Legal Question in Bankruptcy in California

Re: How much do you charge?

What does it cost to file bankruptcy?

Just think about car repairs. Suppose your car has been in an accident. Can a mechanic tell you on the phone what it will cost to fix? Of course not. The mechanic has to see the car and check it out.

Your financial situation can be just like a wrecked car. Most of the time it can be fixed, but a lawyer would like to meet you in person and check it out for themself. Your bankruptcy will be a law case. Each person�s case is different. The case will have to go to court. You will have to appear at a hearing. There will be a court decision on whether or not to grant your case. It takes a great deal of commitment, experience, skill and some personal time with you to see what you need before a lawyer starts quoting fees.

What if I can�t afford a lawyer?

Until you meet with a lawyer, you won't know whether you can afford it or not. But the good news is that most lawyers offer a free consultation for bankruptcy. Go to a lawyer who offers that. Don't pay for an initial consultation. Everybody can afford a free consultation, and lawyers really do want your business. (We are pretty good at making this affordable for most people�we have to be�most of our clients are broke.)

Shopping for a bankruptcy lawyer?

We see all kinds of advertisements offering bankruptcies at unbelievable low fees with some disclaimer that usually says "fees starting at...". We doubt that anyone actually takes a case at those prices. (How many people really buy a new car for the same price they saw it for in the newspaper?)

How not to pick a bankruptcy lawyer.

Some people live dangerously. They will pick a lawyer at random from the ads they see. You might as well paste all of the ads on a board and throw a dart at them. Just because a lawyer has the most expensive ad or claims to have done more bankruptcies than McDonald�s has done hamburgers, it doesn�t mean you will get good representation. You want to be treated better than a piece of meat.

How to pick a bankruptcy lawyer.

Before you hire someone, put the name of the law firm into Google and see what pops up. Is the lawyer a recognized expert in this field? Does the news media seek out the opinions of this lawyer? Finally, you should be best off with a Certified Specialist.

Re: How much do you charge?

My fees vary depending on the complexity of the case, number of creditors, and other factors. If you would like a free phone consultation, please visit http://www.bklaw.com/consult/ and complete the 5 steps there to schedule an appointment, and I will be happy to go over your situation and give you a fee quote.

Mark