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Points to consider before choosing a bankruptcy attorney

14th April 2010
By Stephen in Bankruptcy Law
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Filing for a bankruptcy is the last resort in situations where an individual is unable to repay his debts. In US, bankruptcy can be filed under the different chapters. In most cases, bankruptcies are filed under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.

Bankruptcy is the only way to get rid off your debts in a legal manner. In a case of Chapter 7 bankruptcy, also known as ‘liquidation', possessions of the borrower is sold off by the court to repay the debt. For a bankruptcy filed under Chapter 13 a repayment scheme is formulated based on the financial status of the borrower.

Whatever type you choose, the process of bankruptcy is governed by a number of rules and regulations. It is difficult for any borrower to take care of the entire details single-handed. This is why you need to take the help of an expert attorney.

Locating the right bankruptcy attorney is easy if you know where to look. It is a good idea to ask your contacts if they can suggest a lawyer for you. Even if it's an indirect link, a suggested lawyer is always a good option than someone completely unknown. You can also search for lawyers online.


The first thing to look for is an attorney of your state. Each US state has different laws regarding the filing of bankruptcy. An attorney proficient in the state laws would be able to handle the bankruptcy case properly.

You need to check whether the attorney has license to practice in your state. This could be easily done from the local bar association. They have a list of all attorneys who are licensed to take up cases in the state.

The specialization of the attorney is another thing to look out for. You need to choose a lawyer who specializes in bankruptcy laws. Lawyers specializing in any other branch may be experts in their field but only a bankruptcy attorney can handle your case.

The experience of the attorney needs to be considered as well. Choose someone who has at least a few years of experience in the field. It is only with experience that an attorney would acquire expertise.

Before you employ a Chicago bankruptcy attorney you need to talk to him at least once. This discussion would give you an idea about his expertise. It would also let you know whether it would be a comfortable experience working with him.


Be prepared to answer a number of questions during this visit. If your attorney asks you all details about the case it is a good sign. It shows that he has an interest in knowing the case and then planning on how to deal with it.

You need to ask certain questions to the lawyer as well. What does he think about your case? How does he plan to file for bankruptcy? Would he be able to take care of all the paperwork involved? Comprehensible answers reflect the clarity of thoughts.

If your attorney is capable of answering clearly you can assume that you have found the right attorney. The only thing you need to do is talk about the charges involved. If these suit you hire him to handle the case.
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