If you’ve somehow managed to work yourself into a world of debt, then you’re not alone. Given the recent state of the economy, these days, more and more Americans are struggling to pay their bills and keep their credit card balances to a minimum. If your weekly routine involves an influx of creditor calls and far too many “past due” notices in the mail for comfort, then it’s time to enlist the help of a bankruptcy attorney to come up with a plan to tackle your debt.
Of course, many who are in debt tend to shy away from bankruptcy lawyers for fear of getting pressured into simply filing for Chapter 7 or 13 and calling it a day. However, the reality is that many bankruptcy attorneys are also quite adept at negotiating debt settlement agreements in lieu of encouraging their clients to go the bankruptcy route. If you’re tired of running from your debt and would rather face the problem than have it haunt you, then you’ll need to find the right lawyer to help you settle your debts.
Darren Hojnacki of the firm Hojnacki & Hojnacki, LLC is an attorney who has been practicing bankruptcy law for three years, and he believes that a debt settlement agreement can be a favorable alternative to bankruptcy under the proper circumstances. He therefore offers the following tips on what people ought to look for in a debt settlement attorney:
A trustworthy attitude
When it comes to any sort of business dealings, it’s important to be able to trust the people who are supposed to be on your side. Therefore, if you’re looking for an attorney to help you with your debt settlement issues, then you’ll need to find someone who strikes you as honest and well-intentioned. While it can be difficult to get a good sense of how an attorney operates based on an initial meeting or consultation, one way to tell if a lawyer has a hidden agenda is to see if he’s overly eager to push you into filing for bankruptcy. If that’s the case, then you might want to take your business elsewhere, as a good attorney will help you work through your debt settlement options rather than force bankruptcy on you from the get-go.
Patience
Debt settlement matters can be both personal and emotionally trying, so you’ll want to find a lawyer who is willing to discuss all of your options in a calm, patient manner. A good attorney will take the time to walk you through the various steps of the debt settlement process and explain why he thinks his given approach is the best one for your situation. Also, at no point during your initial debt settlement consultation should you ever feel rushed. If an attorney can’t set aside some time to make a good first impression, then he’s less likely to serve you well throughout the debt settlement process.
Reasonable fees
When it comes to finding the best debt settlement attorney, it’s important to avoid focusing on pricing alone. After all, in the world of legal services, cheaper isn’t always better. On the other hand, it’s a good idea to get a sense of how a lawyer comes up with his fees, and to do some research to determine whether or not they are reasonable as compared to those of professionals across the same field. While you don’t necessarily want to hire the least expensive debt settlement attorney out there, you also shouldn’t feel compelled to go with the one who’s the most expensive – especially if money is clearly an issue from the start. In fact, rather than focus on what your attorney charges, it’s better to try to get a sense of how he charges. A lawyer who bills his clients for every little detail is probably not the right one for you.
Free consultations
If you’re new to the debt settlement process, then you’re likely to find yourself quite overwhelmed at the thought of having to hire a lawyer. A good debt settlement attorney will therefore offer free consultations so that you can learn about your options in a pressure-free environment.
A smaller firm
A good debt settlement attorney is one who is willing to give you his undivided attention when the time comes to tackle your case. One problem with some of the larger firms out there is that their senior attorneys tend to draw clients in and then delegate their workloads to first-year attorneys and paralegals once the process gets going. By hiring a lawyer from a smaller firm, you’ll get the benefit of knowing that the attorney you choose will be the same person who answers your calls, works up your documents, and sees you through your debt settlement from start to finish.
This article is for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this article as a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances, and you should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Publication of this article and your receipt of this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.
