Indiana Bankruptcy Blog-How to Choose A Bankruptcy Lawyer

       Choosing a bankruptcy lawyer is no easy process.  Most folks don't want to ask around to friends or co-workers for a referral to a bankruptcy lawyer the way that they might for a dentist.  My experience has taught me that most folks are up at night on google trying to figure out what might happen in a bankruptcy, whether they even need to file a bankruptcy, and where a bankruptcy attorney is located in their area.  In this economy, there are quite a few bankruptcy lawyers, so it can be difficult to pick one out of the numerous listings on Google.

       Most bankruptcy attorneys offer a free consultation where you meet with them at their office.  Some attorneys will have you watch a video that goes over general bankruptcy information, others will have you meet with a paralegal and some will meet with you personally.  Some law firms (I call them bankruptcy mills) do nothing but bankruptcy and operate on a volume basis.  What I mean by this, is that they have to file a certain number of bankruptcy petitions for clients each month in order to keep their prices down.  In general, these firms offer less client attention from attorneys.  If you hire one of these firms you might meet the attorney who will represent you at your 341 bankruptcy hearing 5 minutes before your hearing.  The upside is that these firms can typically charge a bit less for a bankruptcy than a firm who assigns one attorney to a bankruptcy case who is available during the pendency of the case for questions and will attend your bankruptcy hearing.

        I am not saying that there is anything wrong with a bankruptcy mill.  Each person who needs to file a bankruptcy has a different threshold for the process.  What I mean is that some people are quite happy to be left alone by a law firm, meet with the attorney 5 minutes before the hearing and never make a telephone call to the attorney's office.  Other people who have a lower threshold for the stress brought on by the bankruptcy process, want to establish a relationship with their bankruptcy attorney and want to be able to send an e-mail or make a telephone call to the law firm and get a response from an attorney.  It is all just a matter of what each individual's comfort level with the bankruptcy system.

     I would characterize my process at Halcomb Singler as the opposite of a bankruptcy mill.  I prefer to meet with each of my potential clients individually so that I am able to have a conversation with them about their specific situation and concerns.  I believe this is important because there are many layers to the stories that potential bankruptcy clients tell me.  With the layers come multiple options including whether they would qualify for a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, and whether each of those bankruptcy chapters will solve the problem(s) they are experiencing currently.  It is my feeling that I need to meet with these individuals so that they are able to ask me the questions they have been up at night trying to figure out from Google.

      In my opinion the most important criteria in selecting a bankruptcy attorney should be that you feel comfortable with him or her and that you trust the attorney's opinion.  If, after that first meeting you feel leery that the attorney doesn't know what he or she is talking about, feel, like he or she doesn't care to answer your questions or just in general have a bad feeling about that bankruptcy attorney don't hire them.  You should, above all else, feel comfortable and confident that you are in good hands before considering traveling down the road to bankruptcy.

           If you would like to meet regarding problems with debt and your options please contact me, Erika Singler, for a free consultation.  I will meet with you  myself and answer your questions.

Halcomb Singler, LLP, is a debt relief agency.  It helps people file for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy code.  No attorney-client relationship with the firm of Halcomb Singler, LLP, is created through this blog. Also, please note that Erika Singler is an attorney licensed in Indiana and does not seek to practice law in any jurisdiction in which they are not properly authorized to do so.  The information contained in this blog is general in nature and should not be relied upon for the circumstances of any individual(s) or businesses.