Practice Area
Bankruptcy & Debt Relief
Updated July 17, 2026
Most people reaching out about bankruptcy don't know which chapter fits their situation, and shouldn't have to before a firm will talk to them. The intake is built around that reality.
Key takeaways
- •The intake asks what a visitor wants to accomplish, filing, stopping collections, or exploring alternatives, rather than assuming they already know which chapter applies.
- •Whether the visitor knows which chapter fits is asked directly, and 'no, need guidance' is a first-class answer, not an afterthought.
- •A rough debt range is captured upfront, giving a firm real triage information before the first call.
- •Written in plain language throughout, since bankruptcy terminology is unfamiliar to most people reaching out for the first time.
Why 'stop wage garnishment' is its own option, not a footnote
Someone actively dealing with wage garnishment or aggressive debt collection is often in a more urgent situation than someone exploring bankruptcy as a longer-term option. Separating “stop collections” from “file for bankruptcy” as distinct first-question options lets a firm recognize urgency immediately, rather than discovering it several questions in.
What the intake actually asks
What the visitor is looking to do (file for bankruptcy, stop wage garnishment or collection, explore alternatives, or other), whether they already know which chapter fits their situation, and a rough debt range. Three questions before contact information.
Debt relief conversations start with real numbers, not guesses
A rough debt range, not an exact figure, is enough for a firm to triage the inquiry meaningfully. Requiring precision at the intake stage would just be another reason for a stressed visitor to abandon the form before finishing it.
Frequently asked questions
Does the intake require knowing which bankruptcy chapter applies?
No. It directly asks whether the visitor already knows which chapter fits, with 'no, need guidance' as a normal, expected answer, since most people reaching out don't know this yet and shouldn't be discouraged by not knowing.
What does the bankruptcy intake ask?
What the visitor is looking to do (file for bankruptcy, stop wage garnishment or debt collection, or explore alternatives), whether they know which chapter fits their situation, and a rough debt range, under $10,000, $10,000 to $50,000, over $50,000, or not sure.
Why does the intake ask about debt range?
A rough debt range gives a firm real triage information, since the right approach and urgency can differ substantially by debt level, without requiring the visitor to have exact figures ready at the intake stage.
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