subject: 5 Reasons To Hire A Personal Bankruptcy Attorney [print this page] When you decide to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it's always tempting to try to do it alone. After all, you're already in a financial fixwhy spend more for just a small convenience? Well, the truth is that a personal bankruptcy attorney does more than just sign your forms. They can also help you better understand your situation, negotiate with creditors, and tell you everything you need to know to ensure a successful filing. Here are five more things a personal bankruptcy attorney can do that you can't get by filing on your own.
They know the laws.
The Bankruptcy Code is complicated even for some lawyers. An experienced personal bankruptcy attorney will know which laws apply to you and which ones you should know as a debtor. Also, since the rules are always changing, it helps to have someone who's up to date to let you know what's going on and how you can adapt.
They protect you from lenders.
Creditors can get pretty insistent the more debt you have, or the further behind you are on payments. But when they know you've got a Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney, they'll be much less inclined to harass you for payments. You can simply mention that you've filed personal bankruptcy and refer them to your attorney next time you get a call.
They get things done faster.
When you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy alone, you have to stop once in a while to figure out what certain forms mean and find the right person to talk to at the bank. A personal bankruptcy attorney will have connections that help get the case moving. They can explain the rules as you go, show you a few shortcuts, and generally ensure a smoother transaction.
They prevent costly mistakes.
There's a lot of paperwork involved in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and a slight error can lead to much bigger problems. While you'll have to provide the data yourself, a personal bankruptcy attorney can give you a hard in filling them out and making sure there's no false or misleading data.
They can negotiate with creditors.
Finally, a personal bankruptcy attorney can help you reach a more reasonable agreement with your creditors. Some of them will contest the amount of discharged debt in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, or file a lawsuit during the waiting period. With a personal bankruptcy attorney, you can face such hurdles with confidence and come out with a deal that works for all parties.
