Here are tips to enable you choose the best bankruptcy attorney to handle your bankruptcy case if you are living in California:

Check Their Qualification

Be sure to confirm the attorney’s qualification to handle bankruptcy cases. Many attorneys out there are not qualified enough to be able to successfully lead bankruptcy cases in court; therefore, in order not to wind up with such attorney, you need to check their certification. Do they have the required certificate for this kind of job?

Ask For Referrals

An easy and fast way to get qualified and efficient attorneys to handle your bankruptcy case is to ask for recommendations from friends who have filed for bankruptcy before. Since they have gone through the whole bankruptcy process before, they will be able to show you a good lawyer you can engage.

Asking legal professionals to direct you to a good bankruptcy attorney is also a wise thing to do. Since, that’s their profession; they should know the right person or firm to refer you to.

Go To Bankruptcy Courts

You may be able to find attorneys who showed what you are looking for by going to observe court sessions on bankruptcy cases. You can then approach them and ask for an appointment to discuss further. And from this, you will be able to know much about the attorney to enable you make up your mind whether to hire them or not to take on your case.

Find an Attorney Who Is Not Overworked

You need to hire an attorney who is not overworked, and may therefore not have the time and patience to listen to you and take the complete details of your case. Working with an attorney with loads of briefs on his or her desk can leave you flustered as you will not be happy that they are representing you the way you want.

A little conversation with your prospective attorney before hiring them to handle your bankruptcy case can reveal whether they will have the needed time and patience for your case. You can ask them what they are doing presently, and how interested they are in handling your brief. Taking the time and effort to find a bankruptcy lawyer that best suit your needs will lessen your worries in the long run as you know that you are in good hands.

About The Law Office of James G. Roche

The Law Office of James G. Roche is the leading bankruptcy law firm in California, helping hundreds of clients who file for bankruptcy. At James G. Roche, our attorneys will take every measure to ensure that clients file for bankruptcy only when necessary. We will assign a bankruptcy attorney will work with clients on a one-to-one basis to preserve and protect their assets and pay creditors in the near future where possible.

Contact them at 888-380-3080 for a Free Bankruptcy evaluation.

For more information, visit them at http://thelaw007.com

The bankruptcy laws are often referred to by their chapter number in the Bankruptcy Code. Debtors may file under five different chapters; three of them are for individuals: Chapter 7, which refers to Liquidation, Chapter 11, which refers to Reorganization, and Chapter 13, which refers to Reorganization.

The laws have really changed in recent years as far as bankruptcy goes, and you are now required to sit through a course before you will even know if bankruptcy is the way you should and even can proceed. That’s right, it is no longer YOUR choice about declaring bankruptcy; the judge must approve it. This will help to determine whether you can have your debts erased through Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy laws or whether you have to enter a type of repayment plan through Chapter 13. It is better to acquire the services of a bankruptcy attorney before deciding to blindly strike off on your own. When consulting with your bankruptcy attorney, he or she will make sure that you file all of the necessary forms to discharge the debt.

That is just one of the reasons you want a good and qualified bankruptcy attorney because if you make a mistake on those forms, your case may get thrown out and you are right back to where you started. Or you may mistakenly present yourself on the forms so that you only get approved for Reorganization instead of Liquidation, which means you still have all your debts.

There are a numerous ways that the new bankruptcy laws will have their effects on debtors:

* A strict financial means test must be taken that will not allow many debtors to file under Chapter 7.

* Debtors have to receive a briefing from a credit counseling agency that has been approved for this. The debtor must do this at least 6 months before filing a bankruptcy case.

* Debtors must also take a class that has been approved on debt management techniques before receiving their bankruptcy discharge. Yes, these two steps are mandatory, even though the majority of people who file do not do so because of financial mismanagement.

* It is now easier for a court to be able to dismiss a bankruptcy case altogether or convert a Chapter 7 case to a Chapter 13 case

* It is now permitted for a court to impose sanctions on lawyers or on debtors for filing a Chapter 7 case that either had been dismissed or was converted to a Chapter 13 case.

How can a Bankruptcy Attorney Solve Credit Problems?

Bankruptcy attorneys are lawyers that specialize in bankruptcy law. They provide legal means for an individual or a business to either wipe out debts or resolve them.

