So now that you have made the decision to file bankruptcy, the next question becomes, “How do I choose the right attorney?” Just like going to a specialist when you have a diagnosed medical condition, you want to pick an attorney who specializes in your needs. Below are some questions you may want to consider before deciding on an attorney for your bankruptcy:
- How much experience does my attorney have in bankruptcy? Do they focus solely on consumer bankruptcies or do they “dabble” in a little bit of everything? You want to choose an attorney whose primary focus is on bankruptcy law. Bankruptcy is very specialized and there are a lot of little rules and nuances that your attorney may not be familiar with if they do not practice bankruptcy law often.
- How much individualized attention am I going to get? Will I actually meet with an attorney or will most of my contact be with a paralegal? While I will be the first to admit that it is often times hard to catch your attorney on the phone, when you meet with someone to review your options or to sign your bankruptcy petition, you have the right to expect that person to be your attorney. You also have the right to set an appointment with your attorney to review your options or to answer questions if you have concerns. Beware of those firms where you are just a “number,” literally or those attorneys who will meet with you briefly, like a used car salesman, and then pawn you off on a paralegal to handle the rest of your case.
- How friendly and knowledgeable is the office staff? While a lot of your contact should be with your attorney, you will also have significant contact with the office staff. You want to make sure that they, along with your attorney, are considerate and respectful of your needs and are willing to answer your questions or assist, and have the knowledge to do so, when your attorney may not be available.
- How reasonable are the fees and how flexible are the payment plans? First piece of advice… you get what you pay for. Be wary of those attorneys who have the cheapest fees. A lot of times you will find that the reason they cost a little less is because you are doing a lot of the work. With that being said, you do want to make sure that the attorney you choose is charging fees within the same range as other bankruptcy attorneys in the area. In addition, you are going to want to make sure that your attorney is flexible in how he/she arranges their payment plans. As a bankruptcy attorney I am aware that the majority of my clients are not going to be able to come up with all of the fees, all at once, to get their case filed. We allow our clients to pay their fees over time, but before their case is filed, to provide some flexibility within the clients budget. Some attorneys demand payment in full immediately or within 90 days or they will not represent you in your bankruptcy, period.
- How flexible are the office hours? Just like attorneys, you also likely have a job that you need to be at during normal office hours. You want to make sure that you are not going to have to continuously miss work to drop off documents to your attorney or to have an appointment or telephone conversation to get your questions answered.
Here at the Law Office of Wayne P. Novick, we only practice bankruptcy law. Our attorneys and staff are only focused on your financial situation and how the bankruptcy rules and laws may affect your options. We are constantly furthering our education by attending conferences and meetings all over the country to learn as much as we can, and all of our attorneys have made presentations to other bankruptcy counsel to enlighten them on changes in rules and case law.
When you come to our office, ALL of your appointments are with your attorney. While we may be hard to catch on the phone at times, or it may take a day or two to respond to emails, you always have our complete focus and attention and we make sure that your attorney is the one who walks you through your case and holds your hand during the process. In addition, if we are not available immediately to answer your questions, our knowledgeable and professional staff have been with us for several years and are more than willing to help in any way possible.
Our office provides free initial consultations and our fees are comparable to those charged by other attorneys in the area. We also provide the most flexible payment plans, before your case is filed, to allow you the freedom you need during this tough time. In addition to working with you on getting your fees paid, we also have very flexible office hours which include late evenings and weekends so that you do not have to miss work to meet with your attorney. The last thing we want is for you to lose more money by taking time off work when you are already struggling financially.
Please call our office today for your free consultation and to get all of the financial assistance you deserve.