For those wishing to declare bankruptcy, there is no more important a decision than choosing a Bankruptcy Attorney. So, just what is a Bankruptcy Attorney? Simply put a Bankruptcy attorney is anattorney at all who specializes in bankruptcy law. The laws giverning Bankruptcy are remarkably difficult for the lay person to sort through effectively. To Attempt to file bankruptcy without help from a bankrupcy attrney is foolish in the extreme.
A bankruptsy attorney is a full bonefide lawyer specializing in helping a person file for chapter 7, 11 or 13. A Bankruptcy attorney will often be affiliated (partner or staff) with a law firm. Sometimes the law firm will be a firm specialzing in bankruptcy law but more often a law firm will have many attorneys on staff, each of whom has a specialty. Nearly every Law Firm carries one or two bankruptcy attorneys.
A bankruptcy attorney should do no less than walk you through the entire procedure of a bankruptcy filing from beginning to end. On first appointment a Bankruptsy Attorney will ask you many questions regarding your current financial situation as well as your past history. He will ask, naturally, why you are seeking to file and what you hope to accomplish by doing so. In this first interview, it is important that you remain alert and analytical since not only is the bankruptcy attorney looking to qualify you, but you should be doing the same to him or her. Try to gauge whether or not the bankruptsy attorney is concerned with your needs and willing to go the extra mile to get you everytyhing you deisre. Many Bankruptcy Attorneys have very full docets and should not take on any more cases. Feel free to ask any questions you think of and do not be concerned about being to forward and offensive. More often than not a bankruptsy attorney will respect you more if you say exactly what is on your mind. Ask him or her how much experience they have. Ask, whether or not your filing will be made a priority or will it be shunted aside for other files.
Only by asking these questions of your perspective bankruptcy attorney can you hope to find out wether you will be in good hands. Bankruptcy attorneys are like every other profession - every other job. There are good ones out there and there are bad ones Make sure you are gettting the most for your money and the most expensive bankruptcy attorneys are not always the best.
Naturally, even those lucky enough to have what is called disposable income, have concerns when it comes to the bill. And lawyer fees are no laughing matter. A good Bankruptcy attorney is not going to come cheap. When it comes to acceptible Bankruptcy Attorney costs one must look at the entire picture. Often, even is a bankruptcy attorney is charging high fees, it is worth it, if you have qualified the bankrupcy attorney and believe him capable and he or she is saving you much more than what you are spending on their services.
Also, since the subject matter is an inability to pay debt, bankrupcy attorneys are sometimes willing to negotiate their fees. Like all bargainnig arrangements bargaining with a bankruptsy attorney should be done tactfully and even, may I suggest, apologetically. If you have established your own personal strength and earned the bankruptcy attorney respect a slight shift of tact and an apology that 'your fees may be a hndrance" are likely to loosen up a bankrupcy attorneys fist. Never ask for too much leniency though, since, as stated above, you need to be a priority to the bankruptcy attorney.
© 2008 Declaring Chapter 7.