This is not a scenario someone wants to face – sinking into a sea of debt. If your financial situation has deteriorated, and bills are starting to accumulate, you might have considered filing for bankruptcy.
This is extreme action, and despite the negative impact of bankruptcy on credit and moral reports, more than 1 million people filed for bankruptcy in 2013. If your financial situation is out of control, and you don’t see another way to free your debt, a lawyer both can help you through a complex bankruptcy filing process while protecting your assets as much as possible.
Do You Really Need a Prosecutor to Go Bankrupt?
After you decide to file for bankruptcy, you might be wondering if you really need a lawyer. After all, the process is quite expensive – the cost of filing for bankruptcy article 7 is $ 335, and $ 310 for article 13. The attorney’s fees can then average above $ 1000 for chapter 7 and around $ 3000 for chapter 13. Your financial situation it’s been terrible, so do you really need to pay more money for representation?
While the law does not require you to have a lawyer, and many people choose to apply for pro SE (without a lawyer), you can risk doing that. In a 2011 report from the US Bankruptcy Court in Central California, 28{0059f8ff382b0b9fdfad12abf8db1d474d8d598a93e18c91bba1eccb3d233bcb} of dealers of bankruptcy did not use a lawyer (nationally, 9{0059f8ff382b0b9fdfad12abf8db1d474d8d598a93e18c91bba1eccb3d233bcb} of users chose to go pro se). In chapter 7 cases were submitted pro SE, 60. 9{0059f8ff382b0b9fdfad12abf8db1d474d8d598a93e18c91bba1eccb3d233bcb} succeeded in carrying out debt, compared to 94. 5{0059f8ff382b0b9fdfad12abf8db1d474d8d598a93e18c91bba1eccb3d233bcb} success in the case was submitted to a lawyer. Rules governing bankruptcy procedures are very complex, and simple mistakes such as forgetting to register assets, skipping deadlines for filing documents or filling out forms can cause you to lose protection or your case is completely dismissed.
When choosing the right bankruptcy attorney to handle your needs, need to do research. Don’t just choose a name from the phone book, or choose a lawyer who advertises the lowest cost. Instead, try the following:
Ask a friend or colleague for a recommendation.
If you know a lawyer who specializes in other types of law, ask if they can recommend a good bankruptcy lawyer, for more detail : Gympie Lawyers
If you work for a large company, see if they offer employees a group legal plan.
Ask your local American Association chapter.
If you are unemployed, or have a small income, ask a non-profit legal service organization. Not all offer bankruptcy services, but if they don’t, they might be able to recommend a good bankruptcy lawyer.
Look for expertise
Just as you don’t go to a dermatologist for heart problems, you should not go to a lawyer who specializes in areas other than bankruptcy for this complicated process. Once you find some lawyers who sound promising, ask to consult with two or three people to discuss your case. Most lawyers don’t charge for initial consultations, and are willing to answer your basic questions face to face.