that you promptly file detailed information about your creditors, assets, liabilities, income, expenses and financial condition. Your bankruptcy case may be dismissed if this information is not filed with the court within the time deadlines set by the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy Rules, and the local rules of the court.

NOTICE #2: Notice Mandated by 11 U.S.C. § 342(b)(2)
FRAUD & CONCEALMENT PROHIBITED

• The information you provide, with some exception, will be filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court and you will have to declare in writing under penalty of perjury that the information you have provided is true.
• If you knowingly and fraudulently conceals assets or makes false oaths or statements under penalty of perjury you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or both.
• All information you provide is subject to review by the Attorney General of the United States.

NOTICE #3: Notice Mandated by 11 U.S.C. § 527(a)(2)
MANDATORY DISCLOSURE TO CONSUMERS WHO ARE CONTEMPLATING FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY

• All information that you are required to provide must be complete, accurate, and truthful. 
• You must disclose all of your assets and liabilities.   
• You must identify the replacement value of each asset.
• You will subject to a "means test" which requires that you state your current monthly income and the total amount of your expenses.
• The means test will determine whether or not you qualify to file a case under chapter 7. 
• If you do not satisfy the “means test” for a chapter 7 filing, you may be entitled to file a case under chapter 13. 
• If you file a case under chapter 13, you will be required to state your disposable income and the “means test” will determine how much you need to pay your unsecured creditors.
• Any information you provide may be reviewed by appropriate authorities. 
• Failure to provide required information, or failure to provide information which is complete, accurate and truthful, may result in dismissal of your case or sanctions against you, including criminal sanctions.

 
NOTICE #4: Notice Mandated by 11 U.S.C. § 527(b)
HELP FROM AN ATTORNEY
If you decide to file a bankruptcy, you are entitled to represent yourself.  Alternatively, you may hire an attorney to represent you. If you hire an attorney, you will enter into a written contract with the attorney indicating what the attorney will do for you, what the attorney will charge you and what other costs may be incurred. 
Your attorney will determine your eligibility for different forms of debt relief and which form is best for you.  To file a bankruptcy case, documents called a Petition, Schedules and Statement of Financial Affairs, as well as in some cases a Statement of Intention need to be prepared and filed with the bankruptcy court. You will have to pay a filing fee.  You will have to attend the required first meeting of creditors where you may be questioned by a court official and your creditors.
If you file a chapter 7 case, you may be asked by a creditor to reaffirm a debt. You may want help from an attorney to determine whether doing so is in your best interests.  Creditors may not force you to reaffirm your debts.
If you file a chapter 13 case, you may want help from an attorney in preparing your repayment plan and with the confirmation hearing on your plan.

Statement contained in and required by 11 USC 527(b).
THIS SITE
THIS SITE IS MAINTAINED BY HITCHCOCK & ASSOCIATES, P.C., A LAW FIRM AND DEBT RELIEF AGENCY.  YOU SHOULD NOT ACT OR RELY ON THE BASIS OF ANY INFORMATION ON THIS SITE AS THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS SITE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE FROM AN ATTORNEY. YOU SHOULD SEEK AND RETAIN AN ATTORNEY AND GET SPECIFIC ADVICE ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.

HOW TO CONTACT HITCHCOCK
Our address is:
Hitchcock & Associates, P.C.
120 S. State Street, Suite 803
Chicago, Illinois 60603

You can reach us by telephone at:  312-551-6400
You can reach us by email at: tom@tomhitchcock.com

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING DISCLOSURES
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. Hiring a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on the attorney’s advertisements. It is important that you independently investigate your prospective attorney's credentials and abilities.  Your prospective attorney can give you information to help you in your independent investigation.