Bankruptcy attorneys explain to their clients the primary purposes and applications as to how the bankruptcy laws now specifically apply to them in their unique situation. They may give such pertinent information to their clients as to under what chapter they may file, what bills are allowed to be eliminated, the length of time that payments can be extended, the possessions that are allowed to be kept, and all of the other details concerning bankruptcy.

A bankruptcy attorney will properly present your case for Chapter 7, which involves liquidation and debtor rehabilitation, or Chapter 13 which is reorganization, which is probably not what you had in mind when you decided to file. This involves a court-approved plan of reorganization as well as payment of the debt over a certain time period using future earnings.

If you are on the fence as to whether you should hire a bankruptcy attorney, you are strongly advised to you do so. There are many stories, including a couple who had the misfortune of having to apply for bankruptcy and they thought they could file online. It turns out that they filled in the paperwork in the wrong way and consequently the debts that the wife had were left intact as they only filed singly and not jointly. Don’t make that same mistake. You will be out attorney fees in the short run, but you will more than make it up when your debts are discharged.

To find a Pre-Screened Lawyer in your area, please call our 24Hr Unbiased Lawyer Referral Hotline at 661-310-7999.

There are five main reasons why people need a bankruptcy attorney.

1. Attorneys Speak the Language of the Court
Words commonly used in legal proceedings have developed specialized definitions that are used solely in the courtroom. When the same word is used outside of the courtroom it may carry an entirely different meaning. Some of the words and terms used during legal proceedings have no common usage on the street in everyday conversation. Hiring a bankruptcy attorney to speak on behalf of the client ensures that the client’s best interests are both heard and understood by all parties.

2. Protection of Rights
A bankruptcy attorney is trained to protect a client’s legal rights and negotiate a fair settlement of assets and debts. It’s possible for people who are filing for bankruptcy and who are unrepresented by legal counsel to be taken advantage of in unfair ways. The law provides a level of protection in bankruptcy court that attorneys understand. People who enter into bankruptcy proceedings unrepresented by an attorney may find themselves victimized by unscrupulous creditors.

3. Future Financial Damage
Bankruptcies involve not only the possible liquidation of present assets but create even more problems down the road. Attorneys will help clients to minimize the future effects of a bankruptcy as it relates to credit ratings, loans and other financial matters.

4. Ignorance of the Law
Most people who petition for bankruptcy protection have absolutely no idea of how to proceed in filing the necessary paperwork. Courts are highly structured with formidable filing requirements that the average citizen knows nothing about. A good attorney will file the proper paperwork at the right time and for the right reasons.

5. Fairness
At the heart of bankruptcy proceedings is fairness. People do not intentionally end up in a bankruptcy. An attorney who represents the client’s interests will present a case to the court that accurately reflects the facts and explains why the client is there. Creditors understandably want to be paid what they are owed but the days of debtor’s prison are long gone. A bankruptcy attorney is qualified to negotiate a fair settlement that will benefit both the client and the creditors.

With these reasons in mind, if you are looking to file for bankruptcy, it is vital that you start researching on the best bankruptcy lawyer around.

If you are looking for a bankruptcy lawyer in California, contact the Law Office of James G. Roche at 888-380-3080.

About The Law Office of James G. Roche

The Law Office of James G. Roche is the leading bankruptcy law firm in California, helping hundreds of clients who file for bankruptcy. At James G. Roche, our attorneys will take every measure to ensure that clients file for bankruptcy only when necessary. We will assign a bankruptcy attorney will work with clients on a one-to-one basis to preserve and protect their assets and pay creditors in the near future where possible.

Contact them at 888-380-3080 for a Free Bankruptcy evaluation.

For more information, visit them at http://thelaw007.com

The Dangers of Filing for Bankruptcy without an Attorney

Consumers who get in over their heads with debt and find themselves facing bankruptcy may be tempted into filing for bankruptcy without an attorney. After all, with all the money they already owe, and with the option to file without an attorney, why not avoid hefty legal fees and file without an attorney?

Nothing could be a worse idea than filing for bankruptcy without an attorney. US bankruptcy laws are complex; the bankruptcy court main website expressly states that “While individuals can file a bankruptcy case without an attorney… it is extremely difficult to do it successfully” (Source: USCourts.gov). The same website goes on to state:

“It is very important that a bankruptcy case be filed and handled correctly. The rules are very technical, and a misstep may affect a debtor’s rights… hiring a competent attorney is strongly recommended.”

