Bankruptcy---who has done it???

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After much discussion between hubby and I, we have decided to take the plunge and do a bankruptcy. A total wipe-out of past debts to hopefully be able to start off fresh. Neither of us have EVER done this before in our lives. We are faced with having to make this decision out of pure need and survival. We have suffered quite a bit of financial hardship over the past few years. Right now the biggest problem is a garnishment that with taxes and insurance is taking over half my hubby's paycheck. My father in law did a bankruptcy more than 5 years ago (his wife had left him with mortage and all other bills) and he recovered nicely and has his own home now (paid for with his 401K). My hubby and his father were on a loan together--hubby for father in law. When my father in law did the bankruptcy, all of that fell on my hubby to pay. We thought he had taken care of it. Obviously he didn't. In Feb this year, my hubby got the notice that after 6 years they were going to garnish his check. We just can't survive on his paycheck anymore!!! The amount he is being garnished for is over $17,000 so this garnishment will be there for several years! We have read that we can get back the money that has been garnished (and I certainly hope so) once the bankruptcy is started. Any thoughts on this? So I thought I would post here and see who had done a bankruptcy and what advice someone could give. We are planning on doing a total wipe out (I think its a Chapter 13--I have a hard time remembering) of debts. We have a lot of debt that we owe but thankfully not a lot of credit cards (less than 6 between us) though we do have a vehicle reposssession. No forclosure. Lots of medical bills though. Right now we owe more money than what we make--between my hubbys father in law doing a bankruptcy and also his ex wife did one as well (didnt' tell him and we found that out recently that she filed before their divorce was finalized), and the hardships we have gone through on our own, we need to do this. For those that have done bankruptcy before--did it help? Did you have a lawyer or did you file yourself? Looking for any advice anyone can give--