by Victoria Ring, Certified Paralegal
Because of the increase in the use of technology, many professionals now can outsource their skills and make some extra money working from home as a bankruptcy forms processor. Unlike a notary public or a lawyer, an online bankruptcy forms processor is not constrained by jurisdictional limits, meaning a bankruptcy forms processor could live in Yellow Springs, Ohio and prepare bankruptcy pleadings, motions, petitions and other necessary court documents for lawyers in Wyoming, Texas or any U.S. state.
In fact, a bankruptcy forms processor can set up an online bankruptcy business in their home with little money and start to earn a full-time income in just a few months. This idea has also made it possible for lawyers practicing other parts of law to open an online bankruptcy practice on the side. Some of these lawyers are looking for freelance forms processors to process the bankruptcy paperwork for them.
An online bankruptcy forms processor can meet a need that has become more popular as electronic filing has become the normal way to process forms. Some states now even require electronic filing of all court documents. These states only accept paper documents by the court from private citizens or in unusual circumstances. Before too long, all the states will have electronic filing procedures in place and those who can not change to do this will be left without work.
A typical online bankruptcy forms processing business might work a little like this:
1. The client downloads a set of Client Intake Forms in PDF format to fill out whenever they wish.
2. The client sends the completed forms to the lawyer or forms processor for review. When the lawyer decides to accept the bankruptcy case, the forms processor begins composing the bankruptcy petition from the information given in the Client Intake Forms.
3. The parts of the Client Intake Forms that are not filled out properly by the client or have statements that need more details are easy to take care of. The forms processor or lawyer simply calla the client and requests the information. There is no need to meet with the client face to face.
4. After completing the draft of the bankruptcy petition, the bankruptcy forms processor saves the document in PDF format and sends the file to the lawyer as an attachment on an email.
5. The lawyer may wish to meet with the clients at this time to review the bankruptcy petition before filing, but this is the preference of the lawyer. Some lawyers never meet the client face-to-face except when the client showed up at court. The lawyers communicated with the client by email or telephone. The lawyer may not need to meet with the client to even get a signature. Most electronically filed documents do not need a client’s signature. A lawyer is provided with an electronic signature by the court that the lawyer uses to sign all electronic documents filed on behalf of their client.
6. After the lawyer receives the bankruptcy petition by email, he or she will save it on their computer and begin the review. The lawyer can either print out the bankruptcy petition and make revisions with a pen, or look at it on the computer screen and note any changes in an email to the forms processor.
7. After the lawyer has approved or made revisions to the bankruptcy petition, he or she will send it back to the forms processor. The forms processor will make the requested changes and prepare a final bankruptcy petition that is ready for electronic filing. The forms processor emails the revised petition to the lawyer for final approval.
8. After approval by the lawyer, the forms processor will electronically file the bankruptcy petition with the court or send it to the lawyer for printing, copying and filing.
As you can see, it is very easy to start a forms processor service working from home. So if you are ready to become your own boss, you can us this opportunity to work from home where you can focus more on each case and give your clients the personal touch that will set your business apart from other companies.