The first step in the bankruptcy process is to hire a bankruptcy attorney, if you plan to do so. With your attorney’s help, you will gather as much information as possible about your income, expenses, debt and assets, and submit a petition for bankruptcy to the bankruptcy court. A bankruptcy trustee may be appointed to work with you and your creditors and oversee your bankruptcy case. Usually, the trustee will hold a meeting of creditors in order to go over your financial situation and your creditors’ claims. If you challenge a creditor’s claim or if other issues arise in your bankruptcy case, you may be required to appear in court, which is one of the main reasons we recommend enlisting the help of a bankruptcy attorney from the very beginning. If you filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your dischargeable debts will be wiped out within a few months after you file. If you filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and you make good on your payment plan, any dischargeable debts you owe will be wiped out at the end of the repayment period.