meeting lawyers next few days, what questions to ask?

[kingred]

As the title says I have appointments with a couple attorneys over the next couple days and in the process of writing down some questions I realized I have no idea what to really ask. So for those that have done this, what questions did you ask and what were some you wish you had?

[StartingOver08]

1) What is included in your fee?
2) How long does it take to file the paperwork with the courts once I provide you the information?
3) Will you attend the 341 meeting with me in person or send someone else?
4) Will you take creditor calls once you are retained but before the filing date?

All the rest of your questions have to do with your specific filing requirements - what documentation you need to provide etc.

[kathy4530050]

Hi Kingred,

You are doing the right thing by asking this question on this forum now, before meeting with the lawyer. I hired the first lawyer I met with and didn't know enough to ask intelligent questions. Now, I've paid his fee in full and won't be filing for another 6 months, but have lost confidence in him. I am now setting up consultations with additional lawyers to make sure I optimize my chances of getting through this successfully.

It's really hard to know what kinds of questions you need to ask without knowing anything about your situation. Compared to many people on this forum, my situation is pretty straightforward and simple. I own one car outright, blue book value around $4,000, my house is soon to be in foreclosure, I left town and am renting now (had no equity in my house), I have about $95,000 in unsecured debt and a $20,000 second mortgage.

I have I have a long list of questions I am asking the lawyers I am consulting with now, but I don't know if any of them would apply to you. However, on the off chance that something might help you, I'll list them for you, ok?

Because I am self-employed, I have a bunch a questions related to that topic. Won't list them here now, but would be happy to share them with you if you are self-employed too. Luckily for me, tomorrow I am speaking to a lawyer that specializes in Ch 7s that involve a small business.

Here are some others:

1. Is the means test still necessary if I come in under the median income?
2. How is household size determined? Can I include my two college sons who are my legal dependents?
3. If so, must I also include their income from their part-time jobs?
4. I rent a 100-year old house and have had outrageous heat bills. If I bring in my bills, can I claim the entire amount?
5. Can I include ALL of my medical expenses (this will be a pretty big $$ figure) or can I only claim up to the limit?
6. I stopped using cc last July and haven't kept my statements since. Should I contact the cc companies and get the statements I am missing or am I ok with the ones I have?
7. I will likely have substantial increase in income after the 341 meeting. Could that come back to bite me?
8. How much $$ can I have in the bank on the day of filing?
9. Is there anything about the interpretation of bk law that is unique to this district?
10. Will you (lawyer) attend the 341 meeting? (Got this good question here, on this forum)

If even one of those questions helps you out--great. If not, maybe if you keep reading on this forum, the experience of other people will create some questions in your mind.

Best of luck and I hope you find a really, really good lawyer.

Kathy

[kingred]

Thanks for those, they about tripled the questions I had come up with myself. As I'm not self employed, or employed for that matter those questions won't be an issue. In actuality these debts are about 2 years old, haven't paid on them nor had the income to and I'm more interested in getting ride of them so they will cease to haunt me, so that CC statement question was a great one! Thank you very much.