Bankruptcy Consultation – What You Need to Know

So, you’ve made an appointment for a consultation with a bankruptcy lawyer.  Congratulations on taking the first step towards financial freedom!  After you take some well-earned time to pat yourself on the back, you should start prepping for your visit.  Do not go to your consultation meeting empty-handed.  The more prepared you are, the more your attorney can help you—even in one meeting.

So what do you need to bring with you when meeting with a bankruptcy lawyer for the first time? Lawyers.com suggests the following:

• Bring originals and copies of every loan and financing document you have.  This includes loan agreements, title policies, insurance policies, promissory notes, deeds of trusts, mortgages, and notices of default.
• You should also bring any proof that payments were made (bank statements, receipts, canceled checks).
• If you are involved in any correspondence with creditors, bring originals and copies.
• Mark down the dates of when everything has happened and bring a calendar to your attorney.
• Are you involved in a foreclosure proceeding? Bring copies and originals of all documents.
• Also, bring the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of everyone you’ve spoken with.

You should also bring a list of questions to ask your lawyer, things like:

• Should I file for bankruptcy?
• Do I have other options?
• How much do you charge?  What does your fee cover?
• How many cases like mine have you handled?
• What potential problems do you see with my case?

All of these items will help both the attorney and yourself get a clear picture of what you are up against.  From there, you can have a clear path moving forward, even from just your first consultation.

From the items above, the attorney should be able to make a determination if bankruptcy is necessary or if there might be other options available to you.  Often times a good bankruptcy attorney will have two or more options for you and your situation.  These could include mortgage foreclosure defense, debt negotiation or bankruptcy.

A full service bankruptcy attorney such as Harold Shepley & Associates can provide you with the answers you need with a free consultation.  Contact them for more answers to your questions.

By Harold Shepley | Published February 16, 2012 | Posted in Bankruptcy | Tagged bankruptcy, bankruptcy attorney, file for bankruptcy, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Pittsburg | Leave a comment