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11 Aug, 2022 by Anonymous
Got a BK started with Hector and then during the process he just goes MIA. Will not respond to text or emails & when calling phone number the phone is always off. Seems like a lawyer that doesn't know what he is doing fully and is not professional.
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08 Apr, 2019 by Pedro
He is a very professional lawyer. He works even on Sundays if the case requires it and responds quickly emails. We are very happy and satisfied. I recommend it 100%
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24 Oct, 2014 by Steven
Hector was great help to me and my family during a financially difficult time. He clearly explained all of our options, was to quick to respond to questions and even checked up on us a few times after our matter was long settled. It also helped that he is fluent in Spanish which made our grandmother more comfortable because she could understand what was going on much better. Id highly recommend him for any debt relief, bankruptcy or chapter 7 &13 filings you need.
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29 Nov, 2019 by Kaye bunch
I dealt with him during my Chapter 13 in 2015. I had totalled my my car and needed to purchase another. This required court approval. His lack of response and follow up delayed my purchase over 30 days. During this time, I had to pay for a rental car. Involving his boss was the only way I could get anything done. It was so bad that the law firm reimbursed me for the month of car rental.
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24 Jan, 2011 by Wendy
Oliver got the process of bankruptcy running quickly and smoothly. Oliver was always easy to get in contact with via phone or e-mail. I have already recommended his services and will continue to recommend him.
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03 May, 2016 by Anonymous
Mr. Leach DESERVES "NO STARS" in handling my divorce. I was the Petitioner and the divorce was uncontested with no children. My husband asked if we could both use Mr. Leach, thus supposedly saving us both money. Upon which, Mr. Leach advised that would be fine, but stated that he would only be "representing" and "counseling" me. (In the end it resulted in more $ out of my pocket). ANYWAY, once those terms were agreed upon, Mr. Leach NEVER GAVE ME ANY SEPARATE COUNSEL WHATSOEVER!!! As a matter of fact, the only time I even SAW or SPOKE WITH him after THAT was when he would have both my husband and I meet together in his office,ALWAYS WITH BOTH PARTIES PRESENT. The result was that, in a nutshell, Mr. Leach would sit there eating up my $5K retainer, at $350/hr, as my ex and I argued about the issues at hand (since there were no children involved, the issues were mainly real and personal property settlements and spousal support). The meetings generally lasted 2+ hours, or until I would become INFURIATED and walk out!!!!! While my ex and I would argue about the disposition of real and personal property. My ex wanted to keep our family home and SUV, paying me out of each and maintaining possession of both. I didn't have a problem with either, thus of course neither did Mr. Leach. When I advised that I wanted to keep some of the furnishings and buy my husband out, my husband had issue saying it wasn't fair because I'd continue to gain benefit after buying him out and insisted that the furnishings be SOLD and proceeds divided. I advised that there was no difference in him buying me out of our home and SUV and keeping both as his sole and separate property, and me buying him out of select furnishings and keeping such as my sole and separate property. I looked to Mr. Leach to stress THAT POINT to my ex, but Mr. Leach just looked dumb-founded and stated "hmmmm, I'll have to think about that". I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EARS!!!!!!!! IT WAS THEN THAT I REALIZED THAT NOT ONLY WAS MR. LEACH NOT PROVIDING ANY COUNSEL/REPRESENTATION FOR ME!!! IT ALSO MADE ME QUESTION IF HE HAD HANDLED ANY OTHER DIVORCES, AS I'M SURE THESE ISSUES WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY HAD TO COME UP IN OTHER DIVORCE CASES!!!!! After THAT, I became very disgruntled, and started to interview other counsel. It was then that I discovered Mr. Leach had prepared, filed and obtained a court date to address the issue of spousal support, but had never apprised me of my mandatory appearance in court, and neither did Mr. Leach appear, resulting in the judge throwing out the case. (I was not working and had $0 INCOME).
The matter was taken off of calendar and NEVER RE-ADDRESSED. Thus, I was forced to continue struggling with absolutely NO INCOME!!!
