There’s no free initial bankruptcy consultation in my office. Unlike many, we charge for that initial meeting with a lawyer. (There’s no free lunch either.) That makes us different from lots of other bankruptcy lawyers. Different enough to offend a prospective client who called up this week. He was unwilling to pay for a consultation, […]
Why You Don’t Want A Bankruptcy Attorney To Fight For You
We Fight For You! screamed the on-line headline for a bankruptcy law firm. While I applaud the firm’s energy and commitment, I question their focus. Filing for bankruptcy shouldn’t result in a fight. It’s a remedy, not a rumble. If you’ve struggled with yourself about with the decision to file bankruptcy, actually doing it may […]
How To Pick A Bankruptcy Lawyer
How do you pick a bankruptcy lawyer when you’ve never hired any lawyer and never before considered filing bankruptcy? What do you ask a bankruptcy lawyer to determine if the lawyer is the right one for you? After all, the conversation has to move beyond “what does bankruptcy cost?” Financial troubles are tough and bankruptcy […]
Bankruptcy Questions Have Few Quick Answers
The caller to my law office kept telling my assistant: I just want to ask Cathy a question. To which my assistant replied: you need to first fill out our questionnaire and make an appointment. But I don’t want a meeting, I just want to ask a question. At which point, both sides of the […]
The Difference Between Good Bankruptcy Lawyer and Great Bankruptcy Lawyer
Finding the right bankruptcy lawyer may be the difference between a successful bankruptcy and a nightmare. Choosing a lawyer you can talk to is critical. You’ll be disclosing lots of information normally held confidential. But there’s more. It’s not just a lawyer you can tell your secrets to. You need to find a lawyer willing […]
File bankruptcy tomorrow?
Clients clearly have little sense of how long it takes to file bankruptcy. Proof is what happened Monday: there’s an email the morning’s inbox from a client whom I first met weeks ago. He tells me they want to file before Wednesday’s mediation in state court! I have no creditor information, representation agreement, money, or […]
What Should Bankruptcy Cost?
Pick the cheapest bankruptcy lawyer and it could really cost you. We’re trained as consumers to find the lowest price for stuff we buy. But picking a lawyer is not the place for economy. But how can you know what a bankruptcy should cost when you’ve never hired a lawyer before and you don’t want […]
How Much Should You Pay To Get Out Of Debt?
Shop for a bankruptcy lawyer, and you’ll end up wondering what bankruptcy should cost. When you’re flat broke and under pressure, cheaper sure looks better. If a lawyer will do your Chapter 7 for $600, what’s the point of paying $1000? Or even $2000? Like answers to many legal questions, it depends. Bankruptcy relief depends on […]
Bankruptcy No Place For DIY
The do- it- yourself spirit seems especially strong in bankruptcy courts these days. Only it often comes with a big price tag. Nearly 45% of the Central District CA Chapter 7 cases were filed by individuals doing it themselves. The national rules committee drafted the new bankruptcy forms with the unrepresented in mind. Why do people […]