Filing without attorney, web sites

A reader just e-mailed me for help - so please post any suggestions here. I actually don't know anything about sites other than what Shylock posted here. (search)

I am the one that wrote to Christine. My situation is as follows. I have decided that chapter 7 is my only way out of the mess I am in. A little over a year ago I was injured at work and have no disability coverage (truck owner operator). I was separated from my wife at the time, but lost my house and most everything else since, so I am living in her home for the time being. My truck (tractor trailer) was about to be repossesed, so a family member loaned me the money to pay it off and I will have a lien in their favor put on the title when I get it. I have been advised that I can probably return to work with no heavy lifting. However. at some point in the not to distant future I will require 3 joint replacement surgeries. These will require from 6 months to a year recovery time each at least, as I am diabetic too. So, my future income is by no means assured. I have no retirement or investments.

My questions center around the following.

1) I will have to file pro se, maybe ziinet or Ufile?

2) Will my wifes income be looked at? We are NOT in a community property state.

3) Will a lien to a family member on the title to my truck be okay? I have no other vehicle it was lost to repossession even though I offered all but $150 of what I owed on it when the wrecker came (Ford). Now, I owe them a deficiency judgment.

4) I really have no record of who I owe what to since all records were in the home I lost. How can I find out so I can include everything.?

5) I have a couple of student loans that of course are way overdue, but with no income for over a year and future income uncertain, what will become of them? Even unsure who they are with, one is Citibank I know.

At some point in the future I would like to get into real estate rehabs to earn a living. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for anything you can tell me. If you need more info PLEASE let me know.

Was hoping someone else would give you some pointers ....

To find out who you owe, get your credit reports - all three.

I don't think you should file on your own at all. Your situation is way too complicated!

I really hope you would NOT act on advice posted at some forum.

Everybody PLEASE realize that this is much too important to screw it up!

There might be well meaning posters, but they don't know bankruptcy law and your state laws, and following their advice can cost you many thousands of dollars and literally take years off your life due to the stress.

I'm pretty sure that you can't discharge the student loans.

You need to schedule at least 2 of those free initial consultations bankruptcy attorneys offer, I'd recommend 3 or 4 - AFTER you got your credit reports and made a list of your debts.

Real estate rehabs? Once you can get FHA loans in a couple of years, join a local investor club.

But first you have to do the bk, and even before you file, you want to read all the postings here and RE-ESTABLISH credit.

And of course dispute the incorrect items after the discharge.