As I was vacillating as to whether or not to continue with Mr. Leach, or consider exercising other options, I asked him to provide me with up-to-date accounting (NOTE: I HAD NEVER RECEIVED ONE STATEMENT PRIOR TO THIS, ALTHOUGH BY THIS TIME I HAD BEEN UNDER HIS 'REPRESENTATION' FOR OVER 3 MONTHS). His statement not only showed a depletion of the retainer, but actually left me with a balance owing. Also, along with the accounting statement, there was a letter from Mr. Leach stating that he could no longer represent me, etc... In essence, as I was trying to determine whether or not I would continue to
employ Mr. Leach -- HE FIRED ME!!! Not only that, but my subsequent counsel, AND the subsequent counsel my ex-husband retained, both stated Mr. Leach's uncooperative nature and even hinted at deliberate malice, thus hindering both myself and my ex to proceed in the most timely manner. ALL I CAN SAY, IS, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT HIS EXPERTISE IN OTHER LEGAL ISSUES, BUT WHEN IT CAME TO THE DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE, IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, HE WAS MORE OF A HINDRANCE THAN A HELPER/COUNSELOR. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, I WOULD NEVVVVVVER RETAIN MR LEACH FOR ANYTHING, AND WOULD DEFINITELY NOT ADVISE ANYONE ELSE TO, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF DIVORCE!!!!!
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26 Apr, 2013 by Josh
adam has helped me through my child custody case. he has shown professionalism and knowledge through my case. Im not done with my case but i do have a peace of mind and feel extremely relaxed.
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16 Oct, 2023 by G
Liana Stepanyan is the worst lawyer. I have never recommended this lawyer. They take money, but they don’t complete the job.
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24 Aug, 2022 by Eddie
Had an issue come up during the dissolution of a short term marriage, she was very warm and comforting as she expertly answered my questions. I’d recommend her to anyone.
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01 May, 2024 by Anonymous
At first over the phone he sounded like it would be able to help me. Hired him, met with him and it just went down hill from there. I did almost all the filing and document work myself to even get a court date. Went to court more then once with his appearance and he was just a waste of money! Seems to be all he cared about was the money because he didn’t help me out at all.
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21 Oct, 2019 by Anonymous
I was going through an ugly divorce that was devastating. I went through three different attorneys and it was taking years to resolve. I was lucky enough to FINALLY find Mr. Katzman and I knew the moment I met him he could handle my case competently, professionally and without delaying it any further. He is patient and kind and professional and very fair. He is the perfect attorney to handle any family law matter including child custody, dividing up property and other sensitive family matters. When my divorce was final he handled a business contract matter for me. I am also going to have him handle my trust. He is competent in many areas of law, and an honest and sincere attorney who wants only the best for his clients. He is very knowledgeable. Hire him if he tells you he can handle your case. He's an incredible person and a great lawyer with lots of valuable experience!
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25 Jun, 2022 by Armando hernandez
This man wokeks for the PMC Inc and helps them taking advantage of illegally imigrants he helps the company the hiring and firing of illegal aliens
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27 Apr, 2011 by Priscilla
Right from the first time we met, I knew I was going to have a positive experience with Atty. Rowel Manasan. He is very knowledgeable, upright with the subjects in discussion and applies his best approach to my needs. I did not feel intimidated by his approach to my legal needs. It is equally very important to me that he was highly recommended by my insurance agent because I am easily cautious of lawyers having heard so many painful experiences of some friends with their own lawyers. I believe I am in a propitious ground because the best part in working with Atty. Manasan is his consideration of my ability to meet the necessary legal fees while getting my money’s worth. All the legal papers prepared were professionally presented and completed. These, plus his personal touch with my estate planning showcased his niche in the industry.
Trustworthy and a promising lawyer are the most favorable attributes I can say about Atty. Manasan.
