Do You Know Anyone Who Has Filed For Bankruptcy?

So many people who come to my office say "I don't know anyone who has filed for bankruptcy." One thing that I can tell these people is that they do know people who have filed, they just don't know who they know that has filed.

The guilt and shame they feel over being the only person they know considering bankruptcy is obvious. Many people do not consult an attorney about bankruptcy until they fell like they are out of options and have no other place to turn. This is often because people feel like no one else they know would ever resort to bankruptcy, and filing for bankruptcy is only for people trying to get away with something.

This is not simply true.

Many good, honest and hardworking people file bankruptcy every year. Bankruptcy references even are found in the Bible. People just don't tend to tell people when the file bankruptcy. While bankruptcy is not something to be ashamed of, it is certainly not one of those events of one's life that you would expect them to be proud of, or announce to everyone they know.

So, if you are considering bankruptcy, don't say you don't know anyone who has filed bankruptcy but wonder who you do know who has filed and you just don't know it.