Should You Hire a Bankruptcy Lawyer Before Filing?

You should not only hire a bankruptcy lawyer before you proceed, you should make sure you hire someone who is experienced in the field. There are attorneys out there who will take just about any case that comes across their desk. Tax law, criminal defense, property law—these attorneys are masters of every realm, or so they would have you believe. But the old saying about a “jack of all trades, master of none” holds true in legal circles as well as it does anywhere else. Find someone who has steeped their practice in the waters of the bankruptcy court and accept no less than a professional craftsman in this field of the law.

As you would expect to see in times where the economy is struggling and many people are finding themselves out of work and in debt, quite a few companies have popped up promising document preparation in cases such as these. These companies do not have a bankruptcy lawyer on hand, but they will accept these cases for a fee. The fee will typically be much less expensive than an attorney would charge, but what are you really getting for your dollar? You’re certainly not getting a lifetime of legal experience. You’re getting a secretary. If you’re going to file without the help of an attorney, you may as well save the money and do it all yourself.

Nevertheless, hiring a bankruptcy lawyer should be your first course of action when it comes to filing. They can not only prepare your documents, they can advise you on which Chapter of the code you would likely be eligible for, give you some priceless advise on how to deal with your creditors, and may even be able to help you get back on solid financial ground. The latter bit will be especially important as you move on from your debt and find a way to rebuild your credit and your financial worth.

If you aren’t sure where to turn for legal representation, try contacting your state’s bar association for a list of firms who take cases such as these in your area. From there, you can narrow your choices through a combination of research and free consultations.