How to Hire a Reliable Attorney for Bankruptcy Matters

When hiring a reliable attorney for bankruptcy matters, you want to find someone you can trust. The best place to start is with a referral from someone you know and trust.

You can also check lawyer listings on websites like Avvo and Martindale-Hubbell for starred reviews from their peers. Lastly, you can ask your state bar for references to local specialists.

Experience

When you need to file for bankruptcy, it is a specialized area of law that requires an experienced professional. Whether you have one or more businesses, significant assets, or a large amount of debt, your attorney must be able to explain the process in simple terms and use local or federal exemptions to protect your property.

Your best bet for finding a qualified bankruptcy attorney is to ask for a referral from someone you trust or from an attorney who has handled a similar case. You can also visit websites like Avvo and the NACBA to find attorneys who are licensed to practice law in your state and have a proven track record of experience in bankruptcy matters.

A reliable attorney will have positive online reviews. These are often verified, meaning the attorney has read and responded to the reviews in some way. When you check out an attorney’s online reviews, look for comments that mention how well the lawyer represented the client or handled a case.

Reputation

Reputation is a ubiquitous and spontaneous mechanism of social control. It affects phenomena from the individual, like job candidates and attorneys, to supra-individuals, such as firms, organizations, and nations.

A reliable bankruptcy attorney will have a positive online reputation, including reviews from past clients and customers. Look for an attorney who has a high number of 5-star ratings and who also appears on lists such as Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, or Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

You can search for bankruptcy attorneys on websites such as the NACBA’s Attorney Search, State Bar websites, Avvo, or Google Reviews. You can also ask friends and family who have filed for bankruptcy or check with local trustees who handle consumer bankruptcies. Make sure the attorney you choose has a strong sense of principle and will treat you with respect and dignity. This includes treating you fairly, even if your case is complex or difficult. Attorneys who don’t have a strong sense of principles are not to be trusted.

Fees

If you have a tight budget and cannot afford to pay much for an attorney, ask for recommendations from people who have filed in the past. This can save you money, and you will know that the attorney you are considering is experienced in handling your type of case.

You can also look for reviews online. For example, you can use the Avvo database or Google to check on a bankruptcy lawyer’s reviews. However, be aware that some attorneys purchase reviews to boost their online profile.

In terms of fees, you need to consider how complex your bankruptcy will be. For a straightforward case that involves surrendering or establishing exemptions, your attorney will likely charge you an hourly rate that is quite low. However, if there is a question about your assets or a creditor files an adversary proceeding to challenge the discharge, it will cost more because research and court time are involved. A reliable attorney will provide you with an estimate before any work begins.

Insurance

Advising clients in financial distress about whether bankruptcy is appropriate for their situations. Arranging for a client to receive discharge after their bankruptcy proceedings are complete. Rearranging their credit to help them rebuild it in a timely manner.

Providing representation in insolvency matters related to bankruptcy, debtor/creditor rights and cross-border insolvency transactions. Representing debtors, trustees, creditors’ committees, secured and unsecured creditors, suppliers, purchasers/stalking horse bidders in section 363 transactions, foreign representatives in Chapter 15 cross-border insolvency cases and other fiduciaries in distressed situations.

You can find many resources online to find the best bankruptcy attorney for your needs. For example, the website Avvo provides a search engine that allows you to filter attorneys by their AV rating. You should also consider checking out Google Reviews for your local bankruptcy attorneys. These can be an excellent source of information about a bankruptcy attorney’s service record and reputation. You can also check out the membership of your local bar association for additional information about an attorney.