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02 Jun, 2014 by Anonymous
Tony is a very caring lawyer. He puts himself in his client's situation and tries to help them as much as he can. I feel that he listen to me and work with me and put all his effort into our case.
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27 May, 2014 by Anonymous
Anthony Delas was such a horrible Attorney to deal with and here is why. Besides taking 2 years rather than 6 months to go through my bankruptcy process he always kept me in the dark of what was going on and what I should expect. He would always give me a days notice for meetings or important appointments which would get in trouble at work. His emails are very hard to understand and he would always have me resend attachments because he would "lose" them. I wouldn't recommend this attorney. He was such a headache to work with and made this process even more stressful. I honestly felt like he wasn't on my side. I was already very stressed and upset that I had to go bankrupt and he made the experience even worst.
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19 Apr, 2023 by Karen peach
Very kind. Handled situation with care. Even though she wasn't who we went with, our consultation was very informational. She is very educated in her field!!!
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16 Aug, 2021 by Anonymous
Passed off to Julia when the partners who originally created our family trust were unavailable to handle a simple matter of revoking a family trust. We made it clear we wanted to revoke, but she kept trying to upsell to create two new trusts. When I expressed frustration that the possibility of signing a simple piece of paper to revoke wasn't offered in the multiple emails we exchanged and we both reinforced several times that yes, we wanted to revoke, she said we were being rude and hung up on us. Whether she likes it or not, as a service provider who has frustrated a customer, she needs to professionally deal with frustration, and clarify questions when she's not making a compelling argument. Otherwise the Summerall law firm was quick and easy to deal with, shame she was unable to resolve a simple matter.
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30 Apr, 2024 by Gian torre
James Chau is very knowledgeable within the field of Family Law Practices and is a pleasure to work with. Thank you James Chau for you buisness. Gian Torre from Valetorre Appaisal Services.
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19 Apr, 2024 by Edwina leung
A very responsible Attorney. No delayed, made the case closed quickly.
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19 Apr, 2024 by Mallikarjuna chowdary
Very great Lawyer. He helped me with my divorce case. Very affordable and friendly, he will try to understand our goals and work towards it. I was exploited by another Lawyer in Santa Clara, Luckily I found James and fired the other lawyer.
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10 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
Tamara Binns knows very little about law. I actually don't know how she has a license to practice. She represented my ex in a family law case. She was unprofessional, catty, dishonest, and also dishonest with him, which is insane because he was her client. During court she demonstrated that she was also pro-abuser and anti-woman. Needless to say she continued the case many times wasting both of our money, and then she lost. Royally. She is a piece of work and should be disbarred.
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29 Apr, 2016 by Anonymous
Tamara states that she is a criminal defense attorney as well as family law and car accident. I hired her to represent my husband and she did absolutely nothing for him except kept asking for continuances. Never was there any motion made or did she object to anything that was being said. I have felt that I paid this woman to send my husband down the river. After he took the plea deal of 19 years that he, she told him that it was a good thing that he took the deal because the last 2 men she represented ended up getting life. I think that maybe she is an ok attorney in the other areas of the law like in family law, which she practices in more often, but she is definitely not worth hiring if you need her to keep you or your loved one from doing any kind of prison time.
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21 Jan, 2014 by Tiffany
Tamara Binn was an outstanding attorney. I hired her years ago
I should of went to prison, yet I WALKED and today I give her thanks
She knows the law and that's what the people need in a GOOD attorney
I've came encounter with some other things, contacted her today and
hired her AGAIN. Why? Because I trust her. Be blessed
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10 Nov, 2023 by Erick
Esta persona es un fraude, me robo 33,500 dolares, es lo peor que me pudo haber pasado en la vida, chequen su status en su licencia en migracion, esta persona ya le han suspendido la licencia muchas veces, aqui dejo el link del gobierno para que ustedes mismos lo vean https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/171342
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26 Dec, 2022 by Anonymous
Esta abogada solo es un fraude, nunca resolvió el caso de mi madre. Solo preguntaba por más dinero, cada ves que llamábamos no contestaban o decían que la abogada estaba ocupada, solo cuando tocaba pago estaban puntuales llamando para cobrar, nunca nos dijeron cómo estaba el caso. Se aprovechan de la necesidad de las personas por querer arreglar su status migratorio.
