Bankruptcy is declared by an individual or business when the said party is unable to pay back what he owes to his or her creditors. The process of filing for bankruptcy is complex and there are number of stages to its verification. This cannot be done on your own and you will need good representation on your behalf, to determine the success of any bankruptcy claim filed.
Hiring legal representation is a good idea since they will understand terms and conditions better, being well versed with all the legal jargon and procedures. However there a number of things you should consider before hiring legal representation to file for your claims.
Is it worth the cost: Normally people file for bankruptcy when they don’t have any money left, let alone have some reserves to pay for legal representation. But the main question being is hiring an attorney for the purpose worth the investment? Legal representation can be expensive, depending on how good the firm or attorney is. But as mentioned earlier, bankruptcy claims are very complicated to file and if not done at the right time, chances are your plea might just be rejected. Thus, hiring a good attorney will cost you some money, but he or she will ensure that the case is in your favor.
Qualifications and background: Do a thorough research on the attorney’s education and background. This is necessary to ensure that your representation has the necessary qualification and knowledge to back you up while filing for bankruptcy. The process is quite complex and the legal representative must know his way around procedures like the back of his hand. Of course, hiring someone who has graduated from an ivy league university and is now a partner with a major firm will be your first choice. But take into account the associated costs and it won’t hurt to consult with others who might be just as good, even if they didn’t go to an ivy league university.
Experience matters: Experience in terms of representing your client and previous track record matters. Legal representation should not only be qualified, but also have a good case record, mostly wins if possible. Of course, bankruptcy lawsuits and claims are different compared to your regular court cases and proceedings, but hire someone who knows what he or she is doing.
Communication is key, your lawyer should be able to explain legal terms in a language which you can understand and keep you up to date with the status and progress with respect to your claim. It would be very beneficial to hire someone through a mutual friend or known person so that there is a good relationship established form the very beginning instead of looking for a complete stranger to represent.
Each year thousands of people file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, which can be a rather confusing process. At the moment, if you are in a similar situation, then your first job is to find a good bankruptcy lawyer near you who offers the right counseling and direction. Unfortunately, numerous individuals have to bear the brunt of inferior legal services as bankruptcy filings are considered as a volume business by firms. Therefore, before you settle on an attorney, you should scrutinize their services well in advance.
Following are some factors that you should pay attention to for hiring the best bankruptcy lawyer near you.
Expertise and experience
For a favorable outcome, it is essential for your lawyer to have a profound knowledge of the bankruptcy code as well as relevant experience in handling cases of such nature. A missed deadline or misfiled paperwork could easily damage your case. Hence, it is imperative that you hire a person who exclusively practices this discipline of the law. Choosing an attorney who has limited or zero experience in bankruptcy can inflict serious damage to your financial health in the long run.
When you are browsing for lawyers, inquire about their educational background and specialization. Ideally, a person handling bankruptcy cases should possess a bankruptcy certification from the American Board of Certification. Association with NACBA (National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys) is also a good sign, indicating that the person has a proven expertise of the bankruptcy code.
Compatibility
As a client dealing with bankruptcy it is crucial for you to have a lawyer that is not just experienced and intelligent but also approachable. If the quality of your communication is poor, then it could cause grave repercussions to the case. It is natural if your attorney criticizes some of your past actions or gives you hard advice, although they still have to be amicable enough for you to have open and honest discussions. In your first meeting, if you sense that your prospective lawyer is indifferent and can’t offer special attention to your case, then you should seek other options. Similarly, ensure that you steer clear of law firms that handle an unacceptably high number of bankruptcy cases all at once.
Fees
The fees charged will depend on the complexity of the case. Also, for filing Chapter 7, you are not expected to spend much money, whereas, a Chapter 13 filing will relatively cost more. To make sure it’s worth the investment, ask the lawyer about their pricing structure and the types of services covered. Moreover, your asset worth also decides the quality of services you need. For instance, if you only have a few assets, clearly there isn’t much to lose, therefore a decent bankruptcy lawyer will work. Conversely, if you’re gotten assets such as real estate in the mess or are involved in a problematic legal spat, then look for the best bankruptcy lawyers near you, even if they charge expensive fees.
If you’re wondering, “How can I find the best bankruptcy lawyers near me?” Then don’t fret. Here’s what you can do.
Expenses involved in filing for bankruptcy
It’s obvious that you must be contemplating about the fees that you have to manage, assuming that you have been dealing with monetary concerns for quite a while and might not have much left to spare. So, you need to be acquainted with the types of costs involved before filing a bankruptcy case. At the moment, your bankruptcy case will demand three separate expenses.
Facing a divorce is a hard time and it can be difficult to figure out where to turn. The current divorce rate in the country is unfortunately about 40 percent. There are the legal ins and outs that make the process of divorce even more difficult. There are various reasons why marriages don’t work out and some of the common ones are infidelity, financial issues, fights, lack of communication, and loss of personal identity. In such difficult times, one needs to be around people who care and also needs to ensure to hire the best divorce attorney. Below are some of the tips that can help one to find the best divorce attorney-
Be realistic
One needs to keep in mind that divorce is a legal process and the sole purpose of the same is resolving the custody issues and dissolving assets. The best divorce attorneys ensure that the client is represented to the best of his or her abilities while conducting the process. While one may want to share the emotional aspects of their case like anger, pain, frustration, sadness, etc, a divorce lawyer is primarily there to handle the legal aspects. One needs to be realistic about this fact and know that a divorce lawyer is not a therapist or a coach. The emotional aspects that may seem extremely severe and of immense importance to the client may barely register for the lawyer within the legal scope. Hence, it is important that one doesn’t misuse the time by spending hours over the emotional aspects as the time is limited and also the best divorce attorneys have high rates.
Know and be focused on the goal
Remembering that the ultimate goal of this whole legal process is to get divorced is what one should always remember. The other goal might be not having any major depreciation in the lifestyle. When it comes to negotiating over material things, it is important to not get caught up in emotions and keep the big picture in mind with the end goal. It is necessary for one to ensure that the divorce attorney constantly reminds the client of the end goal and is on the same page as the client. Also, before rushing to search for the best divorce attorneys, one needs to exactly know what they want. Hiring a mediator helps to negotiate the terms of the divorce and is a great option if the client is not completely entangled with children and finances. This is because mediation is the cheapest and the fastest way to get a divorce. However, in any other situation, one will need the best divorce attorneys by their side to ensure that they get what they want. All the best divorce attorneys have a certain direction and way to lead their level of expertise. To ensure that the client and the divorce attorney are going hand-in-hand, the client needs to know what they exactly want.
Conduct extensive research
One of the simplest ways one can find the best divorce attorney is by asking friends and family. If any known person has had a positive experience with a divorce attorney, one can simply opt for the same. One can also search online to get all the information about the best divorce attorneys near their area. There are reviews available online as well which can make it easier to choose. Even yellow pages and classifieds are great for finding the best divorce attorney firms nearby. One can even simply visit local law firms or get referrals from the client’s insurance firm to find the best divorce attorneys.
Consider the budget
The best divorce attorney can be highly expensive as the fee of a simple divorce lawyer in the middle of the country is around $500. The fees increase in areas like New York, Los Angeles, etc. One should be upfront while asking about the fees of the divorce attorney they have chosen and also keep a check on the overall costs.