How to Choose a Bankruptcy Attorney

Too much debt can overwhelm a person and make their life miserable. Fortunately, bankruptcy laws exist to provide a fresh start for the person overburdened with debt. There are different chapters, or plans for different circumstances. To get the most out of these constantly changing laws, a debtor needs a smart and experienced attorney who deals exclusively in bankruptcy. To choose the bankruptcy attorney who is right for you, follow these steps.

Instructions

1. Get the name of a recommended bankruptcy lawyer, either by referral from a friend or from another lawyer. Try the phone book also, and go to that part of the yellow pages where lawyers are grouped by specialty. Look for these words: "We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the bankruptcy code."

2. Call one of the bankruptcy attorneys you have identified in your initial search and arrange a visit to his or her office. Many attorneys will advertise and offer a free initial consultation.

3. Go to see the bankruptcy attorney you have identified and ask him a number of questions. How much experience do they have? Is Bankruptcy all they do? Will the attorney be handling your matter, or will it be handed over to an associate or a paralegal? What are your options? Can your attorney's fee be paid in installments?

4. If you are not totally comfortable with the attorney you interviewed, repeat the process above.

5. Pick the bankruptcy attorney you feel most comfortable with after interviewing two or more attorneys. Pick the attorney you believe cares the most about your situation and the one who will give you the individual attention your matter deserves.

Tips & Warnings

• If a bankruptcy attorney offers to charge you an extremely low fee, he or she is probably not the right choice for you. As one struggling with too much debt, this might seem attractive at first glance, but this may be an indication that this particular attorney does not intend to spend very much time or energy on your case.

• Bankruptcy is a matter for serious consideration. It has far-reaching ramifications. Even though a person does not need an attorney to file a petition in Bankruptcy, and even though there are a number of firms that will offer to help you fill out the paperwork involved, do not try this yourself. The Bankruptcy Code is complicated and ever-changing. In fact, there have been many recent changes. Only an experienced Bankruptcy Attorney can tell you if Bankruptcy is the right course of action for you in the first place, and then select the right Bankruptcy Chapter for your particular situation.

Resources

• To help locate a Bankruptcy Attorney near you.