What to look for when hiring a bankruptcy attorney
Being financially distressed and filing for bankruptcy can be a very stressful and emotional time in life. That is why it is necessary to hire a bankruptcy attorney who will make the process even easier. The last thing you need to do is pay someone for what little money you have left and never return your calls.
When it comes to finding the right bankruptcy attorney, remember that filing for bankruptcy is a group project. To be successful, everyone must be on the same page and work well together. This includes staff who work at the law firm. There is nothing worse than losing trust in your bankruptcy attorney because you feel like you are not getting your questions answered and that no one is paying attention to your concerns.
Before choosing an attorney, one must obtain a basic education on how to file for bankruptcy. The easiest way to do this is to spend a little time online looking at different websites that have information that you think is applicable to you. Make sure the information is current and local to the area in which you reside and that it will be presented.
Now is the time to interview some bankruptcy attorneys. It is not entirely necessary to interview more than one if you are comfortable with the first one you meet. If there is some kind of tension or there is a bad dynamic in the office, it is better to look at some others before making a decision. You must remember that this person is in control of your financial destiny and you must fully trust them. If there is a lack of trust or communication problems, you should probably seek a different bankruptcy attorney. One should feel totally comfortable sharing all of his information with his bankruptcy attorney. When someone feels intimidated or embarrassed, they may decide to withhold information from the attorney that could be relevant to a successful bankruptcy discharge. Remember, you are hiring this person to help you not impress her. Let the bankruptcy attorney decide what is important and what is not. Throw all your cards on the table and let them shuffle them.
One thing that is irreplaceable with bankruptcy law is experience. Lately, with a large number of people filing for bankruptcy, many attorneys have added bankruptcy law to their practice. You have to be careful because the new bankruptcy code has added complexity, making experience a must. Make sure the attorney explains the entire procedure in plain, non-legal terms. Before signing any retention contract, make sure you understand the terms and that there are no hidden costs. If you are comfortable discussing personal matters with the bankruptcy attorney, you may have found the one.
When filing for bankruptcy, timing is everything and the right attorney will know exactly when to pull the trigger and when to wait. The only way someone will know if bankruptcy will help you is to get your feet wet by interviewing some bankruptcy attorneys.