Guidance when Selecting a Bankruptcy Attorney
1. Primarily, ask yourself, “Do I even need a bankruptcy legal representative to file my case? ” If your case is fairly straightforward, then opportunities are you can get a bankruptcy petition preparer to submit your case for much less than the expense of working with a lawyer. Despite popular conception, bankruptcy law is not extremely complicated, so hiring a professional most of the times does not make sense. The real concern then ends up being, “How complex is my case? ” In other words, if a) you have 100 percent unsecured debt (charge card, medical expenses, individual loans, repossessions, and so on); b) you’re unemployed without any assets (car, home, brokerage accounts, etc. ) and c) you did not build up the debt really recently or in any method that can be construed as fraudulent (i.e. buying a cinema TV on a charge card a month before you submitted) then you may not need a bankruptcy attorney to submit your case.
2. If your case is more complex, then will you get the sort of individual attention that you deserve in order to have your case effectively dealt with? A lot of bankruptcy firms are dedicated to basic filings, and you will receive little to no interest from your actual legal representative. With this much at stake, it is very important that you deal directly with an expert that is a professional in bankruptcy law.
3. Get a recommendation. If you know somebody who has filed bankruptcy, do not be afraid to ask them whether they felt their attorney handled their case well. If you aren’t sure anyone who has filed bankruptcy before, then call a law practice beyond your location and ask for a recommendation from them.
4. Shop around. A lot of bankruptcy lawyers will at least offer a totally free initial examination. Discover a legal representative that you feel comfortable discussing your personal matters with and who offers a competitive rate for their fees. Keep in mind not to compromise quality and experience simply due to the fact that a bankruptcy attorney offers lower fees, however. Contact your state’s Attorney General office for a suggested list of bankruptcy attorneys in your location.