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12 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
Mentirosa solo roba el dinero horrible experiencia con esta abogada cero profecional
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26 Aug, 2024 by Kelley metcalf
Too busy accepting money from the organized crime that takes place within government organizations to bother with taking care of honest paying clients?
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10 Jul, 2024 by Erik jps
You will never get a phone call back besides when they want a retainer payment. Light your money on fire and go alone before paying them. I had a slam dunk case that he drug on until my retainer was gone. Gave horrible advise and my child suffers the consequences for it now. Horrible service, zero communication, zero follow through on promised paperwork. Save yourself. Hire someone else!
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05 Jan, 2024 by Terrence wilson
Could write a review but would take to much time.All I can say is that the other reviews that have 1 star are legitimate what I went thru.
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29 Jun, 2012 by Anonymous
This attorney does not supervise his paralegal. She refused to acknoweldge my mortgage payments and listened to the lender when I had proof of all payments. My house was almost foreclosed. She would not let me speak to Mclaughlin and only when I parked my body in his office did I get any assistance from him. He admitted that he did not know what was going on after six months of my struggle with his paralegal. He charged me twice to get my case active and now I find out that it was done incorrectly. I am very disappointed.
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08 May, 2010 by Anonymous
Bill Mclaughlin does not seem to be fully competent and has a condescending demeanor. He doesn't return phone calls in a timely fashion and provides questionable advice. If you want to feel worse about your situation this is the attorney to go to. However, if you want an attorney to provide constructive feedback and solutions to your problems please look elsewhere for your bankruptcy needs.
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22 Jan, 2022 by Anonymous
Reiko is completely unprofessional! I have followed up with her on several occasions pertaining to my case. The only time she will follow up with me is when it pertains to payment. She constantly up charges but does not provide any updates on the case matter. If you can, avoid this firm at all costs especially if you have to pay out of pocket. She will bleed you dry and then not fight for your case in court.
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29 Mar, 2021 by Paul
DO NOT use this attorney for complex legal matters especially ARAG members. This attorney lost every court fight except one during my contested case against my sister. When our mother's home was place for sale I notified the attorney by email and phone of the sale, however, instead of placing a Les Pendens to stop the sale during the first thirty days the home was on the market she procrastinated and dragged her feet and finally after much prodding submitted the Les Pendens four days prior to the close of escrow. However, it was to late and the home was sold because the title company later stated through an email that they checked just before closing of escrow and there was no Les Pendens listed on the county's website. The title company later stated that the county was two weeks late in entering any legal documents into their system.
For ARAG members. The ARAG website shows that members are entitled to a discount in legal fees and the attorney's website shows a charge of $225.00 per hour. However; this attorney charged me $300.00 per hour. I sent her an email regarding the difference in the fee, however; she never responded. During a phone call I requested and she agreed to send me a break down of all invoices but she never did. In closing, after spending several thousands of dollars in contesting this case and several months later this attorney stated that we had a weak case but still requested $50,000 if I wanted to continue fighting this case and hire a medical doctor who specialized in Dementia to review and possibly testify in court. I told her to forget it and close the case.
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15 Feb, 2018 by Ben a
Horribly slow
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18 Jul, 2018 by Cinnamon
I hired Mr English for a divorce. I liked his no-frills website (which no longer exists) and that he is a vet. My case was a little unusual but he assured me he could help. I gave him $3000, and he got back to me with a case # right away. That was basically the last I heard of him. Phone calls went unanswered and unreturned. Emails were replied to with "I'll get back to you" and he never did. I even sent certified mail to his 3 addresses and no response. I ended up getting a new lawyer almost 2 years later. When I told him I was firing him and moving on, his response was "let me make this up to you". Unfortunately, making it up to me didn't include returning any of my $3000. So he got $3k from me for about an hour's work. To this day I don't know what happened.
