subject: What Should You Ask Your Bankruptcy Lawyer Before Hiring? [print this page] You can't just play "eenie meenie minie mo" to pick the best St. Louis bankruptcy attorney. You need to evaluate them on criteria that are important to you: good case results, positive client feedback, plethora of free information, etc. Once you've chosen an attorney, however, how can you make sure your expectations meet reality?
There are two things that need to be made clear before you file your Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 case.
How your attorney will keep you informed on the progress of your case
As your case is filed, you should want to see a copy of every communication with the court and pleadings in the case. It is also important for your bankruptcy attorney to explain how quickly the case will move and at what time you can expect for each step of the case to happen. Most importantly, a great bankruptcy lawyer will have a system in place to make sure any questions you have along the way can be answered.
Who will work on your case
Once an attorney has been filing bankruptcy cases in for a certain period of time, he or she probably knows what needs direct attention from an attorney and what can be handled by a competent staff. In fact, there are some matters that can be answered and handled more quickly if they are done by associate attorneys or legal assistants. However, it is completely legitimate to make sure that the attorney you want on your case is supervising the process for you.
You can't have the best bankruptcy experience if the reality of your case fails to meet your expectations. You want to make sure that the expectations you have for your bankruptcy attorney can be met by that firm. I've found that these specific questions can help a debtor truly understand the process and feel the most comfortable with the bankruptcy law firm they have chosen.
If the answers to these questions are not what you are looking for, it may be a good indication that you should continue to shop for the best bankruptcy attorney.Look for articles, blogs, bankruptcy FAQ, and other free information to find a great attorney. While many offer free consultations, the best attorneys will offer you free information before you even set foot in an office. Don't settle for anything less when it comes to securing your financial future.
