Frequently Asked Questions

You have 3 options for submitting documents to our office: 

1. Upload documents to our secure document portal through MyCase. MyCase intro video;
2. Mail your documents to our Anoka Office; or 
3. Drop off your documents during business hours. 

Use whatever method works the best for you. We do ask that regardless of what method you use to turn in your documents, that you please turn in the majority/ all of the requested documents to our office at one time, rather than piecemeal over a period of time. 

Many of the documents we need from you are available in electonic format (paystubs, bank statements, tax returns, etc.) but they may be in a format we are unable to open on our end. 

1. So we as that you send documents in PDF format.* PDFs are preferred over images because images are typically large files, and each page is a separate file. PDFs allow us to combine multi-page documents to a single smaller file.

2. Please do not take pictures with your camera phone. 

3. Instead use the scanner function on your iPhone (Notes app) or Android (Google Drive), the app will automatically convert your image to a PDF file that includes all pages in one file. 

4, Send your PDF documents within 1 week after you receive your Document Checklist. Some of the documents are time-sensitive and collections may have already become aggressive. 

5. Upload PDF documents to the MyCase secure Document Portal. See the MyCase intro video for more information on uploading. 

6. Please do not text images. 

7. Log into your online account for whatever document you are attempting to obtian. 

NOTE: You must log into your account from a web browser (not from your phone app) and navigate to Transactions/ Statements. The phone app takes you to an abbreviated website with less funtionality. A web browser will take you to the fully functional website to obtain statments and transaction histories;

8. Use the “Print to PDF” option on your web browser** and save the PDF document to your computer/ smartphone/ device naming the file with the name of your bank and type of account (EX. Wells Fargo checking.pdf); 

9. Upload PDF documents to the MyCase secure Document Portal.

* - For more information on how to use your iPhone as a scanner, go to this iPhone support page.

- For more information on how to use your Google/ Android phone as a scanner, go to this How To page.

** How to “Print to PDF” https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-save-a-webpage-as-a-pdf/

You were emailed an electronic invoice called a "Funds Request" after your consultation, You can use the link in that email to make an ACH payment to retain our office. 

If you have already retained Atlas Law Firm, you will have also received an electronic invoice with which you can submit ACH payment. 

Current Atlas Law clients can log into their online portal to view their invoices. 

Prospective clients that cannot find the Funds Request email, please check your spam folder. 

Atlas Law Firm accepts cash payments, checks, money orders, ACH payments, and debit cards. 

However, debit card payments will be charged a 3% transactional fee to cover the transactional cost of the debit card payment.   

Atlas Law Firm cannot accept payment via credit card for our legal services, unless the credit card belongs to a third-party that wishes to make payment for you. However, credit cards are charged a 3% transactional fee as well. 

All checks and money orders should be made payable to 'Atlas Law Firm'

Yes, a third party can pay your fees using any of the following methods: cash payments, checks, money orders, ACH payments, debit cards, and credit cards. 

However, debit card payments will be charged a 3% transactional fee to cover the transactional cost of the debit card payment.   

Atlas Law Firm cannot accept payment via credit card for our legal services, unless the credit card belongs to a third-party that wishes to make payment for you. However, credit cards are charged a 3% transactional fee as well. 

You can simply forward the email you received with the link to the electronic invoice to your friend or family member. 

All checks and money orders should be made payable to 'Atlas Law Firm'

For bankruptcy clients, Atlas Law Firm can only accept credit card payments from a family member or friend of the client. 

We cannot accept a payment for bankruptcy from a client's credit card. 

For estate planning, litigation, and other non-bankruptcy clients, we can accept credit card payments from the client's credit card. 

However, credit card transactions carry a 3% transaction fee. If your friend or family member must pay via a  credit card, Atlas Law Firm will pass the 3% transaction fee onto them. 

You can simply forward the email you received with the link to the electronic invoice. 

During your free consultation, or shortly after, an email was sent to you with a link to your Flat Fee Agreement. You can open and read the Flat Fee Agreement by clicking the link in that email. 

After reviewing the Flat Fee Agreement, you can electronically sign it and save a copy for your records. 

If you did not receive an email with a link to your Flat Fee Agreement, please email '[email protected]' to request that an email with a link to your Retainer Agreement be sent to you.   

If you do not use email, we are happy to provide a hard copy of your Retainer Agreement at your free consultation or send it to you via U.S. mail. 

