The paralegal or document preparer may share an office with a con artist who is skilled in identify theft.  They may leave files open on their desk so that cleaning people can see all your information or throw your financial information into a garbage can in the alley.  Some people respond with “my credit is toast so what difference does it make if they have my social security number or bank account?”   That person is very naive and may take the next 1o or 20 years trying to fix this one bad mistake.

So, if I use an attorney is my financial information information protected?   Normally yes, but it depends on that attorney’s commitment to their clients.  Some attorneys see you as quick way to make a buck (something like a used car salesman).  These attorneys may contract with non-lawyers (most over seas) to enter all the data used in your bankruptcy.  They may not use common sense when it comes to protecting your financial information – such as closing clients files, shredding information before disposing of it and instructing all staff about their duty of confidentiality.  Shame on these attorneys because they are showing a complete disregard their clients financial safety.  But, unless you ask you will never know whether or not your bankruptcy attorney uses outside data entry services or takes precautions to protect your privacy.  Of course, if an attorney commits a bad act you can complain to whatever agency licenses the attorney.  There is no one to complain about the bad acts of a paralegal or document preparers.