If you’re overwhelmed by debt, filing for bankruptcy could allow you to discharge some of these financial obligations and regain your financial footing. However, filing for bankruptcy isn’t easy. Choosing the wrong bankruptcy plan or making a mistake during the process could put you in even deeper trouble.
To make the bankruptcy process as easy as possible and avoid costly mistakes, make sure you get help from a knowledgeable Florida bankruptcy attorney.
Where Do I Start in Choosing a Fort Lauderdale Bankruptcy Lawyer?
There are many different bankruptcy attorneys, so how do you find the right one for your situation? A good place to start any search for an attorney is to check out their disciplinary history with the Florida Bar, the legal organization that oversees and licenses attorneys in Florida. Run the name of any bankruptcy attorney you find through the Florida Bar database. If they’ve been disciplined, you likely want to find another lawyer.
You can also use an internet search to find an attorney. Many attorneys list their awards, professional credentials, and other information on their websites. You can also read client reviews about the experiences others had with the bankruptcy lawyer you are planning to hire. You can use this information to find a bankruptcy lawyer who looks promising.
Finally, more old-fashioned methods for finding a lawyer still work perfectly well. Ask your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers if they have a bankruptcy attorney they’d recommend. Even if they don’t know a bankruptcy attorney themselves, they might know another friend or colleague with a worthwhile recommendation.
You Are Better Off If You Hire an Attorney Who Specializes in Bankruptcy
The main thing to remember when choosing your bankruptcy lawyer is to find a lawyer specializing in bankruptcy cases. Bankruptcy laws are complicated, and it’s important to have a thorough understanding of the process and the potential consequences before you file your bankruptcy. If you hire a lawyer who doesn’t have experience with bankruptcy cases, you could end up in deeper financial trouble or have to pay back more of your debts than you need to. Way too often, people wind up with bankruptcy lawyers who don’t have the knowledge or ability to review their entire debt situation to see if their rights have been violated by one of the many state and federal regulations that exist to protect consumers’ rights such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. We’ve had clients come to us for a second opinion from another bankruptcy law firm who didn’t even realize he had a potential lawsuit for fraud against one of his debt collectors. We’ve been able to settle cases for $250,000 and get clients completely out of debt without even having to file bankruptcy! Indeed, choosing the right bankruptcy lawyer can change your life.
What Should You Ask a Fort Lauderdale Bankruptcy Lawyer?
Here are a few key questions to ask a lawyer before you hire them to help you with a bankruptcy case:
- What experience do you have with bankruptcy cases? If they haven’t handled many bankruptcy cases, you likely want to go with an attorney with more experience.
- What fees do you charge? Whoever you hire as your lawyer should be able to explain exactly how their fee structure works so you know what you’re in for and there aren’t any surprises later on.
- How do you communicate with clients? You want to hire a lawyer who will proactively keep you in the loop as your case progresses. Does the attorney you’re looking at rely on phone calls, or do they use email, text messages, and other methods to talk to clients? Find a lawyer who fits your communication style. You also want to find a lawyer who will get back to you quickly if you have any questions about your case.
- How do you work? Are you going to be working directly with the attorney throughout your case, or is a paralegal going to be handling most of the work? You want to hire a lawyer who is personally invested in your case and won’t just pass you off to someone else.
Contact Loan Lawyers’ Bankruptcy Lawyers Today!
The Fort Lauderdale bankruptcy attorneys at Loan Lawyers are here to help. Our certified bankruptcy specialists and legal team have eliminated over $100 million in debt and mortgage principal for our clients. We have also helped over 7,000 clients in Florida get out of debt and get a fresh start. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
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Loan Lawyers is made up of experienced consumer rights attorneys who use every available resource to develop comprehensive debt solution strategies. Our goal is to take on those burdens, resolve those problems, and allow our clients to sleep soundly knowing they are on the path to a better future.
