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What Does A Bankruptcy Lawyer Do For You

By Cathy Moran

what does bankruptcy lawyer do

Lawyers cost money and you’re considering bankruptcy because you don’t have enough money. What would a bankruptcy lawyer do for you? The existence of official bankruptcy forms make it seem that bankruptcy is just filling out forms. Unfortunately, that isn’t so. Forms are only part of the picture. An important part, but not the whole […]

Filed Under: Consumer Rights, You & your lawyer Tagged With: 2021

Is A Free Bankruptcy Consultation Worth It?

By Cathy Moran

No matter how much they’ve spent on other stuff, those shopping for a bankruptcy lawyer seem to expect a free consultation. “Everyone else offers a free consultation” I’m told. Not me:  I don’t do “free”. But I’ve come to doubt what other bankruptcy attorneys offer is really a free consultation. Oh, it may be free, […]

Filed Under: Consumer Rights, You & your lawyer

Does My Bankruptcy Lawyer Need To Be From My City?

By Cathy Moran

find local bankruptcy lawyer

If you’re inclined pull up a map application to find a bankruptcy lawyer, I gotta ask: is proximity really the most important factor? Not by a mile. You want an experienced, local lawyer, but “local” means active before the judges in the federal judicial district where you live. It doesn’t mean having an office around […]

Filed Under: How bankruptcy works, You & your lawyer

The Bankruptcy Problem Your Lawyer Can’t Fix

By Cathy Moran

what to tell lawyer

The problem even the best bankruptcy lawyer can’t fix is the one you hide. Sometimes  it’s a problem you don’t want to face yourself, or a debt your spouse doesn’t know about. Maybe it’s a claim you hope to bring after the bankruptcy. You’re tempted just to say nothing to your bankruptcy lawyer.  Who will know? […]

Filed Under: Consumer Rights, You & your lawyer

How Much Should You Pay To Get Out Of Debt?

By Cathy Moran

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 […]

Filed Under: Consumer Rights, You & your lawyer

Free Bankruptcy Advice: 5 Reasons Why I’m Not Free

By Cathy Moran

free bankruptcy consultation

There’s no free bankruptcy advice 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, and stormed […]

Filed Under: Consumer Rights, You & your lawyer Tagged With: 2016

Why You Don’t Want A Bankruptcy Attorney To Fight For You

By Cathy Moran

bankruptcy lawyer

Everyone wants a good bankruptcy lawyer when they’re considering filing bankruptcy. So, how do you measure a good bankruptcy lawyer? We Fight For You! screamed the on-line headline for a bankruptcy law firm. That firm clearly thought willingness to fight was the measure. While I applaud the firm’s energy and commitment, I question their focus. […]

Filed Under: Featured, You & your lawyer

How To Pick A Bankruptcy Lawyer

By Cathy Moran

interview 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 […]

Filed Under: Featured, You & your lawyer Tagged With: 2016

Bankruptcy Questions Have Few Quick Answers

By Cathy Moran

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 […]

Filed Under: Consumer Rights, You & your lawyer Tagged With: 2020

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About The Soapbox

You've arrived at the Bankruptcy Soapbox, a resource of bankruptcy information and consumer law.

Soapbox is a companion site to Bankruptcy in Brief, where I try to be largely explanatory and even handed (Note I said "try").

Here, I allow myself to tell stories and express strong opinions on how I think law should work for the consumer and small businesses when it comes to debt.

Moran Law Group
Bankruptcy specialists for individuals and small businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area

How Bankruptcy Works

How To Pay For Bankruptcy When You’re Flat Broke

One of the cosmic ironies of our legal system is that it costs money to file bankruptcy. Bankruptcy gets you out of debt only if you have the money to file. The costs of bankruptcy include the filing fee collected by the court; the required credit counseling; and, if you're smart, an experienced lawyer to make sure … Read more

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