Perhaps the only thing worse than a customer whose payments are 60 days overdue is one who notifies you that it is declaring bankruptcy. What you do in the days after a debtor declares bankruptcy has a major effect on what, if anything, you collect.

If I hear that a client is declaring bankruptcy, what should I do first?

The safest thing is to confirm that filing by contacting the debtor and obtaining a case number and/or name and telephone number of the debtor’s attorney. Alternatively, most attorneys can confirm the filing through the bankruptcy court’s online filing system, PACER. READ MORE