When you’re ready to file for bankruptcy, make sure you get a good bankruptcy attorney to help ensure your successful outcome. The judicial system advises that you do so. You need to carefully prepare for the process and understand the legal issues that are involved so that you don’t make any mistakes in the process. Doing so may end up affecting your rights. They also clearly state that court employees and bankruptcy judges are prohibited from giving you any legal advice.
This means that you need a lawyer who’s experienced and can help you with both federal and local laws. You want them to be able to give you personalized service for your case so that you can make it through this challenging process. With this in mind, here are a few other vital things to remember when looking for the right lawyer for your case.
Make sure the bankruptcy attorney you choose is experienced.
You want an experienced lawyer on your side. This doesn’t necessarily mean that someone who has more years of experience is better equipped than someone with fewer. Instead of considering this, what you should be looking at is how many bankruptcy cases they’ve handled successfully.
The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) wants people to understand that some lawyers have practiced bankruptcy law for many years without mastering the subject. These are not the type of lawyers you want to hire to handle your case. Fortunately, you can look into a lawyer’s track record in one of the following ways:
- Ask them directly. Those with experience will be more than happy to tell you about their background.
- Spend time doing some online research. In specific, check out the NACBA.
- Contact your state’s bar association. They maintain profiles of attorneys who practice in your state, their area of practice, and whether they’ve experienced any disciplinary matters.
- Ask your friends and family for referrals.
- Look up appellate court filings and check out their results.
Find a bankruptcy attorney located near you.
Not only do you want your bankruptcy attorney to be familiar with bankruptcy laws, but they need to be familiar with those of your local court. This is vital because procedures vary depending on your locality. Therefore make sure that your attorney has practiced in your filing locality so that they can use their acquired knowledge herein to your benefit.
The best way to find these lawyers is to check with your state bar. They maintain information regarding attorneys in their state and the areas in which they practice. This is a great way to start finding attorneys who work near you.
Make sure you feel comfortable with the attorney before hiring them.
Make sure that, however, you find a bankruptcy attorney, the one you choose to work with is someone who makes you feel comfortable. You want to make sure that they listen to you so that they’re sure to get all of the specifics of your case. This is important so that they can understand your situation and do their best to represent you.
Your decision should never be made solely base on cost. When you’re willing to pay for a good lawyer, you will save yourself money as they represent you successfully. You’ll also appreciate the fact that they won’t cut corners.
The Bottom Line
Navigating the bankruptcy process is complicated. Therefore, you should hire a bankruptcy attorney. If you live in Clearwater, FL, our lawyers at the Weller Legal Group would like to help you. We’ve confidently guided many people through this process and look forward to helping you, too, so contact us today.