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11 Feb, 2013 by Anonymous
This attorney takes your money and never show up in court or give you advice, Basically ruined my life.
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24 Aug, 2015 by Anonymous
I have been in the criminal and civil justice system for over thirty years. I have worked with dozens of attorneys on many complex civil matters. Regrettably, Mr. Reed was assigned to my Federal Lawsuit in California. I initially thought he was nice and friendly. Now, at a time when I need to rely on my attorneys, he has gone silent. He fails to return messages and has stopped providing any information about my case. Worse, I wanted to take my case to another attorney - yet Mr. Reed and his firm refused to provide my file. I have been asking for my file for over five months, despite the law requiring that he must provide it. Now, sadly, my federal lawsuit has been dismissed. Folks, this is the type of lawyer that gives attorneys a bad name. RUN from this attorney and never look back. With tens of thousands of attorneys why would anyone want to hire this guy? You might notice that there is already an alert on this website about him. He has been disciplined by the State Bar of California. I can assure you that discipline by the State Bar is rare. This should speak volumes about this attorney. RUN!
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22 May, 2012 by Anonymous
3 years ago I learned that my partner had embezzled substantial funds from our firm, and that he'd run up unpayable debts; I also feared he might be leaving town imminently with the 2007 company van.
I was referred to Ms. Fogel who--after a 20 minute phone cpnversation--told me I was a good candidate for Chapter 11: no specfics, no numbers, just generalities. I wired her a large retainer immediately, completed gathering all salient documents, records, acct #'s, et al., and sent them to her. Ms. Fogel assured me that my company debts would be negated or settled, that she would modify my rental unit mortgage, and I'd have no problem retaining the company van I paid for.
By November, I was disturbed that no filing had been made and told her so. Consequently, my wife and I met with her @ her partner's office, where she assured us the the filing would be done by Thanksgiving. It wasn't, and in early December my partner absconded with the van, our best equipment, cash, and a company cell phone.
For the next 6 weeks I kept asking her "when?" She finally filed in mid-January, 2010. 3 months later, when I asked how negotiations with the creditors were going, she informed me that I was a "bad fit" for Chap. 11, and that I should voluntarily withdraw my filing, which I did. However, my credit was ruined, I lost the rental, every last creditor came after me, and it took 2 years to track down my partner and get my van back. I am still paying off the last of the company debts.
It shouldn't have been that way.
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15 Feb, 2018 by Ben a
Horribly slow
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23 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
Irma Edmonds’s interactions are marked by a distinctive combination of rudeness, impatience, and hostility. Her communication style, characterized by curt responses and a lack of empathy, contributes to a challenging environment for those who interact with her. Her perceived impatience and rigid time management further complicates interpersonal dynamics. Understanding the underlying factors and exploring strategies for improvement could potentially lead to more positive outcomes and a more constructive approach to interactions. Addressing underlying stressors or dissatisfaction that may contribute to Irma’s behavior is another important strategy. Exploring stress management techniques, seeking support or counseling, and finding ways to address potential sources of frustration could help mitigate some of the negative aspects of her demeanor.
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17 Jul, 2024 by Anonymous
All I have to say is horrible! He does not communicate and almost had my parents bankruptcy case not be discharged! He did not show up to meets they planned. Just horrible! No other word!
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22 Aug, 2023 by Kreyer family trust
This man is a horrible lawyer, as far as I’m concerned he is a criminal, and a bully - he billed my family over $80,000 and didn’t fight to present crucial evidence when it came down to the wire..
He is a liar, a megalomaniac, a horrible person, and I would absolutely NOT recommend him unless your willing to waste tens of thousands of dollars to listen to him lecture and insult you while telling you crucial evidence is worthless. He abandoned me twice during hearings he promised to appear for, as he said he would not leave me out to dry - yet abandoned me day of the trials/hearings and I lost horribly due to his malpractice and misrepresentation of his skill set
I went in on my own for trial and was ten times more effective than he was in all three years of his representation combined!
