When it comes to bankruptcy, you’ll want to hire a specialist rather than a general practitioner. Bankruptcy lawyers are attorneys who specialize in bankruptcy cases. Bankruptcy cases require a deep understanding of a variety of concepts, but also performing a mistake can cause heavy financial damage.
As a result, most lawyers will not accept a bankruptcy case until they have previously handled bankruptcy cases.
As you look for a bankruptcy attorney to represent you, keep the following in mind:
Select an Attorney with Sufficient Experience
Inquire about a lawyer’s level of experience. Hiring an experienced bankruptcy lawyer Maryland is always a good idea. But it isn’t always true that someone with more experience is more prepared than someone with fewer years of experience. What matters is the number of successful bankruptcy cases they’ve handled.
Try Lawyer Referral Panels
Many county bar associations can give you contact information for local bankruptcy attorneys and Boca Raton asset acquisition lawyers. Take into consideration that bar associations do not represent screen lawyers’ backgrounds. It is your responsibility to verify the credentials and experience of the individual recommended by the bar organization.
Evaluate a Variety of Aspects in Addition to Price
The last thing you want to do if you’re thinking of filing for bankruptcy is spent more money than you have to. However, resist the desire to make decisions purely based on attorney fees. The main reason is that price can be deceiving. Some organizations will offer a low price that does not apply to many clients or cover certain critical services to the bankruptcy procedure.
Another way that pricing might be deceiving is that in bankruptcy, paying a little more upfront for high-quality services usually saves you a lot of money in the long run.
Hiring the cheapest option in Boca Raton asset acquisition lawyers you can find could mean cutting shortcuts, delegating a significant amount of work to non-attorneys, or filing a hasty or poor bankruptcy case.
A poorly prepared bankruptcy almost invariably results in the client giving hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash or property to the trustee that you would have been able to keep if the bankruptcy had been appropriately handled.
Get a Written Agreement
- Recognize the services that are included in the offered charge. Is it inclusive
- Is it essential to avoid liens?
- Do you have any issues with the trustee?
- Actions that are not dischargeable?
In most cases, the flat charge only covers conventional services or concerns likely to arise in a bankruptcy case. Some things, such as whether a challenge to a debt discharge would be filed, cannot be predicted at the start of the case and may result in additional fees.
What qualities do you look for in a lawyer?
- Empathy and communication skills are just as crucial as legal expertise in the realm of bankruptcy.
- Choose an attorney who can assist you in navigating the challenges, alternatives, and consequences of your decisions.
- Choose a lawyer with whom you feel at ease, one with whom you can ask questions and receive clear answers.
- Choose a lawyer specializing in bankruptcy or devoting a significant portion of their practice to it.
- Ask inquiries until you have a clear understanding of your options.
- Don’t be frightened to interview a lawyer and then decide not to retain them.
What Should You Ask a Bankruptcy Attorney?
When you meet with an experienced bankruptcy lawyer in Maryland, you want to feel confident in their abilities and that they are interested in helping you solve your problem.
Here are some questions to consider to arrive at both:
- Begin by determining whether the lawyer believes you are an eligible candidate for bankruptcy and, if so, whether you should pursue type Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.
- Find out how many bankruptcies they’ve done and what types of bankruptcies they’ve done.
- How big is the lawyer’s or affiliate firm’s practice? Smaller enterprises and sole proprietorships may provide a more personal touch, while larger firms have more resources. The complexity of your situation may determine the one you choose.
- How quickly do they respond to your phone calls? What is their policy on calling charges?
- How involved will the lawyer be? will they file all of your paperwork?
How Can a Bankruptcy Lawyer Help You?
The following are some examples of how a bankruptcy attorney could justify their hiring:
- Assisting you in deciding whether or not to file for bankruptcy in the first place.
- Advise you on the best type of bankruptcy to pursue (the two main types are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13).
- Providing advice on what property you might be allowed to keep.
- Give your thoughts on the tax implications you’ll encounter.
- Advising you on whether or not you should keep paying your creditors.
Takeaway
Please take a few days to consider which attorney will be best for you after interviewing at least three attorneys and their offices. Keep in mind that you are the customer. Notify the attorney once you’ve made your decision. Give the office all of the information they require and don’t hesitate to ask any questions that come to your mind during the process.
