Endorsed by the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin
Bankruptcy boot camp
Economic instability, job loss, medical debt, divorce, and growing household debt often occur together, forcing clients to confront difficult financial choices. Recent data show personal bankruptcy filings are rising, with Chapter 7 filings up 15% in the first nine months of 2025.1 For attorneys considering adding bankruptcy to their practice or seeking a refresher, The Basics of Filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 gives you a structured foundation for advising consumers and creditors with care and clarity.
Filing fundamentals
In this first installment of a two-part series, experienced Wisconsin bankruptcy practitioners will walk you through the steps involved in opening and managing a consumer bankruptcy case. The focus is on building sound habits at the front end of a case—where early decisions shape outcomes and can reduce downstream risk.
Endorsed by the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin
Bankruptcy boot camp
Economic instability, job loss, medical debt, divorce, and growing household debt often occur together, forcing clients to confront difficult financial choices. Recent data show personal bankruptcy filings are rising, with Chapter 7 filings up 15% in the first nine months of 2025.1 For attorneys considering adding bankruptcy to their practice or seeking a refresher, The Basics of Filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 gives you a structured foundation for advising consumers and creditors with care and clarity.
Filing fundamentals
In this first installment of a two-part series, experienced Wisconsin bankruptcy practitioners will walk you through the steps involved in opening and managing a consumer bankruptcy case. The focus is on building sound habits at the front end of a case—where early decisions shape outcomes and can reduce downstream risk. You’ll explore:
- How to conduct an effective initial consultation and evaluate whether bankruptcy is the right option for your client’s circumstances
- Preparation of the full set of bankruptcy schedules needed to initiate a case
- How the means test operates and what it signals about chapter selection
- Key differences between federal and state exemption schemes and how to assess which better serves your client
- Practical insight into crafting and evaluating Chapter 13 plans, including common structural considerations
Throughout the program, presenters emphasize the judgment calls attorneys must make when translating financial information into defensible filings.
Looking for more depth?
The Basics of Filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 is designed to support attorneys at any stage, from those new to bankruptcy to those seeking a structured refresher. If you’re ready to go further, Beyond the Basics of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 builds on this foundation with deeper analysis of divorce-related debt issues and recurring Chapter 13 challenges, including motions to dismiss, contested plans, and negotiated resolutions.
1Yahoo! Finance: Personal bankruptcy filings are soaring this year due to 'mounting financial pressure' -- what it really means to file
