5 Things to Consider When Hiring a Foreclosure Defense Lawyer

If you have received notice that your mortgage lender is going to foreclose on your home, you are likely scared. You may be imagining the worst-case scenario, that you will eventually lose your home. Fortunately, receiving notice that your home will go into foreclosure does not necessarily mean you will lose it. There are many defenses available that you may not even know about. Working with a Florida foreclosure defense lawyer can drastically improve your chances of keeping your home and preventing it from being lost in foreclosure.

Too many people decide not to work with a foreclosure lawyer in Broward County, usually because they think it is too expensive. However, when you are in fear of losing your home, there is already a lot at stake. Even meeting with a foreclosure defense lawyer once for an initial consultation can make the difference between keeping your home and losing it in foreclosure. Not all foreclosure defense lawyers are equal, though. Some simply deliver a better service than others. Below are the five things you should consider when hiring a foreclosure defense lawyer.

Ask People You Know

One of your first steps should be to ask friends, family members, and other people you know for recommendations. Ask people you know who have been through the foreclosure process before, particularly if the attorney they used helped them to keep their home. Ask them what they liked about the specific attorney, what they did not, and anything else about the process you may have questions about.

If you have used a lawyer in the past for other matters, such as creating an estate plan, you can also ask them for a referral to a foreclosure defense lawyer. If you have trusted the attorney with important matters in the past, there is a high chance that you can trust them with this matter, as well. Still, make sure you ask the attorney if they receive a commission for the referrals they give. This may unduly influence who they recommend and who they do not.

Check Online

There are many places you can go online to try and find a foreclosure lawyer, or to learn more about specific attorneys you may be considering. First and foremost, the American Bar Association and the Florida Bar Association will both have a search tool that can help you find a foreclosure defense lawyer.

Whether you find a foreclosure defense lawyer on one of the Association’s websites and want to know more, or you just want to start looking in other areas, Google is always a good place to start. Most foreclosure defense lawyers in Fort Lauderdale will have a listing in Google My Business. Here, clients can leave reviews about different lawyers and their experience with them. These reviews are highly trusted by consumers, regardless of the type of service a business provides. As such, you may be able to find several different opinions about many different attorneys in one place.

Conduct Background Checks

Hiring a foreclosure defense lawyer is a very serious business and you must take it seriously. This means that while it is a good step to hear other people’s opinions about certain attorneys, you have to do more than that, as well.

One of the most important parts of research you can do is to ensure any lawyer you are considering working with is in good standing with the bar. You can do this through the Bar Association websites you may have used to find a lawyer. You can also ask any lawyer you are considering working with for a Certificate of Good Standing. This certificate will confirm that the lawyer always pays their registration fee and that their registration with the Court of Administration is up to date. Perhaps even more importantly, making sure the lawyer has a Certificate of Good Standing will ensure they have not been suspended or disbarred in the past.

Determine if the Lawyer has Been Subject to Disciplinary Actions

When a lawyer has willfully disregarded the best interests of their client, commingled funds, committed a felony, or engaged in fraud, they may be disbarred. Disbarment means the lawyer has had their right to practice law revoked. It is also permanent and so, it is only ever used as a last resort. Lawyers can also face other disciplinary actions without being disbarred. Attorneys can also be placed on probation or they may have their license to practice law suspended.

You must ensure any lawyer you work with has not been subject to these disciplinary actions. To do this, you can check with the Florida Bar Association’s website. Search for any lawyer you are considering working with and the search results will tell you if they are an attorney in good standing with the bar, or if they have been subject to suspension, probation, or disbarment.

Ask the Right Questions

Most foreclosure defense lawyers offer a free initial consultation. You will talk about many things with the attorney during this meeting, and you should ask several questions.

The most important of these include:

• Are you licensed to practice law?
• How can I contact you when I have questions about my case?
• What fees do you charge for emails and phone calls?
• How long does it take you to respond to phone calls, emails, and letters?
• Will you keep me updated on the status of my case whenever there is a development?
• How many foreclosures have you successfully defended?
• Have any complaints been lodged against you?
• Do you have any prior experience with my lender?
• How long have you been practicing in foreclosure defense?
• Do you practice in any other state?

Call Our Foreclosure Defense Lawyers in Broward County Today

If you are in fear of losing your home, our Broward County foreclosure defense lawyers are here to help. At Loan Lawyers, our seasoned attorneys will answer all of your questions and give you the best chance of a successful outcome. Call us today at (954) 523-4357 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.