Step 1:
Give yourself time to find a qualified attorney. Though it may feel as though you are in need of a “quick fix” the worst thing you can do is settle for the first name you find in the yellow pages as you could very well find you have a selected a subpar candidate. You will have to do some research to make sure you select the most competent lawyer for your case. The following will illustrate how to go about the necessary search.
Step 2:
Seek advice from reputable legal sources. Your local legal aid office may have a listing of bankruptcy lawyers for you to consult. Also, consider contacting the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. This association is perhaps the best resource for the information you are seeking.
Step 3:
Take a day to investigate the bankruptcy court at your local courthouse. Sit in on a few cases so you can get an idea of the type of attorney you will want to hire. Strike up conversations with fellow filers to find out information of their experience with their attorneys. Chances are others who have been in your situation will have valuable advice for you and will be willing to share it.
Step 4:
Interview prospective attorneys. Ask questions concerning how many bankruptcy cases they handle, what their specific fees are, what certificates do they have, what percentage of their cases are personal filing rather than business and ask them to estimate how much time it will take if they handle your case. Take notes on their answers and do not hire any one attorney until you have seen more than a few. Refer back to your notes when making your final decision.
Step 5:
Hire an attorney who answers your questions without hesitation and matches the criteria you need to handle your filing. Do so only after a thorough review of your interview notes. Though you are obviously struggling financially do not opt for the lowest charging lawyer who may make extremely costly mistakes. A good lawyer, however, can save you enough to more than make up for the added expense and time.
Step 6:
Establish a working relationship with your attorney. Stay absent of all goings on in your case. Since you have done research, chances are things will go smoothly but if not you may need to fire your lawyer and begin your search anew.
Tips & Warnings
Contact your local bar association for information regarding general rates of bankruptcy attorneys in your area.
Watch out for “hidden” fees such as those for accountant services. Find out from our attorney upfront what everything will cost.
Finally, before using this information to arm yourself with an attorney, make sure that bankruptcy is the choice for you. For many there are other ways of handling large amounts of debt and these options should be thoroughly looked into prior to making the decision to file.