As if the federal laws governing bankruptcy weren’t complicated enough, there are also all the additional state laws. A bankruptcy lawyer in California, for example, has to stay up-to-date on all the latest bankruptcy statutes specific to the state. It’s easy to see how, without an experienced California bankruptcy lawyer, consumers can easily find themselves confused, overwhelmed, and making mistakes that cost them a fortune.

About  Shemtoub and the Wilshire Law Group

Shemtoub and the other bankruptcy attorneys in the Wilshire Law Group have years of experience guiding consumers and small businesses through the challenging process of bankruptcy. The testimonials posted onto the Wilshire Law Group’s website bears witness to their great success with countless clients in Southern California.

Shemtoub is a bankruptcy attorney in California who stands by his clients throughout the entire process of bankruptcy, even through bankruptcy’s aftermath. The same holds true for each of the lawyers in the Wilshire Law Group. From the free consultation at the beginning of the process, to the bankruptcy filing itself, to post-bankruptcy educational seminars designed to help consumers repair their credit and their financial lives, the Wilshire Law Group is a firm that is clearly dedicated to its clients.

The Wilshire Law Group also makes one unique promise to all clients and potential clients that makes them stand apart from the crowd: their guarantee is to return all phone calls within twenty-four hours. The twenty-four hour phone call promise shows that every client, no matter how big or how small, is valued at the Wilshire Law Group.

The Two Main Types

The types of proceedings followed by bankruptcy attorneys are generally of two types. One is Chapter 7, which involves liquidation. The second type undertakes the rehabilitation of debtors according to reorganization plans advocated by the court and come under the purview of Chapters 9, 11, 12 and 13 of the code. Having lawyers handle these cases assures you of getting accurate legal advice when you file your case. Bankruptcy attorneys are committed to acquiring debt relief for you and also will fight for your rights and property. They defend you against your various creditors and help you to retain your home, vehicles and other assets.

Choosing An Attorney

Always choose an attorney who deals specifically with Chapter 13 bankruptcy. It is not a rule that every lawyer who takes up cases would deal with Chapter 13 only. The expert that you select should have adequate experience in dealing with Chapter 13 cases. Do not choose a person who has never undertaken such cases. Get accurate information about your bankruptcy attorney from the local bar association, to be sure that your case is in safe hands. Do not hire a professional who make impossible promises. Look around for a lawyer who views your situation in a realistic manner and provides practical solutions. The one that you hire should be well versed with the laws regarding Chapter 13. Also make sure that he or she charges you a reasonable fee.

One thing that can be worse than bankruptcy is to have the wrong person handling your case. This is why you need to do adequate research before hiring a bankruptcy attorney, because, after all it is your financial future that is at stake. Do not wait till the last minute to hire and check for appropriate certifications before taking a decision.

Not taking the time to find the right bankruptcy attorney can cost you even more in time and money in the long run, so consider more than price when choosing who will represent you. Be sure the attorney you choose can:

-Explain the entire bankruptcy procedure in detail.

-Willing to walk you through each step.

-Clearly outlines what fees he charges, and what services are included for those fees.

-Can handle every aspect of your bankruptcy.

-Clearly understands all federal, state and local bankruptcy laws.

-Has provided a list of references for you to contact.

Once you’ve chosen a few lawyers to interview, comprise a thorough list of questions for them to answer. Don’t be shy. As them to explain anything that you don’t understand, and always double check their answers later to determine if they do indeed understand the bankruptcy laws you’ll be dealing with.

After making your final decision to hire one of the lawyers on your list, first ask them to make an evaluation to see if you really do need to file bankruptcy. Even if you have labored over your decision and feel that it’s the right one to make, let your new lawyer have a look at your financial situation to determine if bankruptcy is indeed necessary. He or she may know have knowledge of little known laws that could help you stave off this final step.

Next, be sure your lawyer clearly outlines their fee schedule. Be sure you have a completed list of the services they will perform for the fees being charged and always ask about any “extras” that may be tacked on. For instance, many lawyers charge a set rate for a specific amount of time, but once a client’s project goes over the allotted time, hefty additional fees may be charged.

