Factors To Consider Before Hiring Any Bankruptcy Attorney In Herkimer NY

By Ericka Marsh


Hiring the right bankruptcy attorney can make a very big difference on how easy or successful your insolvency application will be. A solicitor who is not familiar with the process will not only make the process difficult but may also put your assets at risk. This is why it is very important that you do some research before settling on any lawyer to represent you in a bankruptcy case. But with so many such lawyers in the market today, choosing a good one is definitely not going to be a walk in the park. Here are a few guidelines to help you choose a competent bankruptcy attorney in Herkimer NY.

Bankruptcy is a very specialized branch of the law. As such, solicitors who do not regularly practice it may not foresee all the potential pitfalls surrounding your case. This can result in your case being dismissed before it even starts. The only way to avoid this scenario is to look for a solicitor who specializes in insolvency or one who dedicates most of his/her time to it.

The next important factor when choosing any solicitor is the experience. However, you need to realize that years of practice is not always the best indication of experience. In other words, you need to ask a prospective lawyer for the number of cases he/she has handled in the past and what types. If the lawyer you are considering has only dealt with tons of chapter seven cases and none on chapter thirteen, that might not be a good choice. On the other hand, if he/she only handles chapter thirteen cases, that too might be a red flag. A good solicitor is one who can handle both chapter seven as well as chapter thirteen.

Before you make an appointment, you should find out what your prospective attorney typically charges for chapter seven and chapter thirteen cases. At the same time, you also need to realize that cheap is not always the best; you definitely do not want a solicitor who takes short cuts nor do you want your case to be handled by a bankruptcy paper mill who will not give you individual attention. On the flip side of it, high fees do not also correlate to the best representation. As such, you need to shop around and find what most lawyers are charging in your neighborhood.

The lawyer you choose should also be familiar with the local rules and trustees. Apart from the federal insolvency laws, each district court usually has its own rules and regulations governing bankruptcy. If you want your application to go on smoothly, you should hire a solicitor who is familiar with the rules of your state.

Demeanor and personality of the solicitor are also very important. Client/attorney relationship is a very important thing especially in a bankruptcy case. You need someone who you feel comfortable with and can discuss any related matter without intimidation. In case you do not feel comfortable with the lawyer, you should take as a red flag and shop for another lawyer that you feel comfortable with.

Filling for insolvency also requires a lot of paperwork and communication with your lawyer. Because of this, you need to look for a solicitor who will return your calls in time. If you are unable to access your lawyer during consultation, you should not expect things to change for the better when you finally hire him/her.

If you have considered all the above factors and you still find yourself with more than one lawyer to choose from, you may want to follow your instinct. Instincts are usually very strong and do not lie. The time you start the search is also very important. You need to remember that the demand for good lawyers is usually very high. As such, most of them get booked in advance.




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