If you have not already received a hard copy of your Retainer Agreement, please call our front desk at 763-568-7343 to request that your Retainer Agreement be sent to you via U.S. mail. 

You can return your signed Retainer Agreement with your requested documents via U.S. mail or Drop-off as indicated above. 

 Under the bankruptcy laws, you are required to provide a complete copy of your most recently filed federal and state income tax returns to the Trustee. 

We ask that you provide us with a complete copy (all forms and schedules) of your most recently filed Federal and MN tax income returns. If you file a property tax refund return, we ask for the most recently filed property tax return as well. 

In addition, we ask for the previous year's income tax returns as well, because those will include information needed to complete your case documents. 

However, if you cannot find your prior year's (2 years ago - not the most recently filed) income tax returns, we can use your prior year's W2s and/ or 1099s. But we are required by law to obtain your most recently filed income tax returns. 

If you are not required to file income tax returns, we will prepare an Affidavit for you to sign in the presence of a notary in our office stating that you do not have recently filed income tax returns to provide because you are not required to file income tax returns.   

Minnesota employers are required to keep records about each employee including the amount paid each pay period. 

Many employers use a payroll service that provides an employee's payroll records via a secure online payroll portal. If you do not have access to your employer's online payroll portal, contact your employer's HR department to set up access. 

Then follow the process to use the "Print to PDF" or "Save to PDF" option on your web browser's Print Menu outlined above at How do I turn in the requested documents from the Document Checklist? 

If you are a W2 employee, unfortunately bank statements will not be sufficient because we need to report your gross income (before deductions) to the court for the previous 6 months to calculate the means test qualifications. Your bank statements will only show us your net income after deductions. 

If you are a 1099 independent contractor (and only if you are a 1099 independent contractor - i.e., no deductions come out of your pay) then we likely can use your bank statements in lieu of paystubs for the previous 6 months of income. 

You can provide your past 6 months of bank statements showing the Child Support deposits (e.g., US Bank Reliacard statements) or a Child Support Pay History from your Case Worker. 

For help obtaining Unemployment payment history, go to: http://www.uimn.org/applicants/getpaid/print-payment-history/

If you are self-employed then please provide your business bank statements in lieu of paystubs for the previous 6 months of income. 

Atlas Law Firm is located at: 

2006 First Ave. N. 

Suite 206 

Anoka, MN 55303

Near downtown Anoka and easily accessible from major roadways.

From the North:

Take Highway 10 south toward Anoka. Exit onto Main Street/7th Ave and head south into downtown. Turn right onto 1st Ave. N.; the building will be on your left.

From the East:

Take Highway 10 west toward Anoka. Exit at Main Street/7th Ave. Turn left and proceed south into downtown, then turn right onto 1st Ave. N.

From the West:

Take Highway 10 east toward Anoka. Exit at Main Street/7th Ave. Turn right and head south, then turn right onto 1st Ave. N.

From the South:

Take Highway 169 north to Main Street in Anoka. Follow Main Street north into downtown, then turn left onto 1st Ave. N.

Parking & Walking Directions:

Free street and nearby lot parking are typically available along 1st Ave. N. and surrounding downtown streets. After parking, walk to 2006 First Ave. N. and enter through the main entrance facing the street. Take the stairs or elevator to the second floor—Suite 206 will be clearly marked inside.

📄 Downloadable Map (Atlas Law Firm Google Map):

If you need assistance finding the entrance or suite, feel free to call ahead and we’ll guide you in.

Get your Trustee documents to us for each checking, savings, and debit account you have open, in PDF format, covering the date your case was filed - within 7 days of us filing your case. 

This helps us get your Trustee Documents to the Trustee's office in a timely fashsion, so the Trustee's office can verify the bank account balances without waiting for us to get the bank statements to them. 

Waiting causes friction. Friction makes your case go less smoothly. Correct documents in a timely fashion makes your case go much more smoothly than late statments that are illegible or incomplete screenshots. 

Atlas Law Firm will pull your credit report, but please provide a message in our portal listing any debts that you don't think will appear on your credit report (i.e., medical bills, personal loans, etc.) No need to turn in any bills: we do not need account numbers or balance information.

Anything you own that can be sold is considered an asset (even if low value). For property acquired for personal use (e.g., furniture, home electronics, clothing, etc.) you should use what you estimate a retail consignment merchant would charge for the item for considering its age and condition. 

You do not need to search the internet for items for sale similar to yours. Instead, provide a good faith estimate on what you think you could sell your items for in their present condition - not garage sale or pawn shop sale value. 