Ask if there’s anything you can do personally to help lower his service costs. It may be possible for you to gather all of the information needed, and simply let your attorney fill out any paperwork, and file the necessary documents, saving him manpower and you money.

Filing bankruptcy can be an overwhelming experience. Be sure to hire the right lawyer that will help alleviate your stress and make the process easier and not add to your burden.

When faced with a bankruptcy, having the best representation possible should be your first priority. There are many reasons why finding the best bankruptcy attorney that you can afford is important.

The two most important reasons are that, by not having the correct representation, you could still end up owing non-secured debts or may have your bankruptcy denied altogether. These can be powerful consequences that have the ability to affect your financial future for close to a decade. The right representation may mean the difference between a worry-free future or one filled with struggles that you cannot free yourself from.

During the bankruptcy proceedings, creditors could show up and ask the judge to exempt their debt from your bankruptcy. There are many reasons why a judge could decide that you should not receive your bankruptcy or that certain debts should be excluded, however, unless you purposely committed major fraud, most of the claims will be easily debated by a good bankruptcy attorney who has experience standing up for those who file.

After all, the last thing you want is to be accused of fraud just because you lost a job or had unforeseen medical expenses. A good bankruptcy attorney will know how to defend your bankruptcy claim against these accusations and get as much debt as possible included in your bankruptcy discharge.

Furthermore, since a bankruptcy attorney will know the laws regarding bankruptcy and will be very familiar with them, he or she is likely to do a much better job than you when it comes to defending your claim. Since bankruptcy laws can vary by state, it is important to seek local representation from a bankruptcy attorney that is also familiar, not only with federal bankruptcy laws, but with the bankruptcy laws of your state.

This may become an issue if you live near a state line. Many bankruptcy attorneys who live in such an area will be licensed in both states and know the laws on both sides of the state line, so don’t feel as if you have to confine your search to your state, if you can find better representation across the state line.

Remember, this is not a time to try and save money. If getting a better bankruptcy attorney means spending more money, do it! A high dollar bankruptcy attorney may be cheaper than losing your bankruptcy claim. Even if you currently cannot afford a great bankruptcy attorney, it may be worth getting a second job or asking a family member for a loan.

What is comes down to is that the quality of your representation can have an effect on how many creditors successfully contest your bankruptcy — and whether you even get a bankruptcy at all. Once you file for bankruptcy, you cannot file again for several years — even if your bankruptcy claim is denied.

That is the main reason why, if you want to get yourself out of debt, you need the best bankruptcy attorney that you can possibly afford. Settle for less and you may be costing yourself the financial break that you desperately need.

Bankruptcy laws differ from one state to another, in America. Previously people were allowed to file for bankruptcy in any state of their choice. Washington bankruptcy laws have undergone many changes and today Washington state bankruptcy laws are lenient and in favor of the debtor. To maximize the benefits of exemptions given by the State, it is important to choose a Washington Bankruptcy Attorney, who is aware of every minute detail about the exemptible properties. The Federal exemptions can be totally substituted by the State exemptions. Some of the properties exemptions as per Washington Bankruptcy Laws include:

Exemptible homestead properties can be real or mobile home and the upper limit for the exemptible amount is $40,000. Personal properties exemptions, books can be exempted up to $15,000. Personal bodily injury payments up to the amount of $16,150 can be exempted. Any kind of clothing, jewelry, ornaments are exempted up to $1000. The exemptible insurance benefits will cover Group life insurance policy, fraternal benefit society benefits. About $5,000 is exemptible for tools and materials that you have used in someone else’s trade. 75% of earned and unpaid wage are also exemptible as per the Washington State Bankruptcy Laws.

It is very important to choose the Washington state bankruptcy attorney before filing for bankruptcy. There are lots of procedures involved in choosing the Washington Bankruptcy Attorney. Some of them are

The first step is to contact the local bar association to get the list of lawyers who are specialized in Washington Bankruptcy Laws and are practicing it. The association itself will not help you to choose a Washington state bankruptcy attorney. The second step is to gain details about the Washington bankruptcy laws and word of mouth is the best strategy to pick up the one who knows the best about them. Use internet to search information about the short listed Washington state bankruptcy attorney and find the best.

