Choosing a Qualified Bankruptcy Attorney to Handle Your Bankruptcy Case
You should hire a bankruptcy attorney if you feel that it is very difficult for you to keep up in the repayment of the debt and you want to file for a bankruptcy. Many bankruptcy lawyers advertise their services on the billboards, magazines and TV commercials. With so many choices, it can be hard to find the right lawyer to handle your case. Hiring the right lawyer is crucial if you want to win the case.
The first step is to compile a list of qualified bankruptcy attorney in your area. You can find attorneys in your area by looking in the telephone directory, and online lawyers directory. It is recommended that you check the directory at the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. The lawyers who are members of this organizations offer professional representation in the practice of bankruptcy. You can also ask those around you who have experiences in hiring bankruptcy attorneys to give you some good references. When you going through the list, you must narrow down to the lawyers with adequate education and licensing.
Bankruptcy attorney must take part in continuing education to be up to date with the latest developments in the bankruptcy regulations. You can visit the website of the state bar to verify the licensing as well infractions to the bankruptcy attorney. The majority of the states in the USA offer specialist bankruptcy certifications. The certification is a proof that the lawyer has several years of experiences in practicing bankruptcy law and has passed for a written test on this area.
Besides, you can also visit the website of the lawyer to find out information such as practice areas, bar admission and number of years of experiences. The website usually have financial forms that you can fill to determine your qualification for bankruptcy. It is very important that the lawyer you hire is experience in bankruptcy law and familiar with the bankruptcy rules in the local district court. For example, it is not recommended that you let an estate planning attorney handle the bankruptcy case.
The complexity of the bankruptcy cases vary and the key is to find a lawyer with enough experiences to handle your case. For example, chapter 13 bankruptcy cases are more difficult compared to chapter 7 bankruptcy. The fees that the lawyer charges must be reasonable. You should get quotes from the lawyers in your list and compare them.
There are a lot of paperwork that need to be completed when filing for a bankruptcy case. Therefore, it is necessary to find a bankruptcy attorney that will communicate to you promptly. The attorney is to return any phone calls and email in a punctual manner so that you don’t have to wait too long to get a response. Many lawyers offer free consultations and you can set up appointment with more than one lawyers prior to hiring. You must remember to write down any question you want to ask on a piece of paper during the appointment with the bankruptcy attorney.
More to Read:
Previous Posts: