How to Choose a Bankruptcy Attorney

Finding an experienced, vetted, and personal bankruptcy attorney can make a huge difference to your future financial situation. Look for an attorney who will provide personal services -- if you are forced to meet with associates or assistants before getting to a candidate attorney, it's a likely bet that you won't get the kind of specialized help you need to navigate your tough financial hurdles. In addition, you might want to seek out an attorney who has at least some experience in the court room.

Even though the vast plurality of US bankruptcy cases never wind up as heated court battles, you want to have the option to fight in court in your quiver of legal arrows. Ask for guarantees of assurance, and solicit independent recommendations and evaluations of candidate attorneys by seeking out past clients (through appropriate means, please) and by working with your state's Attorney Generals office to get feedback.

In terms of fees, you don't necessarily want the most “bargain basement” bankruptcy attorney. After all, a super low fee usually indicates either a lack of services (or a legal firm devoted to “cookie-cutter” bankruptcy proceedings) or a poor reputation. At the same time, unless you are dealing with a tortuous bankruptcy case that involves multiple parties and millions of dollars worth of assets and secured interest at stake, there is no reason to pay for one of the top-tier lawyers.

Look for a bankruptcy attorney with good confidentiality ratings, and don't be afraid to interview multiple lawyers before coming to a decision. All this said, your choice of bankruptcy attorney may not intimately impact the outcome of your case, particularly if you are dealing with a cut and dry personal bankruptcy that will be easily dispatched by a Chapter 7 filing. You can scan the Internet, your local yellow pages, and recommended lists from your state's Attorney Generals office to find candidate firms. You can also utilize personal references.

Finally, you can contact bankruptcy firms outside of your area for recommendations in your city. This way, you can get objective insights from bankruptcy professionals. A good way to hone this tactic further is to look for recommendations that crop up multiple times on your lists. By “triangulating,” you'll enjoy a better chance of forging a relationship with reasonable and reputable bankruptcy firm.