Bankruptcy Lawyer: Evaluating Your Options

The process involved in declaring bankruptcy varies on a few factors

, including your liabilities, assets, and whether you will be filing for Chaper 13 or 7. If you have decided to move forward with the process, it is crucial that you take the time to research your options pertaining a bankruptcy lawyer, prior to making a decision. In this article, we will outline the process of finding a quality lawyer to help you through this difficult process.

Avoid basing your end decision on cost. The lower the fee, the chances of the attorney being inexperienced increases or he is more prone to mistakes. Begin by contacting your local or state bar association and asking for referrals.

Assessement

What are your reasoning's behind filing? Have you looked at alternative options or sought the help of credit counseling? The decision to go through the bankruptcy process is one not to be taken lightly. Filing is a major step that cannot be rectified after a period of weeks. In fact, the decision will be stuck to your credit report for up to 10 years. When evaluating your potential attorneys, ask questions regarding their experience. How many cases have they worked? What was the outcome? Were the cases similar? What was their most complex case?

Cost

Standard filing fees apply to all of those filing for bankruptcy. Attorneys in the field, typically charge fixed rates, with fees ranging anywhere from hundreds of dollars, to the thousands. Do your research when considering prices in your area. In some circumstances, a judge may even grant a fee waiver if a waiver application is attached when filing. This is a great idea for anyone hoping to free up extra money for lawyer fees.

Things to Consider

Prior to hiring an attorney, inquire as to their communication style. Will there be regular and consistent contact, or will you only see them while standing before the trustee? Do they help with creditors? Some practices operate by way of having legal assistance work through the paperwork, while having little to no contact with the actual lawyer on the case. Ask yourself what you'd prefer the involvement be like. Once you've decided on a candidate, contact your state board to determine whether they have any prior or outstanding grievances or complaints.

At the end of the day, you'll need to make a decision you can feel comfortable with. Choosing an attorney is never fun, but when it's necessary, it's important that you're confident in your end decision. Don't settle, and remember to always trust your gut feeling.

by: Andrew Stratton

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