You will feel a sense of relief once you make the decision to take control of your debt, but you will still need to consult a bankruptcy attorney. Unfortunately, choosing one legal professional to handle your financial future can be stressful and time-consuming. With these tips, you will know exactly what to look for when hiring an attorney to begin bankruptcy proceedings.
Personalities Should Mesh Well
Admitting you have lost control of your debt and finances is difficult, so you should not work with an attorney who will make you feel bad about your past and future choices. Your attorney should be friendly, but you should also have personalities that mesh well with one another.
The lawyer/client relationship should be professional, but it also should be trusting, friendly, and compassionate. Trust your instincts when meeting with a potential attorney, since you will need to work with this professional for a long period of time.
Skip the Mill
Bankruptcy firms are becoming common options in many parts of the nation. While they are capable of finalizing multiple bankruptcies in short amounts of time, these “mills” lack some important traits offered by a private attorney.
In many consultations that occur at mills, you will not even meet with an actual attorney. Your initial meeting will most likely take place with a paralegal and secretary. This administrative personnel will relay all of your information to a pool of attorneys to work on your case. Having multiple attorneys work on your case may make the process more efficient, but it can increase the risk of miscommunicating important legal matters with you.
Experienced and Up to Code
Before hiring a bankruptcy attorney, make sure they are up to current codes and regulations. Most attorneys will claim they have the education and experience needed, but they may not be familiar with the best codes to manage your specific case.
The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act was established in 2005 to prevent the super-rich and chronic filers from abusing the system. The law requires some filers to pay a portion of the debt off through a payment plan. The total amount of debt that needs to be paid will be based on your income and regulations in your state, so your attorney must understand this code and your state’s requirements for a successful bankruptcy.
If you need a professional, experienced, and friendly bankruptcy attorney, contact Collins & Arnove in the Frisco, TX area at 972-516-4255.
Collins & Arnove | Bankruptcy Attorney Frisco TX | 972-516-4255