Questions re 1st attorney consults

[PaKettle]

I looked for a FAQ on this and all I found was a "Search FAQ" menu and I searched "consultation" and came up with nothing. So forgive me if this has been answered a hundred times. If you could tell me where the answer is, I'll read it there, but I could not find it using the Search function. SO here goes:

1) Someone once told me re finding an accident attorney: Go with the guy with the biggest ad in the yellow pages - he does a lot of business so knows what he's doing. Don't know if this is true, but it does have a certain logic, the one downside being that this guy might be TOO Busy and give all the work to paralegals and do little work on your case personally. So how DO I choose attorneys for my 1st 3-4 consultations for Ch. 7?

2) What info and docs would be good to take with me to that first meeting? I assume I should take a recent paycheck, the answers to questions like how much money have I made in the past 6 months (net? or gross?), how much I owe altogether, how much in credit debt and how much for monthly expenses (itemized)... Anything else? WHat documents would they need, to give me a good picture of whether or not I qualify?

What questions should I ask at that consultation meeting?

And, how much should I expect to pay, in Southern California, for a Ch. 7 bankruptcy attorney's services, assuming there are no particularly complicated aspects to the case?

Thanks for answering these questions, or directing me to the already posted answers.

[manglicmot]

I would imagine that for every person who says go with the guy with the biggest ad, you could find another that says don't. both of them would probably give you compelling reasons why they are right.

I googled for BK attornies in San Diego and then I googled their names to see if I could find anything either positive or negative. I went with an attorney who has a couple of radio talk shows and he also gives seminars on credit along with the federal BK judge. I wanted a high profile attorney, because a high profile attorney probably wants to make sure his profile stays good. I didn't bug my attorney with questions after I retained him, I already know he is busy. Plan ahead and ask your questions at the consultation, all attornies are hard to get a hold of without an appointment.

I brought six months of pay stubs, my latest bank statement, my latest credit card bills, 2006 tax return, credit report, vehicle registration and car insurance. It turns out I didn't need to bring any of that to the initial consultation. I was given forms by them to fill out that they would use to fill out my petition and schedules, and when I brought that back is when I gave them them my documents.

My attorney fees were $1700, which is $200 above his normal chap 7 fees. He told me the extra $200 was because of a high amount of debt, ($50,000).

[lrprn]

Check out these links for how to find a good bankruptcy lawyer and the questions to ask during your free consultation -

http://moranlaw.net/selecting.htm

http://moranlaw.net/interview.html

http://bankruptcy.lawyers.com/Bankruptcy-Preparing-to-Meet-with-a-Lawyer.html

http://bankruptcy.lawyers.com/Bankruptcy-Selecting-a-Good-Lawyer.html

http://www.martindale.com/

HTH!

[PaKettle]

Check out these links for how to find a good bankruptcy lawyer and the questions to ask during your free consultation -

http://moranlaw.net/selecting.htm

http://moranlaw.net/interview.html

http://bankruptcy.lawyers.com/Bankruptcy-Preparing-to-Meet-with-a-Lawyer.html

http://bankruptcy.lawyers.com/Bankruptcy-Selecting-a-Good-Lawyer.html

http://www.martindale.com/

HTH!

THANKS! I'll read them over the next couple of days.

[PaKettle]

[sniip]
My attorney fees were $1700, which is $200 above his normal chap 7 fees. He told me the extra $200 was because of a high amount of debt, ($50,000).

Wow, that sounds like a bit of a gouge. $50k isn't that much debt! I could see charging extra maybe if it were $100k in debt or if you had 50 creditors or something like that... But if he's good, I guess it's worth it, anyway.

I think your idea about finding one who interacts with the BK judge outside the BK court, is a very good idea. I think what one would want to avoid is getting an attorney who is not on good terms with the BK judge. But how does one know?

[PaKettle]

Sorry, one more question about this:
Should I expect to pay twice as much since my wife will also be included in the bankruptcy, or is there a special 2-for-1 rate with most attorneys when you file as a married couple? How much should I expect to pay for the bankruptcy for the two of us, in California? Any S. Cal attorneys here?

[wrktwoliv]

charging more for above 50K????

Wow...I didn't think many people would file for less than 50K. I had to discharge over 300K and the attorney didn't charge anymore (was a business and tax bankruptcy).
I did find my attorney through associates and maybe perhaps it was a business bankruptcy it was easier to ask.
I was lucky my attorney clerked for one of the bankruptcy judges, you might be able to see who has clerked for the judges and then see if any of them are currently practicing in your area.

[CindyLou]

1700 sounds hi to me! shop around a little and go with the one that you like the best. i also share in the philosophy of attorney's that do high volume probably know their stuff, but there is a difference between high volume attorney and a BK mill. Se a few different ones and then make your decision.