scare tactics of potential attorneys?

[JRScott]

Some lawyers are nervous. They like to prepare the client for the worst case scenario Pa. It is possible he is doing that, but if in your gut you don't trust this lawyer, keep looking. It is important to have a lawyer you trust.

The lawyer also works for you not the trustee. However remember he does have to answer truthfully on the petition to all the questions as you and he are signing it. There is some debate on reaffirming if the the lawyer becomes responsible if you default since he has to sign on to it. That's the reason many lawyers will not sign a reaffirmation agreement.

Anyway good luck pal

[B12]

The best defense in dealing with BK lawyers is personal knowledge, aka, this forum.

[PaKettle]

Beware of scare tactics!! Go with your gut! When I was looking to file it was before the new law and I was a high income and high debt filer about to file chapter 7. One attorney told me that even with the old law that I was sure to get thrown right out of the court room at my 341 and that in order to take my case he woud charge a min. of $6000! He told me all kind of horrible stuff! Almost had me convinced. I ended up paying a paralegal $299 to fill out my paperwork and it went off without a hitch!! Go figure! I've often wanted to mail him a copy of my discharge paper!

Thanks for this story! I just wanted to confirm my feeling that some of these attorneys ARE using scare tactics, and now it is looking like my hunch was right.

I, too, would feel like mailing him the discharge papers as a little jab at the jerk... This is how I feel about the 1st one I talked to, who told me I would surely be accused of fraud because my social security numbers (last 2 digits) are transposed. Of course, I don't KNOW yet (he could be right, I suppose) but all the others are saying this is no big deal.

[PaKettle]

We heard similar things too, PaK.

Attnys didn't wanna fool with outa State Exemptions. Weren't sure how outa State Exemptions would fly in Court here.

We had way too much debt in relation to our income and no assets.

You name it.

Cindy's right. Go with your gut.

If your gut says this attny is a "NO GO!" then move on.

Thanks.
My feeling is (tell me if you agree) that all these attorneys I am interviewing (the vast majority anyway) are competent enough, and the ones with the scare tactics would probably "do the job" just fine. It's more of a matter of finding one who is competent enough to do the job AND who has the right chemistry with you or way of working and relating to you that you can feel comfortable with.

So I am going to the consult with the scare tactic guy, just to see what I can learn, but unless he comes off completely differently in the meeting, I will not hire him. If, on the other hand, after meeting me, he comes off as confident and sure he can help me at a good price, I may go with him despite his scare tactic(s). What I want is someone who is competent and experienced AND has a reassuring kind of presence, not someone who is going to make me more nervous about all this than I already am!