Legal Question in Bankruptcy in Missouri

I think the forum people stuck this in the wrong category--usually I'm answering bankruptcy questions--but as a general rule, yes, you can ask for attorney's fees. It is up to the court to decide whether or not to award them. It sounds like you need a lawyer who does general civil work, or, if the lawsuit deals with a particular subject matter, seek an attorney who does a substantial amount of work in that field. Many attorneys give free initial consultations and can better assess your case. Bring your paperwork to the appointment. Set this up as soon as possible, because usually there is a time limit of 30 days from the date you are served to file an answer. So, before the 30 days are up, you need to meet with your attorney, then s/he needs to draft an answer, perhaps give you a chance to look it over, you need to sign it, it needs to be copied, and after that, it still needs to be taken to the courthouse and filed.