Filing for Bankruptcy: Where to Begin

Khalifeh & Strupinsky, P.C. • March 27, 2026

For many New Yorkers, facing overwhelming debt can feel like a never-ending cycle, especially with the seasonal fluctuations in expenses that come with living in Brooklyn and the greater New York City area. Unexpected medical bills, job loss, or changes in the real estate market can make monthly obligations unmanageable. If you are struggling to make payments, understanding how to start the bankruptcy process is key to regaining your financial footing.

Understanding Bankruptcy Basics

Bankruptcy is a legal process that offers individuals and businesses relief from debt while protecting certain assets. The most common types of consumer bankruptcy are Chapter 7, which can discharge many unsecured debts, and Chapter 13, which allows you to reorganize and repay debts over three to five years. It is important to determine which type is most appropriate based on your unique financial situation, the value of your property, and your disposable income.

Evaluating Your Financial Situation

Before starting a bankruptcy filing, you should gather a complete picture of your finances. This means creating a list of:

All your debts, such as credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans
Your regular income and monthly expenses
Ownership documents for real estate, vehicles, or other major assets

This exercise will help you and your lawyer decide if bankruptcy, debt negotiation, or alternatives such as loan modification are best for your circumstances.

The Role of a Bankruptcy Attorney

Navigating bankruptcy alone in New York is complex, given the strict rules and paperwork required by local courts. Working with an experienced attorney can help you avoid costly mistakes, preserve exempt assets under New York law, and develop a bankruptcy strategy that aligns with your financial goals. Look for a law firm offering Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, and personalized debt relief solutions—services designed to support Brooklyn and New York City residents year-round.

Timely Steps in Filing for Bankruptcy

The process starts with a consultation to discuss your unique situation, followed by credit counseling, which is mandatory before filing. Once you decide to proceed, your lawyer will help you:

Complete the bankruptcy petition and associated schedules
Submit required documentation to the court
Attend the meeting of creditors (341 meeting)
Manage any follow-up requests from the bankruptcy trustee

This can help shield you from creditors' calls and legal actions, especially during winters when heating and living expenses rise.

Get Guidance for Your Bankruptcy Case in Brooklyn and New York City

If overwhelming debt is impacting your ability to move forward, Khalifeh & Strupinsky, P.C. can help you take the first step toward financial stability. Our attorneys guide clients through every stage of the bankruptcy process and are deeply familiar with Brooklyn and New York, NY laws. To discuss your options with a local attorney, call 917-717-5007 or submit your information via our secure online form.

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Are Communications with AI Privileged?: Judge Rakoff delivers opinion in United States v. Heppner

By Kayla Gaisi • March 10, 2026

As generative AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it continues to raise legal questions that courts can no longer ignore. This month, the question of whether communications between criminal defendants and public AI are protected from government inspection was answered by Judge Jed Rakoff. That answer was an unequivocal 'no.' In the case at hand, defendant Bradely Heppner was charged with fraud and arrested a month later, in November 2025. When the FBI executed a search warrant at his home, they seized documents containing communications between him and the public AI platform Claude AI. According to Heppner's counsel, these communications reflected a defense strategy Heppner had generated in anticipation of potential indictment. Heppner asserted that these documents were either protected under attorney-client privilege or by the work product doctrine, arguing that he had used Claude for the purpose of obtaining legal advice and had shared these outputs with his attorneys. However, Judge Rakoff rejected both arguments. Attorney-client privilege applies only to communications between a client and a professional who owes them fiduciary duties and is subject to discipline. It is a socially valuable human relationship. Regardless of how advanced an AI systems is, it cannot meet this definition. Claude is not a human attorney and does not have an attorney-client relationship with its users, so communications with it cannot qualify for attorney-client privilege. Aside from this, Rakoff listed other reasons why Heppner's communications with Claude are not considered confidential. Firstly, Claude is a public AI system whose privacy policy discloses that communications can be shared with third parties including "governmental regulatory authorities." Secondly, as his counsel admitted, Heppner sought legal advice from Claude on his own volition, not at their direction. Even if Heppner received legal advice and later shared that with his counsel, that does not render the initially unprivileged communication privileged. The related work product doctrine fared no better for Heppner. This doctrine protects materials prepared by attorneys in anticipation of litigation from discovery by opposing parties. Here, the AI-generated documents were not prepared by or at the behest of counsel and did not reflect counsel's strategy. Thus, they fell outside the scope of the doctrine. Judge Rakoff's ruling matters because it maintains the narrowness of evidentiary privileges that is necessary for protecting the judicial system's truth-seeking function. Extending privilege to communications with public AI systems could create a dangerous loophoole, one where parties could shield discoverable information by filtering it through a chatbot. But given Rakoff's ruling, the main takeaway here is that attorneys should explicitly advise their clients not to share personal or legal information with public AI systems. Despite how routine it has now become for many to ask public AI personal questions, these communications are not confidential, and may ultimately be used as evidence in court.