How to Choose a Bankruptcy Lawyer

Filing for bankruptcy is a stressful situation, which means you want all the support you can get. But you don’t want just any support—you want someone in your corner who knows what they’re doing and can build you the strongest claim possible so everything is covered. That’s why you’ll want to have a bankruptcy lawyer on your side.

But if this is your first time filing, or you didn’t have a good experience before, you’re probably left wondering how to choose a bankruptcy lawyer who is right for you and will get the job done. There are certain factors you can look at to ensure you’re choosing the right bankruptcy attorney for your situation.

Let’s take a look at the different factors you’ll need to examine when choosing a bankruptcy lawyer who best suits you and your needs.

Find a Lawyer with Bankruptcy Claim Experience

One of the most crucial factors in choosing a bankruptcy lawyer is finding legal counsel who has experience representing claims just like yours. That way, you know they know what they’re doing and won’t be surprised by your situation.

Once you do your research and find lawyers whose firms focus on bankruptcy and have track records of successful claims for clients, you’ll want to dig deeper into their character to ensure they’re the right fit for you and will leave you feeling supported and confident. Here are some of the characteristics to take into consideration:

• Free consultations
• Transparency about costs
• Honesty
• Not making promises about outcome
• Credibility
• The attorney will work directly with you—not an assistant or paralegal
• Genuinely want to help you

You’re in a vulnerable situation. That’s why it can be so intimidating to find a bankruptcy attorney you trust to get the job done. When you take the above into consideration, you can get a good picture of who this lawyer is and what their firm can do for you.

If you schedule a free consultation, meet with the lawyer, and doubt they’re there to help you or feel as though they’re being shady, then you should look elsewhere. That’s why it’s so important to know how to choose a lawyer—you don’t want to be stuck with someone who isn’t dedicated to helping you.

These aren’t the only aspects to consider in your search. Let’s take a look at more information to make your decision—testimonials.

Look at Their Referrals and Testimonials

Most law firms have a section on their website dedicated to testimonials from previous clients. This is a good place to start some research. Testimonials are a great way to find out what a lawyer has done for other clients, and what they have to say about their experiences with them.

Keep in mind, though, that when you’re on that firm’s website, the testimonials they post are probably only going to be positive. That’s why continuing your research is crucial—do general searches on the internet for other reviews and testimonials to get a fuller scope of clients’ experiences with that law firm.

When you see these reviews, always remember to think critically to evaluate their point of view and what they experienced. These can be incredibly useful and give you insight as to how that lawyer would treat you and the experience you could have with them.

You might get referrals from people you know who have experienced a similar situation, but you’ll still want to do your own research to see if they’re right for you.

Less qualified attorneys or lawyers who don’t specialize in your situation could also give you referrals to other lawyers who are more qualified. These will be helpful as well in your choosing process.

Ask Them Plenty of Questions

One of your final steps in choosing a lawyer is the initial meeting. You might have a few of these set up with different attorneys so that you can get a good feeling about who is best for you. In this situation, it’s important to remember that you have the power—even though you’re feeling vulnerable, this process is about what’s best for you.

If you get the feeling from an attorney that they’re not here to support you and get you the best outcome possible, then they’re not the lawyer you should choose. The best way to figure this out is by asking your bankruptcy lawyer plenty of questions.

Here are some of those questions you might ask to help you choose a bankruptcy attorney:

• Should I be filing for bankruptcy?
• Which type of bankruptcy should I be filing?
• What fees should I anticipate from filing?
• What are your fees?
• How many bankruptcy claims have you handled like mine?
• Do you foresee any problems with my bankruptcy claim?

All of these questions and more can help you determine if they are the right fit for you in this step in your life. If the lawyer seems to be avoiding answering, or you get the feeling they’re not being honest, that can be a clear indicator that you need to continue looking.

The right bankruptcy lawyer for you will be transparent and honest with you about what they do, how they can help you, and what you should expect. You want to leave this meeting feeling confident in your choice and as though every question was answered honestly.

From there, you should be able to make a fully informed choice about who you want to represent you in your bankruptcy claim.

Our Bankruptcy Lawyers Are Here for You

At Belsky & Horowitz, LLC, we know the decision of who to choose to represent you in your bankruptcy claim can be intimidating and feel like a huge undertaking. That’s why our lawyers are here to make the process as straightforward as possible. You can trust our bankruptcy attorney to answer your questions honestly and leave you feeling informed instead of unsure.

We’ll guide you through every step of the process so that you can feel supported and confident in your claim. When you hire our attorneys, you’ll have peace of mind knowing an experienced bankruptcy lawyer is behind you.

Reach out to our office today so we can schedule a free consultation.