Narrow the list and engage in a face to face meeting which might help to discuss the details and fix up with one which you think will be the best for you.

Who has not – at one point or another – received a letter from a collection agency asserting that there was an outstanding balance owed to a debtor? Perhaps it is a medical bill, which has gone by the wayside since so many medical billing offices are hopelessly running behind in their overall billings. Conversely, perhaps you have moved and a bill got forgotten or misplaced and the creditor never caught up with you and eventually wrote off your debt, only to sell the accounts receivable files to a collection agency for pennies on the dollar.

Finding a bankruptcy attorney can be difficult or it can be as easy as turning to your local Yellow Pages. The phone book is actually an easy way to start your search. You can use the Yellow Pages to find what attorneys are in your area. In addition, most of the business listings will group attorneys by specialty so finding one that specializes in bankruptcy should not be challenging.

You can also find the perfect bankruptcy attorney by searching online. You can often gather information about the history of the attorney and any cases he or she has successfully been assigned to. Remember, just because you see a big online ad for an attorney’s office doesn’t mean you should use them. Just like any other ad, any company who throws down the money for the ad spot can gain access to it. Ad spots are not given on merit.

If you feel comfortable in doing so, you can also seek the opinions of people you know who have filed for bankruptcy in the past. They may be able to give you a personal opinion about the attorney they used in their bankruptcy case.

Overall, you should feel comfortable working with your bankruptcy attorney, or you should find another!

This may then find you at the receiving end of a letter, facing a collection agency claim. Bankruptcy, for those whose letters reveal rather substantial sums, sometimes is considered a viable option to just make it all go away, but for those who are hanging on, no matter how tentatively, and are still trying to pay all of their bills on time will find that the negatives of bankruptcy by far outweigh the positives.

Thus, filing for bankruptcy protection should be considered very carefully and advisedly. Perhaps the first course of action should be a close scrutiny of the outstanding debt, especially in light of its age. Depending on the state in which the debtor resides or the debt was contractually incurred, the statute of limitations on collection of that particular debt may have already expired.

For example, a Californian receiving notice of a medical bill incurred more than four years ago may be able to defend against the claim by pointing out that written contracts are only enforceable for four years, after which the statute is said to have run out. In the District of Columbia the time is three years, while in Ohio it is 15. Know your rights with respect to debt collection before seeking bankruptcy protection!

Filing liquidation under the Illinois bankruptcy laws is not an easy thing to do in a sense that you need to be aware of the complicated set of specific laws related to impoverishment that is applicable only in the state. This is because of the complications involved in the various bankruptcy laws in Illinois that we always suggest debtors to hire a highly qualified and experienced attorney to handle your liquidation case. When it comes to filing bankruptcy under the state laws, there are several things that you need to take into your careful consideration.

License Of The Bankruptcy Attorney

The first thing that you have to make sure is that the attorney has a valid license to handle impoverishment cases in the state. Some people have the misconception that all the bankruptcy lawyers are authorized to handle cases in all the states, which is not true. The attorney gets the license to handle such cases in a specific state only. In some places, where the boundaries of the states meet, the attorney may get the license to handle liquidation cases in more than one state. So, it is prudent to check all these things before hiring the attorney.

Attorney Fee

The bankruptcy attorney will charge you a fee, which is usually a substantial amount. Therefore, while choosing the right attorney to file insolvency on your behalf under the state laws, the first of the few things that you must ask the attorney is the amount they will charge. You must try to get into the details because sometimes, there are hidden charges that you come to know only when it is too late.

Interview The Attorney

You are planning to hire a liquidation attorney because you want someone that could defend your claim successfully in the courts. Therefore, do not hesitate in asking questions. It is important to ensure that the attorney you have chosen is the best one for your case. The attorney must be able to make things easier for you, keeping in mind that the Illinois bankruptcy laws are complicated ones and it is not possible for a common person to be aware of everything. The attorneys are the specialized persons and they know how to use the various clauses of the bankruptcy code in favor of the debtor. If you are filing bankruptcy under state liquidation laws, you will require filing out a number of free forms. You have to be very careful while filing out these forms because if the court finds some manipulation with the facts, you may end up paying out some penalties. Your attorney must help you in filing out these forms.