There’s an old stereotype of the lawyer who ‘chases’ ambulances in the hopes of landing ‘easy’ cases for making a quick buck. Unfortunately, the stereotype has a basis in fact – there are a growing number of marginally qualified lawyers, and even some scam artists, who will gladly take your money without providing a comparable level of service. The end result can often be worse than where you started.
Avoid lawyers who are quick to encourage ‘fast’ bankruptcy filings.
One of the areas being abused in this regard is the filing of a fast bankruptcy, referred to as an ’emergency’ or ‘2-page’ bankruptcy filing.
A lawyer might tell you that he can stop a foreclosure quickly with his emergency filing, that will be $700, thank you. True enough, the foreclosure is delayed, but this is only a stay of execution, and usually for only 30 days. After the 30 days is up, your creditors are going to want action; and they’re irritated all the more for being delayed the additional 30 days!
Candidly, a typical bankruptcy petition requires a submission of 50+ pages of documentation. Just getting the documentation ready can take over 2 weeks if you’re particularly unorganized. The Bankruptcy Code allows for ’emergency’ filings, but I have found that such a filing is rarely needed if you have an experienced bankruptcy lawyer working in your behalf.
How can you know if your lawyer is ‘right’ for you?
1. What is his track record, how many bankruptcy cases has he handled?
2. Avoid a lawyer (or anyone else) who is quick to suggest that you file an ’emergency’ or ‘2-page’ bankruptcy filing. If your lawyer can’t prepare a complete petition, there’s cause for concern.
3. How broad is your lawyer’s experience? Bankruptcy is a broad term which covers dozens of possible scenarios, including repossessions, foreclosures, wage garnishments, evictions, attachments and debt collection activity, just to name a few.
A lawyer suggesting a 2-page emergency bankruptcy petition should also be able to provide you with a detailed explanation why. This is followed up with a specific plan to complete the schedules. A lawyer or, heaven forbid, a para-legal, with limited experience can only make the bankruptcy problem worse.
When dealing with bankruptcy in any of its forms, you need a law firm with the compassion and exceptional experience that you will find at Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates .
If you or someone you know is dealing with bankruptcy, or has questions about bankruptcy, insure that you have the very best in legal representation by contacting the law office of Kristopher K. Greenwood & Associates to assist you in your matter:
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