Best Foreclosure lawyers in Ellicott City, MD

1 Foreclosure Lawyers in Ellicott City, MD

experienced lawyers

Wayne K Clark

4278 Buckskin Lake Drive, Ellicott City, MD

Bankruptcy Debt Settlement Foreclosure +2

5.0/5

5.0

14 Reviews

20 Mar, 2017 by Jerry

If you have the opportunity to work with Wayne Clark, take it. Please take the time to read this review. My wife and I were recently forced into bankruptcy and we were also wrongfully accused of committing a fraud in a business deal that led to our bankruptcy. The plaintiffs sued knowing that we did not have the financial resources to defend ourselves. Their reason for such an action is irrelevant here. I was forced to try and defend us without a lawyer. Our case was complicated; I went weekly to the free legal clinics at the law library in Annapolis and attempted to educate myself in the subtleties of the legal systems. The task was daunting. During that time I talked many attorneys to get help, but we could not afford their services. I met Wayne at the free legal clinic at the bankruptcy court in Baltimore. He gave me a lot of helpful advice and went back to perusing our case. A few months later I again visited the legal clinic and fortunately for me; I once again met Wayne. I asked if he could guide me in preparing my case. I wrote a few motions and I asked Wayne to review them. He not only did he review my work; he assumed control of writing the motions I was seeking. He interviewed me and reviewed our documentation at length and he believed in me and our case. He knew that the plaintiffs did not have a creditable case; as he instructed me proving it is a different matter. He took on this case with an energy and commitment that astounded me. Although he had other cases, he still made me feel as if our case was always at the top of his mind. He seemed to work day and night, he would call me at night, on weekends and during holidays. He pushed me hard to produce the documents that he knew we would need for the case. As anyone can imagine this case was a very emotional and stressful ride for both my wife and I. Wayne was very good at taking the emotional anger out of the discussion and more importantly he was never afraid to tell me how it was and to take me task. When we finally got to court, it was obvious that the plaintiff's case was without merit and they agreed to settle out of court by dropping the case. Without Wayne's help, I would have lost the case even though the plaintiff's case was without merit. If you have the chance to work with Wayne, take comfort in knowing that you dealing with someone who will give you honesty, integrity and commitment. There are not enough words to describe our gratitude for having Wayne assist my wife and I with our case. If you have the chance to work with Wayne, Take it!!!

14 Mar, 2017 by Anonymous

Hello I just want to say I called the Civil hotline for free attorney advice. Mr. Wayne Clark picked up and after I explained my situation as far as all of the loan modifications that I have been doing with my bank and their denials. I also explained to him that in a panic state one night, I hired an attorney off a commerical and paid him almost $3,000 to help with a loan modification that was denied. Not knowing that the attorney had possibly done something wrong Mr Clark advised me what I needed to do to get my money back from that attorney. Mr. Clark also advised me in approx 1 hour what I was fearing all along. See I had been fighting to save my home for almost 2 years, thinking I could. He asked me questions and evaluated my salary the home loan as well as the value of my home. In doing that he gave me an assessment of why the bank probably kept dening my loan modification and he made me realize that unless my income increased substantially like ASAP that my chances of saving the home was not great, that was the honesty do I need it. All I did the past two years was kept fighting and the amount of my past due balance increasing, and the bank was letting it happen. The bank has given me unrealistic expectations based on my salary and the likelihood that I would be able to catch up on the past due balance. For the first time in 2 years I was hit with the best reality check that I needed. I went to my church and prayed with my pastor and then contacted a realtor who basically advise me of the same thing. I did exactly what Mr. Clark told me to do and contacted the attorney, told him to give me my money back within one week and if he did not the steps that I was going to take in getting the money back. That attorney panicked to my surprise and did not fight me. I had my money within 4 days honestly, I could not believe it, I thought that money was lost and gone and thrown down the drain. I'm now prepared to move forward and start again. I'm so thankful to Attorney Clark because basically my funds were gone and he helped me get my money back free of charge with his advice. I truly feel he was a God sent and I would refer him to anyone anytime and any day. Thanks again Attorney Clark for all your help, bless you.

09 Mar, 2017 by Doriann

My husband and I were faced with bankruptcy due to a failed business deal. We were being sued by my husband's partners and had NO WHERE to turn. Our original attorney had been disbarred and we didn't have any more money to hire someone else. We met Wayne through the legal services offered in Baltimore and he GRACIOUSLY agreed to represent us!!!!! He worked diligently from September through to March when we had our trial. He was able to negotiate a settlement of our case. Wayne is compassionate, detailed and very hardworking. He was able to explain options in language that we could understand. We were SAVED by Wayne and his expertise

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What a Foreclosure Lawyer Can Do for You

A foreclosure lawyer specializes in helping homeowners navigate the legal complexities of foreclosure, working to protect their rights and potentially save their homes. Foreclosure lawyers assist homeowners facing foreclosure by negotiating with lenders, filing legal defenses, and representing them in court. They also help with loan modifications, short sales, and other alternatives to foreclosure. Whether you’re behind on mortgage payments or already in foreclosure proceedings, a lawyer can help you explore your legal options and work toward a solution.

If you’re at risk of losing your home, a foreclosure lawyer can provide guidance on how to stop or delay the foreclosure process and protect your financial future.

When Should I Hire a Foreclosure Lawyer?

