There are many horror stories involved in bankruptcy which simply need not occur. The problem is that with so many unemployed, facing foreclosure, and lacking medical coverage, bankruptcy filings have been very high in recent years. This has increased demand for bankruptcies. Then, to add salt to the wound, the changes in 2005 made it more difficult to file Chapter 7, and more expensive to hire a lawyer. There is some good news to be found. Namely that there are experienced bankruptcy lawyers who can help you.
When are you getting conned? When is enough enough? How does a professional Dallas bankruptcy lawyer really help you? This blog guide answers questions and concerns so you can get the bankruptcy done.
High Fees
The point of any bankruptcy is to save money and assets, not lose them. A bankruptcy lawyer should rarely if ever charge more than $3,000 for you to file, with most being from $1,500 to $2,500. High fees are common for those with experience, but you wouldn’t be filing bankruptcy if you had a lot of extra money. The best thing to do is before you hire a lawyer, have locked down fees. If they try to raise them on you, that’s unprofessional. If they are upfront about fees, you can the rates for comparison.
Availability of Your Dallas Lawyer
While Texas bankruptcies and foreclosures are not as high as some states, the problem is still here. Bankruptcies are very common for a multitude of reasons: pending foreclosures, unemployment, medical debts, rising interest rates, and more financial problems. Because they are common, many lawyers are taking on too much work, cashing in, and not spending enough time with their clients. This happens in all legal professions. If your lawyer is delaying your case, you need not be frustrated – get a new lawyer.
No Experience
We all make mistakes, especially when trying to save money. Say you wanted to protect your Dallas home from a pending foreclosure, found a lawyer who offered very low rates, and hired her. You then found out she had no experience in handling creditors or intimate knowledge of bankruptcy law. No matter if a lawyer has an education, if they lack relevant bankruptcy experience, find one who does.
Wrong Strategy
Some lawyers simply have a bad game plan when it comes to filing for bankruptcy. They may not understand what you need most. For instance, you may hire a Dallas bankruptcy lawyer who explains you can’t protect your home from foreclosure, or that it wouldn’t be worth it, when it’s in fact possible and smart. Sometimes a bad game plan means you lose in a big way. What kind of strategy do you need? Well, saving the most and losing the least is best.
Bad Communicator
Some people click upon meeting and some people don’t. If you simply cannot communicate well with your lawyer, the earlier you find someone you can communicate with the better. Some never return phone calls, send late invoices, rush through paperwork, never explain your rights – and it all can be frustrating during a scary time. You don’t always know when you hire them, but if you spend some time going over a bankruptcy strategy, if you delay your decision somewhat, it can help you see if this lawyer is easy to communicate with.