For collector items or unique items, you may want to search online for similar items for sale. 

For larger items, such as vehicles, use Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds, or NADA values to obtain Private Party Sale (not Trade In value).   

The law requires that you take two 1-2 hour "courses" online or over the phone to complete your case. 

The 1st course needs to be completed before we can file your case. The U.S. Trustee's Office (which oversees administration of bky cases) maintains a list of approved companies at on the U.S. Trustee's Office website. 

You can complete the 1st course through whichever approved company you choose. Atlas Law Firm recommends www.SummitFE.org as we understand it to be the lowest cost option (approx. $15) and takes approximately 60 minutes to complete. 

A current year benefit letter is acceptable for Social Security income.

 If you receive paystubs from your pension/ retirement income provider and have copies, you can provide those paystubs. If you do not receive paystubs, you can provide bank statements showing the retirement/ pension deposits for the previous 6 months.

Bank statements, paystubs for the previous 6 months or a current year benefit letter is acceptable for Workers' Comp or VA Disability income.

Please provide paystubs for your Short-Term or Long-Term Disability Insurance income from the previous 6 months. 

You are not able/ need to complete the 2nd course certificate until after your case is filed. 

You can complete the course though any U.S. Trustee approved provider. The 2nd course certificate must be filed with the court at least 75 days after your case is filed. 

You will need to know your case number to register for the 2nd course. You will not need to provide any budget or case information as part of the course. Atlas Law Firm recommends www.SummitFE.org as we understand it to be the lowest cost option (approx. $10 per household) and takes approximately 2 hours to complete online. 

Under the bankruptcy laws Atlas Law Firm is required to provide a copy of the Mandatory Disclosures to a prospective client within three days of the initial consultation. The Mandatory Disclosures were linked in our first email to you after your free consultation. The Mandatory Disclosures can also be found at: https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/form_b2010.pdf 

Under the bankruptcy laws a debt relief agency is required to provide a copy of the Bankruptcy Information Sheet to a prospective client within three days of the initial consultation. 

The Bankruptcy Information Sheet was linked in our first email to you after your free consultation. The Bankruptcy Information Sheet can also be found at: https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/ust/legacy/2011/10/06/bky-info_english.pdf

1. Bank statements for each checking, savings, and debit accounts you had open, showing the balances on the date your case was filed. This is evidence proving the value of your bank accounts; 

2. One recent paystub that you received after your case was filed: if you're self-employed, retired or otherwise don't recieve paystubs, no document is needed.

3. Any other document the Trustee assigned to your case may reasonably request (photos of vehicles in poor condition; photos of jewelry; bank statments for a partiular time period, etc.) While these additional requests are not common, they are not rare either. If there are additional requests, our office will contact you. 

1. Send documents in PDF format* Do not take pictures with your camera phone. Instead use the scanner function on your iPhone (Notes app) or Android (Google Drive), the app will automatically convert your image to a PDF file that includes all pages in one file. 

2, Send your PDF documents within 1 week after your case is filed. We need to provide the documents to the trustee before your meeting. If we don’t meet the trustee’s deadline, your meeting will be rescheduled.

3. Upload PDF documents to the MyCase secure Document Portal

4. Please do not text images. 

5. If you prefer to provide hardcopies, please mail or drop off at the Anoka office in a timely fashion.

6. Log into your online account for your bank/ debit account from a web browser (not from your phone app) and navigate to Transactions/ Statements;

7. Set the date range for the date your case was filed and the 30 days prior  to your case filing date. Make sure you include the filing date in your date range. 

8. Use the “Print to PDF” option on your web browser** and save the bank account transaction history to your computer/ smartphone/ device naming the file with the name of your bank and type of account (EX. Wells Fargo checking); 

9. Repeat for each and every bank account and debit account (Paypal, Cash App, Venmo) you have - even if you don't typically use the account;

10. Upload PDF documents to the MyCase secure Document Portal.

* - PDFs are preferred over images because images are typically large files, and each page is a separate file. PDFs allow us to combine multi-page documents to a single smaller file.

- For more information on how to use your iPhone as a scanner, go to this iPhone support page.

- For more information on how to use your Google/ Android phone as a scanner, go to this How To page.

- Some trustees may request additional documents (EX. 90 days of bank statements, vehicle titles, etc.) Be sure to read the email you were sent regarding your meeting, which details the requested documents. 

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