Contact Your Attorney

• Attorney Jim Kutkowski says the first thing to do is call the attorney who handled your bankruptcy case. The attorney can help you explore options regardless of which chapter you filed under; however, the attorney is particularly essential for people in Chapter 13. Your reported income must be adjusted immediately, and you may be able to decrease or temporarily waive monthly payments. You may also be able to convert to Chapter 7, which would enable you to clear all outstanding debts.
  
  

Look for Another Job

• Kutkowski emphasizes that the next thing you need to do is get another job that pays more than unemployment benefits, if you are entitled to them. If you are in Chapter 13, you must try to keep up with your monthly payments; and a new job is the best, and sometimes only, solution. If you are in either type of bankruptcy, you should be sure that you have enough money coming in to pay bills on time so you can rebuild your credit and not go back down the road to debt.
  
  

Contact Debtors

• If you are in Chapter 13, Bankrate recommends contacting your debtors by calling their bankruptcy department, or asking your attorney to contact them. You may be able to modify loans on vehicles and property while under the legal protection of the bankruptcy.
  
  

If You Were Fired

• Federal law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees who file for bankruptcy. You cannot be dismissed for bankruptcy, and if your employer cites the bankruptcy as a reason, call your attorney immediately. Be aware that your employer can fire or lay you off for other reasons, and that prospective employers can choose not to hire you due to past bankruptcy.