Bankruptcy Attorneys: Ten Considerations When Choosing A Bankruptcy Attorney

Bankruptcy Attorneys: Ten Considerations When Choosing A Bankruptcy AttorneyGoing through bankruptcy can be a stressful and time-consuming situation. Weller Legal Group is here to help make the bankruptcy process easier and more efficient for you and your family. In this article we are going to discuss a popular question that many clients have, and that is 10 things to consider when choosing a bankruptcy attorney.

WHAT IS A BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY?

Bankruptcy attorneys come in many shapes, sizes, and experience levels. This is why it is important to understand exactly what a bankruptcy attorney is and what they do. The definition of a bankruptcy attorney is a type of lawyer that specializes in the bankruptcy process, having knowledge about the various types of bankruptcy, filing the required documents with the court, and helping solve any issues with your creditors. The most commonly filed types of bankruptcy cases for consumers are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy respectively.

10 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY

Reviews

When choosing a bankruptcy attorney, it is important to look into the history of that attorney before deciding if he or she is a right fit for you and your bankruptcy case. If an attorney has a proven track record of providing great results for their clients, then it would be a good indication that they will do the same in future cases and your case. Do not look down at the power of reviews or the recommendations of friends and family. If a friend or family member refers you to a particular attorney, chances are they had a good experience with that attorney and there’s a good chance you will too.

Price

Not all bankruptcy lawyers have the same level of expertise, therefore bankruptcy lawyer’s prices may be quite different from one another. It is important to do your homework on the firm you are interested in and make sure you are well aware of how much the bankruptcy will cost you.

Just because a lawyer is inexpensive does not necessarily mean that they are the best person for the job. Conversely, just because a certain lawyer is more expensive than his peers does not mean that he is the best bankruptcy lawyer in town. Make sure to do your research on bankruptcy lawyers within your area to decide which lawyer and price range you think would be best for your individual situation.

Experience

Each bankruptcy attorney you may encounter will have different levels of experience. Some bankruptcy attorneys may have just started practicing law for a few months, while others may have been practicing bankruptcy law for over 20 years. If an attorney has been practicing law for over 20 years, it is probably a good indication that he or she is proficient in the practice of bankruptcy law. The level of experience from your bankruptcy attorney is something that can be just as important as whether or not they have solid reviews.

Services

It is important when you are choosing your bankruptcy attorney to see what services they are including with their fees. Make sure that you ask your prospective attorney any question that you may have in reference to your case. Do not be scared to ask. If you are not completely clear in what you are looking to achieve you may be disappointed with the end result. The services that your bankruptcy attorney usually will provide are filing your petition, collecting information about your assets, and negotiating with your creditors, and attending, at a minimum, the 341 Creditor Hearing.

Professionalism

Each bankruptcy attorney will come from a different background and have his or her own story. Nevertheless, there should be a degree of professionalism from the attorney who may be handling your bankruptcy case. If the prospective attorney seems to be unprofessional, it may be best for you to look at a different office to handle your bankruptcy case.

Knowledgeable

Bankruptcy attorneys are not all the same, some are much more knowledgeable than others. It is important that you feel comfortable and confident that your bankruptcy attorney knows what they are doing. Make sure to ask the bankruptcy attorney any questions you may have in regards to your potential bankruptcy case. If the attorney confidently answers all of your questions, then there is a good chance that your bankruptcy attorney is knowledgeable in the field. Conversely, if the bankruptcy attorney seems to get annoyed or doesn’t want to answer your questions, it may be best to look into a different office to handle your bankruptcy case.

Location

The location of your bankruptcy attorney’s office can be very important when it comes to your bankruptcy case. It does not really make sense to drive 2 hours to go to your lawyer’s office, especially if there is a much closer option. Make sure to see if your bankruptcy attorney has multiple offices so that it will be convenient for you to meet with your attorney.

Qualities

When it comes to bankruptcy attorneys we want to look at certain qualities to decide whether or not they will be a right fit for you. Some qualities that are good for a bankruptcy attorney to have is openness, honesty, and responsibility. There are many other qualities that you may find are important but these are a few that are good for bankruptcy attorneys to possess. Make sure to feel comfortable with your prospective attorney before taking the leap of going into the case with them.

Chapter 7 Or Chapter 13

It is important that you discuss with your prospective bankruptcy attorney whether or not he or she thinks you should file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. It is important that you do your homework to find out which Chapter bankruptcy is right for you and your attorney.

Questions

Finally, additional questions may be beneficial to ask the bankruptcy attorney. Do you specialize in bankruptcy? How many bankruptcy cases do you file each year? Who’s going to be handling my case? What is your fee structure? What’s included with your fees? These are some questions that most likely help you feel more confident when choosing your bankruptcy attorney.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We at Weller Legal Group hope that the information provided in this article helped you become more familiar with important things to consider before choosing your bankruptcy attorney. We primarily practice bankruptcy law, and represent only debtors. Offices located throughout Florida, including Clearwater, Port Richey, and Lakeland. If you have any other questions in regards to bankruptcy feel free to give us a call today at 1-800-407-3328.

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