I will gladly share more information with anyone considering hiring Wallace. Unlike him, I’m not scared to present it. He has threatened to sue me for defamation when he knows he’s failed me as an attorney - the only thing he did well was a deposition - which Yorker a ton of evidence he never presented.
This man is a joke and a hot head - do not waste your money or energy depending on him to do the honest Abe ethical thing.
Feel free to message me for further detail and evidence.
I’m reporting him to the bar and trying to recover the money wasted on this man’s ego.
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17 Aug, 2024 by Anonymous
There are good lawyers and some that are not so good. and there are some that are just plain bad. Well he is just plain bad. don't waste your money. He is a sweet talker but thats about it.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Bankruptcy Lawyer Can Do for You
A bankruptcy lawyer specializes in helping individuals and businesses manage overwhelming debt by filing for bankruptcy or exploring alternatives to bankruptcy. They guide clients through the complex legal process of discharging or restructuring debts, represent them in court, and work to protect assets such as homes and cars. Bankruptcy lawyers can also help stop creditor harassment, wage garnishment, and foreclosures through bankruptcy protections.
If you're facing financial hardship, a bankruptcy lawyer can help you decide whether filing for bankruptcy is the right option and assist you through the legal process.
When Should I Hire a Bankruptcy Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a bankruptcy lawyer in the following situations:
- Unmanageable debt: If you're unable to pay your bills and debts are piling up, a lawyer can help you explore options such as Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
- Foreclosure or repossession: If your home is at risk of foreclosure or your vehicle is in danger of being repossessed, a bankruptcy lawyer can help you use bankruptcy protections to prevent this and potentially reorganize your debts.
- Wage garnishment: If your wages are being garnished, filing for bankruptcy can stop garnishments and allow you to regain control of your finances.
- Creditor harassment: If creditors are constantly calling or sending collection notices, a bankruptcy lawyer can stop these actions by filing for bankruptcy, which enacts an automatic stay that halts collection activities.
- Small business debt: If your business is struggling with debt and cannot meet financial obligations, a lawyer can help you file for Chapter 11 (reorganization) or Chapter 7 (liquidation) bankruptcy.
- Medical debt or credit card debt: If you have large amounts of unsecured debt like medical bills or credit card balances, a bankruptcy lawyer can help you seek relief through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Hiring a bankruptcy lawyer early in the process can prevent further financial damage and help you choose the best legal option for debt relief.
What Does a Bankruptcy Lawyer Do?
A bankruptcy lawyer provides a range of services to help individuals and businesses handle their debts. Their responsibilities often include:
- Evaluating your financial situation: Assessing your income, assets, debts, and expenses to determine if bankruptcy is the right option and which type of bankruptcy (Chapter 7, Chapter 13, or Chapter 11) best suits your situation.
- Filing bankruptcy petitions: Preparing and filing the necessary documents to initiate your bankruptcy case, ensuring that all legal requirements are met.
- Stopping creditor harassment: Once the bankruptcy case is filed, an automatic stay is enacted, which stops creditors from pursuing collection efforts. A lawyer ensures this protection is applied immediately.
- Representing you in court: Representing you in court proceedings, including meetings with creditors and any hearings related to your case.
- Negotiating with creditors: In Chapter 13 or Chapter 11 bankruptcies, negotiating a repayment plan that restructures your debts and allows you to manage payments more effectively.
- Advising on asset protection: Guiding you on how to protect certain assets, such as your home or retirement savings, through available bankruptcy exemptions.
- Explaining the impact on your credit: Informing you about how bankruptcy will affect your credit and advising on steps to rebuild your credit post-bankruptcy.
How Are Bankruptcy Lawyers Paid?
