Bankruptcy Petition Preparers are
non-lawyers paid by consumers to prepare bankruptcy
documents, for filing in court.
Anyone can be a BPP, provided they
comply with the rules
governing BPP practice contained in the bankruptcy
code.
Customers who use a BPP are representing
themselves in the bankruptcy court. This means
they are responsible for making the choices required
of them in their case. They must also provide
the BPP with complete and accurate information
to be entered in the documents.
Because BPPs are not lawyers, their
customers must obtain necessary legal information
and advice from an independent source such as
a self-help law
book or a lawyer.
Think of it this way, A BPP's customers
are their own lawyers and the BPP is their legal
secretary. The customers have to be sufficiently
informed to tell the BPP what to do.
While all of this may sound a tad
intimidating, it really isn’t. The Bankruptcy
Law Project has developed forms
and tools for BPP
practice, and offers
training
for BPPs who desire it.