You should consider hiring a foreclosure lawyer in several situations where you are facing financial difficulties with your mortgage. Common reasons to hire a lawyer include:

Facing foreclosure proceedings: If your lender has initiated foreclosure proceedings, a lawyer can help you file a legal defense and explore options for stopping or delaying the process.
Loan modification: If you want to modify the terms of your mortgage to make payments more manageable, a lawyer can help you negotiate with your lender and ensure that the modification complies with legal standards.
Challenging the foreclosure: If you believe your lender has violated foreclosure laws or the terms of your mortgage agreement, a lawyer can help you challenge the foreclosure in court.
Stopping a foreclosure sale: If your home is about to be sold at a foreclosure auction, a lawyer may be able to file for a temporary restraining order or injunction to halt the sale.
Short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure: If you cannot afford to keep your home but want to avoid foreclosure, a lawyer can assist with arranging a short sale or a deed in lieu of foreclosure, where you voluntarily transfer ownership of the home to the lender to avoid foreclosure.
Filing for bankruptcy: If you’re unable to manage your mortgage debt and other financial obligations, a lawyer can advise whether filing for bankruptcy might stop foreclosure and help you restructure your debts.

Hiring a lawyer as soon as possible - especially when foreclosure is imminent - can provide you with more legal options to save your home or limit financial damages.

What Does a Foreclosure Lawyer Do?

A foreclosure lawyer provides a variety of legal services to homeowners facing foreclosure, working to protect their rights and help them avoid losing their homes. Their responsibilities often include:

Negotiating with lenders: A lawyer can negotiate with your lender to modify your mortgage or create a repayment plan, helping you avoid foreclosure by securing more favorable terms.
Filing a legal defense: If your lender is improperly foreclosing or has made errors in the foreclosure process, a lawyer can file a legal defense, challenging the foreclosure in court. Defenses may include violations of foreclosure laws, predatory lending practices, or failure to follow the terms of the mortgage.
Representing you in court: A lawyer can represent you in foreclosure proceedings, whether you are defending against the foreclosure, seeking more time to negotiate with the lender, or filing for bankruptcy.
Stopping or delaying foreclosure sales: If your home is scheduled for a foreclosure auction, a lawyer can help file a motion to stop or delay the sale, giving you time to explore other options.
Advising on bankruptcy: A foreclosure lawyer can assess whether filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy would be beneficial, as bankruptcy can temporarily stop foreclosure and give you time to reorganize your finances.
Arranging short sales or deeds in lieu of foreclosure: A lawyer can help facilitate a short sale (selling the property for less than the mortgage balance) or a deed in lieu of foreclosure (transferring the property to the lender), which may allow you to avoid the foreclosure process.

How Are Foreclosure Lawyers Paid?

Foreclosure lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the case and the legal work involved. Common payment structures include:

Hourly rate: Many foreclosure lawyers charge by the hour, with rates typically ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience and location.
Flat fee: For specific legal services, such as negotiating a loan modification or filing a bankruptcy petition, some lawyers offer a flat fee. Flat fees can range from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the scope of the work.
Retainer: In more complex foreclosure cases, especially those involving ongoing negotiations with lenders or court appearances, a lawyer may require a retainer. This is an upfront payment that is billed against as the lawyer works on your case.
Contingency fee (rare): In some rare cases, particularly when suing a lender for wrongful foreclosure, a lawyer may work on a contingency fee basis. This means they only get paid if they win the case or settle on your behalf.

It’s important to discuss fees and payment arrangements with your lawyer upfront, especially if you are facing financial difficulties.

How Much Does a Foreclosure Lawyer Cost?

The cost of hiring a foreclosure lawyer depends on the complexity of the case, the lawyer’s experience, and the amount of time required to resolve the issue. General cost estimates include:

Hourly rates: Foreclosure lawyers typically charge between $150 and $500 per hour. For example, a simple case with 10 hours of legal work at $300 per hour would cost $3,000.
Flat fees: For straightforward services such as filing for bankruptcy or negotiating a loan modification, flat fees typically range from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the complexity of the work.
Retainers: In more complex or ongoing foreclosure cases, a lawyer may require a retainer ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, depending on the length of the case and the lawyer’s experience.

In addition to legal fees, you may also need to cover additional costs, such as court filing fees or expenses related to property appraisals.

How to Check the Credibility of a Foreclosure Lawyer

To ensure you are hiring a reputable foreclosure lawyer, take the following steps to verify their credentials and experience:

Check their bar status: Verify with your state bar association that the lawyer is licensed to practice law and has no disciplinary actions against them.
Look for foreclosure experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in foreclosure law and have successfully handled cases similar to yours.
Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to see what previous clients have said about their experience with the lawyer.
Ask for references: A reputable lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have worked with them on foreclosure matters.
Check for certifications or memberships: Look for lawyers who are members of organizations like the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) or who have specialized certifications in real estate or foreclosure law.

What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?

To get the most out of your first consultation with a foreclosure lawyer, it’s important to come prepared with relevant documents and information. Here’s what you should bring:

Mortgage documents: Bring a copy of your mortgage agreement, payment history, and any correspondence you’ve received from your lender, including foreclosure notices or demand letters.
Financial information: Provide information about your income, expenses, and debts, as this will help the lawyer assess your financial situation and determine the best legal strategy for your case.
Previous communications with your lender: If you’ve already tried to negotiate with your lender, bring any emails, letters, or records of phone calls that document these communications.
Court documents (if applicable): If foreclosure proceedings have already begun, bring any court documents related to the case.
Questions about your legal options: Prepare a list of questions about the foreclosure process, your options for avoiding foreclosure, and how the lawyer plans to help you.

By preparing thoroughly for your consultation, you can help the lawyer assess your situation more effectively and provide the best possible legal advice for protecting your home from foreclosure.