Bankruptcy lawyers typically charge for their services in different ways depending on the complexity of the case and the type of bankruptcy being filed. Common payment structures include:
- Flat fee: Many bankruptcy lawyers charge a flat fee for handling Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases. This fee usually covers the entire process, from preparing and filing paperwork to representing you in court.
- Hourly rate: For more complex cases, such as Chapter 11 bankruptcy (often used by businesses), some lawyers charge an hourly rate. Hourly rates typically range from $150 to $500 or more.
- Retainer: In cases where ongoing legal services are required, such as in Chapter 11 bankruptcies or complex Chapter 13 cases, a lawyer may request a retainer, which is an upfront payment billed against as the lawyer works on the case.
It’s important to discuss fees with your lawyer upfront, as bankruptcy law requires lawyers to disclose all fees and ensure they are reasonable and fair.
How Much Does a Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a bankruptcy lawyer varies depending on the type of bankruptcy and the complexity of the case. General cost estimates include:
- Chapter 7 bankruptcy: For individuals, legal fees usually range from $1,000 to $3,500. This flat fee generally covers the entire process.
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy: For individuals filing Chapter 13, legal fees typically range from $2,500 to $6,000. This cost is higher because of the additional work required to create and manage the repayment plan.
- Chapter 11 bankruptcy (for businesses): Chapter 11 bankruptcy is more complex and usually more expensive, with legal fees ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 or more, depending on the size of the business and the complexity of the debt restructuring.
- Filing fees: In addition to legal fees, there are also court filing fees, which are $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13 as of 2024.
Always ask for a detailed cost estimate during your consultation to understand what services are included and whether payment plans are available.
Top Questions to Ask a Bankruptcy Lawyer
Before hiring a bankruptcy lawyer, it’s important to ask key questions to ensure they have the experience and knowledge to handle your case effectively. Key questions to ask include:
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What experience do you have with bankruptcy cases?
Ensure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours, whether it's Chapter 7, Chapter 13, or Chapter 11 bankruptcy. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges a flat fee or hourly rate, and ask for a detailed breakdown of costs, including filing fees and additional expenses. -
Which type of bankruptcy is best for me?
Ask the lawyer to explain whether Chapter 7, Chapter 13, or Chapter 11 is the best option based on your financial situation and long-term goals. -
What debts can be discharged?
Ask which of your debts will be forgiven through bankruptcy and which debts (such as certain taxes or student loans) may not be dischargeable. -
How long will the process take?
Bankruptcy cases can take time to resolve, so ask the lawyer how long they expect the process to last, from filing to discharge. -
Will I be able to keep my assets?
Ask if you will be able to keep important assets, such as your home or car, and what exemptions might apply. -
What happens after bankruptcy?
Ask about the impact of bankruptcy on your credit score and what steps you can take to rebuild your credit after the bankruptcy is finalized.
How to Check the Credibility of a Bankruptcy Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable bankruptcy lawyer, follow these steps to verify their credentials and track record:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed to practice law and has no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for bankruptcy experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in bankruptcy law and have successfully handled cases like yours.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for client reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients have said about the lawyer’s professionalism and ability to handle bankruptcy cases.
- Ask for references: A reputable lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have worked with them on bankruptcy matters.
- Check for certifications or memberships: Look for lawyers who are members of organizations such as the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) or who have specialized bankruptcy law certifications.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first consultation with a bankruptcy lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:
- List of debts: Prepare a detailed list of all your debts, including credit cards, personal loans, medical bills, and any secured debts such as mortgages or car loans.
- Income and expense records: Bring documents that show your current income, such as pay stubs or tax returns, and a list of your monthly expenses, including rent, utilities, and other essential costs.
- Asset information: Provide information on any assets you own, such as your home, car, investments, or other valuable property.
- Credit reports: If possible, bring copies of your credit reports to give the lawyer a clear view of your financial situation.
- Questions for the lawyer: Prepare a list of questions you have about the bankruptcy process, the lawyer’s fees, and what to expect after filing for bankruptcy.
By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation more effectively and provide the best possible legal advice tailored to your needs.
