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Friday, June 19, 2009

The Questions to Ask Your Bankruptcy Attorney

By David Williams

Filing for bankruptcy is one of the most difficult decisions you can make. But by hiring a knowledge bankruptcy attorney, you can make the emotionally wrenching process of declaring bankruptcy at least a little less stressful.

But before you do hire a bankruptcy attorney, make sure to ask the right questions. Not all bankruptcy attorneys are right for you. By asking the right questions, though, you?ll discover which attorney makes the most sense to steer you through the difficult process of filing for bankruptcy.

Start by asking attorneys how much of their caseload is devoted to bankruptcy filings. This is an important question because bankruptcy laws change so frequently. An attorney who only handles a few bankruptcy cases a year may not be well-versed on the latest bankruptcy laws.

Next, ask attorneys whether they will appear in court with you during the bankruptcy process. Often, you will only have to attend one court hearing. But you?ll want your attorney by your side, not a paralegal. Make sure your attorney does plan on appearing in court with you.

When you are interviewing attorneys, make sure to ask, too, if there might not be better options for you than filing for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy attorneys should be willing to look over your financial information and debts to determine if there are better choices. Filing for bankruptcy will impact your credit for years. It should only be a final-resort option.

Next, ask attorneys what information they?ll need from you to get started on your case. Don?t be surprised if attorneys ask for a lot of paperwork. Filing for bankruptcy isn?t easy, or simple. That?s why you need a bankruptcy attorney in the first place.

Any attorney with whom you work should be able to give you a written fee agreement. This agreement will spell out exactly what services an attorney will provide for what cost. Having this information written down avoids problems or debates later. If an attorney does not work with a written fee agreement, you should not work with that attorney.

After attorneys answer these questions to your satisfaction, you should then ask about fees. Too many people ask about this first, before taking the time to determine if a particular bankruptcy attorney is the right one for them. Yes, price is important. But just because a bankruptcy attorney charges a lower fee, that doesn?t make him or her the right attorney for you.

Remember, you do get what you pay for. Often, the cheapest bankruptcy attorney isn?t the best one for you. You want a knowledgeable, skilled and ethical bankruptcy attorney. These often don?t come cheap. Ask the right questions, though, and you?ll find the right attorney. - 23221

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